I am in agreement with the folks on here saying that the guy is not that bad, he just needs some vocal lessons. He also needs to practice daily. Pitch does not come naturally to him. From what I am hearing on YouTube, when he is on he complements the band perfectly. When he is on, no one in the band really stands out as being the best musician. It all just blends.
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Is my lead singer that bad?
- Thread starter Manuel101
- Start date
Yep, pretty much sums up my thoughts. Vocals ain't easy. Like any instrument, it's about muscle memory and strength. Takes time to learn technique. He has potential. If he's willing to do the work to get there, he could be good.
He can sing, the recording from the EP is the proof, although his vocal is not my cup of tea, sounds too affected. But the live recording is pretty awful. Not the worst I've heard though, he still sings better than Anthony Kiedis live on a bad day.
Don't be surprised - you sound good, a lot better than the average that get's airtime IMO.
I'd still be firmly in the 'Don't fire unless it's really the only option' especially when you're getting some exposure.
Best of luck!
If I'm basing my opinion on that live video then the answer to your question is yes. He doesn't have a very good or a very interesting voice and what he has he doesn't use well.
His pitch control isn't good and he shows little emotion or soul on a song that could use some. Sorry if I sound like a judge on some TV show but you asked and I answered. As a complete outsider (but one with over 35 year experience performing as a vocalist) who has never heard your band before this is what I would tell you and your singer. As kindly as possible.
His pitch control isn't good and he shows little emotion or soul on a song that could use some. Sorry if I sound like a judge on some TV show but you asked and I answered. As a complete outsider (but one with over 35 year experience performing as a vocalist) who has never heard your band before this is what I would tell you and your singer. As kindly as possible.
It looks like things might sort themselves out on their own. My singer did not show up for rehearsal today and we have a show this saturday. He did not call to warn us and he is not answering our calls. It looks like we might need a singer pronto. We wont cancel the show even if he quit because the venue might not let us play there again so now one of the guitarist and I will have to sing instead. Well I believe everything works for the best so this might actually be a blessing. Also any body here knows any good singer who lives around east orange New Jersey?
well the old saying be afraid of what you wish for...
its now time for you or the guitarman to step up now and fill in..
i once commented on a singer not being in key and it broke up the band, alot of singers cant take it from someone who isnt a vocalist even if i had a better ear then them
its now time for you or the guitarman to step up now and fill in..
i once commented on a singer not being in key and it broke up the band, alot of singers cant take it from someone who isnt a vocalist even if i had a better ear then them
Repeat after me:
"We never bury singers in mixes. We simply get better singers before we put ourselves in a situation where there IS a live mix. Burying vocals is NEVER the answer to any problem."
You will feel much better.
PRACTICE is when you are supposed to notice whether your singer is any good. That's why we run our sound at practice just like we will do on stage.
EVERYBODY is listening to EVERYTHING.
^ Trueness. The singer should always be far forward in the mix.
Might as well say "sweetness should not be the far forward taste in cake if the sweetness tastes bad." Um, yes, sweetness should always be prominent in cake... and if the sugar used doesn't taste sweet, it's time for some new sugah... else the whole CAKE tastes bad!
Might as well say "sweetness should not be the far forward taste in cake if the sweetness tastes bad." Um, yes, sweetness should always be prominent in cake... and if the sugar used doesn't taste sweet, it's time for some new sugah... else the whole CAKE tastes bad!
In my opinion your singer fits your music very well and since you like him as a person you should not ditch him until you gave him a chance to work on his technical problems for a few (2-3) months.
I don't even think he is that bad. Of course he has got very obvious intonation problems probably caused by the overuse of vibrato, but the video also got passages where his intonation is fine and that proves that he's got the potential to become a good singer.
Tell him gently to take some lessons (only for a few weeks to learn the techniques) and to stop listening that often to Dave Mathews Band
I don't even think he is that bad. Of course he has got very obvious intonation problems probably caused by the overuse of vibrato, but the video also got passages where his intonation is fine and that proves that he's got the potential to become a good singer.
Tell him gently to take some lessons (only for a few weeks to learn the techniques) and to stop listening that often to Dave Mathews Band
The amazing thing is that for some reason we never noticed how bad he sings. It wasn't until my friends pointed it out that I started to listen closely and then I noticed it too. I guess we (the drummer and I) were so busy perfecting our parts that we didn't noticed his singing. Now we find it unbearable.
My High School vocal coach/choir director always stressed that your vocal tone comes not from your mouth but out of the top of your head. She stressed that you NEVER wear a hat when singing unless it is required as part of your wardrobe in a musical. I think he needs to learn proper warm up techniques, not warm up by singing a couple songs.
My girlfriend's neighbour has been away for a year to university for singing coaching and he still tries to hit the high notes without warming up. I think some singers are stubborn about how they want to sing and feel that warming up is needless.
we had some issues in my band about 8 months ago. our singer was just lazy. it was obvious the only time he really did any singing was at rehearsal. but he maintained the attitude that he was the boobies. he's remarkably talented, but if you don't put in the work, who cares? recording is nice, but playing shows is the bread and butter. and our singer was getting tired three songs into the set. then he'd start turning his head away from the mic because he knew he couldn't hit the notes and i guess he figured if he was acting like he was really wailing, people might think he was?
we had a sit down with him and straight told him he was stinking it up. he made the choice to put in more better work and so far it's working.
i'd advise you to sit him down and talk to him about it. if it's a question of better work ethic, more intense practice, whatever. just tell him you've had grumblings and he needs to step it up.
either he will, or he won't. the band might get set back a bit, but if he buckles down and gets to work then there ya go. and if he doesn't, you've laid out the options for him.
good luck!
we had a sit down with him and straight told him he was stinking it up. he made the choice to put in more better work and so far it's working.
i'd advise you to sit him down and talk to him about it. if it's a question of better work ethic, more intense practice, whatever. just tell him you've had grumblings and he needs to step it up.
either he will, or he won't. the band might get set back a bit, but if he buckles down and gets to work then there ya go. and if he doesn't, you've laid out the options for him.
good luck!
Yes he is that bad. To be blunt, only friends/ family of the band members will think he's any good. Like others have said, a band is only as good as the singer. If I was at the show I would have went outside for a smoke break and I don't smoke.
If you were playing bass as poorly as he sang, there would be a bassist wanted ad on craigslist already.
If you were playing bass as poorly as he sang, there would be a bassist wanted ad on craigslist already.
