I cannot match instrument pitch with my voice! Is there something wrong with me!?!

[Cougar]

Folks,

I have struggled with ear training for years. Every approach that I try assumes that you can and tells you to sing back notes. The problem is - I cannot do this directly - not even close. I have to slide up and down with pitches to match what I hear. This makes it difficult for me to play what I hear. Oh, I am not tone deaf!

It seems like most people, even non-musicians, can do this naturally. Is there any strategy or tool to learn how to match instrument pitch with my voice?

Thanks
Cougar

 

[Stumbo]

Make sure your ears are cleaned out.

And pickup a decent keyboard for ear training practice.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Folks,

I have struggled with ear training for years. Every approach that I try assumes that you can and tells you to sing back notes. The problem is - I cannot do this directly - not even close. I have to slide up and down with pitches to match what I hear. This makes it difficult for me to play what I hear. Oh, I am not tone deaf!

It seems like most people, even non-musicians, can do this naturally. Is there any strategy or tool to learn how to match instrument pitch with my voice?

Thanks
Cougar

Just start training (it will be a slow process) your singing skills. Practice makes perfect.

 

[BassChuck]

You can never be sure what another person is hearing. Perhaps you're hearing overtones clearly and confusing them with the fundamental. Or there could be other things you are paying attention too besides the pitch of the note.
Try matching pitches to different tone qualities. Probably would help to do that first with bass, but maybe something that is in the same octave as your voice. Try piano, organ, different horns, synth patches, whatever.
Use a tuner with a microphone to measure yourself.
It's all possible. Some people just have to work at it more than others. And there's a reasonable chance that once you get it solved in you ear (mind) just what to listen for, your progress will be faster.

 

[Mushroo]

"Sliding up and down to the pitch" is totally normal for your stage of learning. Nothing to worry about or feel discouraged! The more you practice, the more likely you will hit the correct pitch on your first try, and the less you will need to slide. Make sure you start with very easy examples, so you can feel good about your progress. As with any type of learning, having a great teacher can make all the difference. Doesn't necessarily have to be a bass instructor; lessons with a vocal coach can also be helpful.

 

[Iristone]

I sometimes don't too. Maybe you were unintentiontally putting out some subharmonics, dampened fundamental, or unstable pitch. Maybe try a simple note (Ooh and Hmm maybe) and start working from there.

 

[lz4005]

I have struggled with ear training for years. Every approach that I try assumes that you can and tells you to sing back notes. The problem is - I cannot do this directly - not even close. I have to slide up and down with pitches to match what I hear. This makes it difficult for me to play what I hear. Oh, I am not tone deaf!

It seems like most people, even non-musicians, can do this naturally. Is there any strategy or tool to learn how to match instrument pitch with my voice?

Is the issue that you can't hear the pitches or that you can't reproduce them with your mouth?
In other words, can you match them with an instrument?

 

[Cougar]

Is the issue that you can't hear the pitches or that you can't reproduce them with your mouth?
In other words, can you match them with an instrument?

Yes - can match with instrument. Using my voice is the difficult part.

Cougar

 

[lz4005]

Yes - can match with instrument. Using my voice is the difficult part.

The singing, or humming, part of ear training is an intermediate step until you're fluent enough in your instrument to go directly from ears to bass. You've bypassed that step.

If singing isn't your goal then there's no reason for you to have to sing on pitch.

If singing is a part of your goal, then start taking voice lessons.

 

[vancamp]

If you can find the pitch with your voice, then it may just be a matter of practice and repetition. Find the pitch, then repeat that pitch without the sliding. Repeat again. Sing an interval, then repeat the ending note without sliding, etc. Change to a different note, rinse and repeat. It depends on you being able to hear your own voice pitch, but if you can, just practice. You'll tune your voice to your ear in time. Oh, sure, voice lessons are fine, too.

 

[mambo4]

If singing isn't your goal then there's no reason for you to have to sing on pitch.

I think that singing what you hear is a strong indicator of how your brain understands pitch.
We all ought to be able to easily vocalize our bass lines.
Our musical understanding ought to have some independence from having the bass in our hands.

If you can't sing it its either because you can't hear it, or you need practice your voice.
If OP has to slide up , but can hit the pitch eventually. It's a good sign that practice is all that is needed.

 

[walking Bass]

I can easily match pitch with a guitar or bass. Singing, not even close. No one ever let me have a microphone. I had to stand in back by the drummer. That way you couldn't hear it if I started singing along.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Try to "hear" the sound inside your head before you sing it. It will require practice.

 

[J-Mags]

I have had similar problems. Practice helps, but I still have trouble singing harmonies with most people; I'm inclined to start singing what they're singing. It's a long road, and it frequently leads to tolerable, rather than perfect pitch.

I've sung lead in bands, with no worse result than your average indie rocker, but my backing vocals are both dominant and pitchy. All I ever wanted to do singing-wise has been to sing Beatles-style harmonies, but it's never gonna happen.

 

[richntiff]

yes. Definitely something wrong here. You haven’t practiced enough. Look, if this was easy, everyone would be doing it. Practice. Take your time. Be patient. It will come.

 

[jcopas]

For some reason I always end up something like three semi-tones off when I feel my voice is synced in, it sounds horrible. So you have a leg up on me if you can actually get it dialed in! I'm sure it's just practice makes perfect thing. I never tried to go beyond my own issues, but wish I had. Keep at it!

 

[vancamp]

Since you play bass, I doubt that you're tone deaf. Given that, it's just a matter of practice learning to hear your voice and learning to control your voice. It helps if you work with someone who can guide you, but it's mostly a matter of practice (assuming the result is something you want enough to put in the effort). The ability to pick out harmonies on the fly, however, is a step beyond that. It helps to know where your (perhaps limited) range is, so you're not trying to match pitches that aren't actually in your comfortable range.