Back up vocals

[TimboSlice87]

Can anyone lend me some advice/instruction on back up vocals and singing harmonies? My band wants me to start singing, but I have no experience at all.

[Floyd Eye]

Sing along with CDs until you can accurately sing the melodies and the harmonies, then start practicing while playing the basslines. Stand off the mic a little, do NOT compete with the lead vocalist. Practice, practice, practice.

[Socalef9]

i can sing backups and harmonies with no problem at all, but as soon as i pick up the bass, its a different ball game.

Ive kinda learned to just put the bass on autopilot and try to forget im playing, that works for me

[ray_yo]

i see it like this - 20% technique/ability, 80% confidence. breathe well so you've got plenty of air to push out, try to make it come from your belly instead of your head, but mostly you have to adopt something of a "f*ck you" attitude. that doesn't mean be a jerk, it just means you gotta do what you do and sound how you sound and be totally unapologetic about it.

[TimboSlice87]

I will add that I have a female lead singer/guitarist. I am also not the greatest singer in the world. We have some difficult songs (to sing) like "Sunday morning -no doubt (Gwen Stefani) as well as other covers and originals. Some of the higher notes I cant hit, so I should sing these an octave lower? Also, I'm not really familiar with "harmonies", and what notes I should be singing?

[ray_yo]

to make it easy on yourself as far as harmonies, think in triads. if the lead singer is singing the root of the chord, you could hit the third or the fifth. third usually sounds cooler.

[Floyd Eye]

Like I said, listen to the CDS and learn both the melody and the harmonies. When you are trying to pick out the harmonies, sing with very little volume. You can reach higher notes this way. Learn the harmonies and THEN practice with your bass and if you have problems with the register then you already know the harmonies the way they were written and can improvise in other registers or whatever.

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Stickied...

Bassist's Guide to Singing

[Jools4001]

I sing backing vocals and I agree about learning the bassline until it's on autopilot.

I've only just started to sing with a band again after a looooonnng layoff from having to sing live, so I looked up some vocal exercises on the web. Most of them make you look like a complete idiot, but since you'll be doing this in private, no harm done.

They've helped me with my breath control to support the note I'm singing, taught me how to relax and just how by singing more often (and assuming you're not straining) the muscles that control your vocal chords get a workout and give you more control. My vocal range has also improved a lot - not by straining for the high notes, just by singing in your natural range - it automatically increases your range.

Singing is also very much a confidence thing. The more you do it, the better it gets, the more your confidence increases so you feel more comfortable doing it and sing more. It's a virtuous circle.

Obviously it has limitations. I'm never going to be a virtuoso singer but I've improved loads just with a few simple things

[TimboSlice87]

Originally Posted by ray_yo

to make it easy on yourself as far as harmonies, think in triads. if the lead singer is singing the root of the chord, you could hit the third or the fifth. third usually sounds cooler.

Might I add that I dont know much about music theroy. So lets say shes singing a G...then to sing the third I would sing B, but if anything i will want to sing lower than she does...which would be the B one octave lower or I could just sing the G an octave lower...damn i think i confused myself...lol.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by TimboSlice87

Might I add that I dont know much about music theroy. So lets say shes singing a G...then to sing the third I would sing B, but if anything i will want to sing lower than she does...which would be the B one octave lower or I could just sing the G an octave lower...damn i think i confused myself...lol.

See, you don't need to worry about any of that ****, just listen to the CDs and learn the harmonies by singing along with the CD.

[TimboSlice87]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

See, you don't need to worry about any of that ****, just listen to the CDs and learn the harmonies by singing along with the CD.

the reason im having a hard time is these songs dont really have harmonies...she just wants me to come up with them from thin air...lol.

[Floyd Eye]

In that case you need to get a recording and sing along or sing along live, with her and try different stuff until something sticks.

[Bassmickeyd]

If you want to be serious about this go out a seek a vocal teacher and tell them what you want. ..... It'll be the quickest way to get better results. ..... They will give you exercises and help you hear harmonies which will help with your confidence level. .... That will help you enjoy singing harmonies instead of treading it.

[ray_yo]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

In that case you need to get a recording and sing along or sing along live, with her and try different stuff until something sticks.

or rather than just stabbing in the dark, think about the triad thing as a start. what you said before was right on, she's singing a G then the third you could sing is B. (fifth would be D). which octave you put it in isn't so crucial.

conversely, if she's singing a third or fifth, you could hit the root. that's a bit easier, since the root is usually easier to hear, hence easier to sing.

[hrodbert696]

Jive's sticky is great on this topic, so I hope you've already read it.

If you were not brought into the band on the understanding that singing backup was part of the deal, you can remind them of that and just do your best and learn as you go along. It's not fair for a band to bring a bassist in and then spring on him that he's also the backup singer after the fact.

Anyway, sing along to as much as you can at home and driving in the car. Pick stuff that does use a lot of vocal harmonies so that you can get used to finding the intervals, like Simon and Garfunkel or any a capella music. Whatever you have. Singing in a church that actually uses hymnals is good practice, you can learn how to follow a tenor or bass line (depending on which fits your voice better).

I have a hard time keeping a bass line running in time and singing simultaneously. It's easier if A) the bass line is simple, like just steady eighth notes, or B) the vocal line follows the rhythm of the bass line pretty closely. I'd say, even if they aren't the songs your band is playing, get used to doing the two together, starting with simple songs. U2's "With or Without You" would be a good example -- four notes, steady eighths, repeating constantly, and then try singing over it. Once you get used to that you can try incrementally more challenging songs. Good luck!

[MNAirHead]

Really takes time...

I find droning a tonic (bass line) and playing to be the easiest start.

[onosson]

I'm thinking if you're working to a female voice, and the songs don't have harmonies already ... your idea of singing an octave below might not be a bad place to start.

[Ubersheist]

Take lessons. Seriously. They help. Try a few teachers before settling on one.

If you're looking to sing at a professional level, then you probably need to sing as well as most lead singers in a local band. However, you can get by with some less then stellar abilities if you can consistently sing in tune.

Music theory really helps, too. With everything you do in music. Everything. It ties it all in.

Also, have band vocal practices - about 1 in 3 or 4 practices or so. No instruments, except for maybe a guitar or the keys. Like it or not, vocals are the most important part of a band, and more time should be devoted to them then the patience of most bands allow.

There is no "should I sing a lower or higher harmony" then the singer. Play with the harmonies, and sing what sounds best, both in your range, and (more importantly) what fits best in the song. Typically, that means higher then the lead melody line, but not always, especially if you have 4+ parts.

And, have fun, 'cause singing is fun!

[Ubersheist]

Originally Posted by TimboSlice87

the reason im having a hard time is these songs dont really have harmonies...she just wants me to come up with them from thin air...lol.

Have practices dedicated to vocals, as I mentioned above. They work.