Should singers who front a band know chord progressions?

[Jeff Sarsippius]

Would be nice if they did: I am mainly a singer and the reason I started playing other instruments was to know what was going on. Like everyone has said here, singers SHOULD KNOW, but don't, and fragile egos get crushed when a more studious muso asks that person why they don't know the key or chord changes.

Ideally the singer should listen to the band to work on their chops and get better just like anyone else, and playing another instrument, even in another BAND, helps.

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

@mccarp555: Many Jazz and Classical singers read music: Frank Sinatra could and therefore could work well with his bands.

 

[Bruce_M]

Yes it's normal. The only vocalists I've worked with that knew anything about music were those who were also musicians.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Try to sing a Steely Dan song and see how many chords of it you can figure out.

 

[TyBo]

I think it helps a singer to have a feel for the chord changes - and hence is helpful for a singer to play an instrument and know what the chords are. A good number of my favorite singers do play an instrument (Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole, Kenny Rankin, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra (started out as a horn player), Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, Muddy Waters ... Jason Mraz, Lady Gaga, etc. ... .

But there are certainly great singers who don't play, so it's clear that can be done. Should singers know chord progression? Probably, but it's not absolutely necessary in that role, and many don't. Should a singer be expected to know chord progressions? No.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

They're "jazz standards".

so then you have access to the Real book.

 

[elgecko]

so then you have access to the Real book.

Sure, but in all my years of playing, I've never once been on a gig where a vocalist needed a fake book to sing Misty, All of Me, or My Funny Valentine, etc.

Lyrics? Sure.

A lead sheet? Never.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Sure, but in all my years of playing, I've never once been on a gig where a vocalist needed a fake book to sing Misty, All of Me, or My Funny Valentine, etc.

Lyrics? Sure.

A lead sheet? Never.

I get that, but still if they at least practice with the sheet music, they'll make sure to hit the right pitch with the right rythm

 

[Mike Sorr]

The next singer/front person I play with, whose only instrument is their voice, that knows keys or chord progressions, will be the first. Now, I should add that I am a rock bass player and I play in rock bands. Sure, I've played behind some great singers who were also guitarists or keyboard players, but that's not what we're talking about here. It has been my experience that in rock music the musically uneducated singer is the norm. I'm sure as you climb the ladder of musical sophistication that becomes less of an issue.

 

[elgecko]

I get that, but still if they at least practice with the sheet music, they'll make sure to hit the right pitch with the right rythm

It's 100% possible but I suspect that the vast majority never bother with the lead sheet and just trust their ears. After all, a big part of jazz is taking liberties.

 

[PauFerro]

It's pretty clear they don't know harmony -- I am learning to work with a singer now in my fourth and last group...and she doesn't know how to determine which key fits her voice either. We end up wasting time in rehearsal with that. I'm considering putting it on her to work with our keyboardist before rehearsal to determine keys that work for her, who then tells us in an email, so we can shed individually before rehearsal. No sense wasting my time in rehearsal to accommodate a singer's lack of preparation and musical knowledge.

Also, i find that certain groups do everything by ear, and I find that really time consuming.

It's a bit disturbing because the singers don't seem to put in the hours, time and money the instrumentalists do to learn their craft. They also require key changes, and most haven't even bothered to learn song structure from charts either. Plus, if they quit, you often lose the band as certain styles require a certain kind of voice.

For me, singers are the hardest to work with. That's the next frontier for me -- to figure out how to work with singers in a way that is efficient, and keeps the band in the drivers' seat so their time is not wasted.

 

[monsterthompson]

Realistically they should know what key they sing a song in.

However, by OP's rationale in order to play bass in the band, you perhaps should know how to sing - just to play bass.

Not play bass, but know what roots the bass is targeting and working around.

 

[bassrich]

I'd definitely expect the singer to know the key but chord progressions no.

 

[RustyAxe]

It's nice but it shouldn't be a requirement. There would be a lot of unemployed great musicians if they had to know chords.

If they don't know anything about chords, they are singers, not musicians. Most singers I've met are the former ... and it doesn't matter much to me whether they know music or not as long as they get the job done.

 

[Ulf Buck]

Music is an art. A song is a work. The only thing relatively unique about us is that our works are typically collaborative but I digress.

If a beautiful work is produced why does it matter how it was accomplished?

Does a painter have to know the name of his colors, brushes, or the composition of his paint or canvas?

Does a sculptor have to know the geological composition of his stone (other than how it behaves under the chisel) or the type of steel and angle grind of his tools?

 

[Renaissance]

A singer knowing chord progressions...

Shouldn't this be in Bass Humor & Gig Stories?

 

[bassistheplaceofcourse]

Yep, the vocalist who doesn't play an instrument but knows the chords to the songs is a very rare thing. Why would they?

They are about as rare as the bass player who bothers to learn the melodies to the songs they are playing. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[monsterthompson]

Music is an art. A song is a work. The only thing relatively unique about us is that our works are typically collaborative but I digress.

If a beautiful work is produced why does it matter how it was accomplished?

Does a painter have to know the name of his colors, brushes, or the composition of his paint or canvas?

Does a sculptor have to know the geological composition of his stone (other than how it behaves under the chisel) or the type of steel and angle grind of his tools?

Common misconception. It is both an art and a craft. On the artistic side of things, I see your point. However, there is nothing that prevents an artists greatness by becoming familiar with the tools he uses.

Craftsmen need to know the tools of their trade. They need to understand design, fit, and finish. Not understanding these things in a collaborative craft is a sure way to shut doors on opportunities.

 

[tonemachine]

If they don't know anything about chords, they are singers, not musicians. Most singers I've met are the former ... and it doesn't matter much to me whether they know music or not as long as they get the job done.

Hell, I was talking about instrument playing musicians. Nevermind singers. Many players don't know the language of naming notes and chords. Actually BB King himself, I believe we can call him a musician, is on record as saying "I don't know no chords."

 

[hsp-sandiego]

As long as everyone sounds good, I no longer care who knows what about anything.

hah... I will have to agree with this one. With our variety group, our vocalist knows that Chic, Dianna Ross, Sister Sledge, etc... are great songs for her and in the right key from the tracks. A little off topic, as our band leader and founder, i demand to stick to the title track key; easier is our guitarist, vocalist, heck even myself bails out.