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Bought a mic this weekend.

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by oniman7, Apr 15, 2012.

  1. Apr 15, 2012 #1
    oniman7

    oniman7

    Jun 1, 2010
    Saint Augustine, Florida
    I've started many threads over the last year or so asking things like is anybody able to sing?

    I've always believed I had a terrible voice and no pitch. Regardless, I've been singing in my room. We fired our old singer and our guitarist sings now. Since he's getting into the groove, I figured I'd buy a mic and jump straight in. Baptism by fire sort of thing. Turns out I'm learning backups pretty well and my pitch has improved immensely. But I also noticed something weird. My bass playing became more energized and I began to want to display enormous stage presence. Out of excitement I guess.

    I don't know where it'll lead, but I just thought I'd share that. If anybody out there has an inkling of an idea that they'd like to sing, I'd jump straight in. It seems to me that singing is a combination of confidence and effective practice/technique, neither of which you'd get from holding back. I know a couple great singers who teach public school choir/music and they're helping us with technique and getting back in the game. A battered (but working) mic and boom stand only cost me $45 and I'm so glad I did it. I now believe that a large majority of people can learn to at least hold backup harmonies and such. I'm glad I did it.
     
  2. Apr 15, 2012 #2
    bluewine

    bluewine Inactive

    Sep 4, 2008
    WI
    I just recently started singing background vocals in my band.

    For one, having the support and help from the band helps. I think being given the opportunity to sing and the fact that we gig alot has also helped.

    Singing has always been a struggle for me, however it's getting better. I'm even starting to be able to separate playing from singing.
     
  3. Apr 15, 2012 #3
    mellowinman

    mellowinman Free Man

    Oct 19, 2011
    Minneapolis
    Singing definitely makes playing more fun.

    That's my opinion.
     
  4. Apr 15, 2012 #4
    DaDrew2112

    DaDrew2112 Guest

    Apr 7, 2011
    Rochester
    can't sing to save my damn life. it sucks
     
  5. Apr 15, 2012 #5
    Jazzdogg

    Jazzdogg Less barking, more wagging!

    Jul 29, 2006
    San Diego, CA
    Most of the time, I can only do one at a time. Wish I could sing while playing, but I can't.
     
  6. Apr 16, 2012 #6
    Downunderwonder

    Downunderwonder

    Aug 26, 2009
    New Zealand
    I can't either but I do on occasion. It takes huge amounts of practice. When I get into the groove it sounds and feels like there is some other cat playing the bass, and he's doing a great job! A real out of body experience.

    Many tunes will not click and I give them away in preference to keeping the bass together, but when I get it it's very cool to be able to do harmonies.
     
  7. Apr 16, 2012 #7
    TinIndian

    TinIndian Supporting Member

    Jan 25, 2011
    Micco Florida
    Back when I used to play I could never sing and play bass at the same time. Fast forward 20 years and the band I'm in now it was a requirement for the gig. I always had a decent enough voice, just limited range. Now I sing 90% of the back-up vocals and sing lead on 4 different songs in the setlist and we're looking to add more. Sometimes I have to simplfy the bass line a little bit to do it, but it's really like anything else. Practice, Practice, Practice.

    By the way, like most I guess, I use a Shure SM58. Great Mic for me.
     
  8. Apr 16, 2012 #8
    bassmanrocke

    bassmanrocke

    Jun 22, 2007
    Altamonte Springs, Florida
    I have typically been the lead or co-lead since I first started playing in the late eighties. It does force me to occassionally simplify bass lines and some I just can't pull off(Bad to the Bone was just impossible), but I have always found it made playing more fun. It also makes me much more valuable as a musician.
     
  9. Apr 17, 2012 #9
    hector the hero

    hector the hero Guest

    Apr 17, 2012
    I'm working on this, too. Sing & have sung a lot, unamplified, but singing into a mic & hearing it amplified are giving me trouble. Also don't quite know how to practice: have mic & stand but no PA system. Thoughts or suggestions?
     
  10. Apr 17, 2012 #10
    skwee

    skwee

    Apr 2, 2010
    Minneapolis
    Glad you went to you friends who teach choir :)
     
  11. Apr 17, 2012 #11
    oniman7

    oniman7

    Jun 1, 2010
    Saint Augustine, Florida
    I am having trouble with this myself. I personally need a bigger/clearer PA than the half broken one we have.

    If you are by yourself, buy a small mixer and plug it into your amp.

    If you're with a band, you either need to play quiet enough to project over, or you need to buy a PA