Vocalist not learning lyrics

[gotly]

Hi guys! I've got a new band and everything is going great except one thing - the vocalist doesn't memorize lyrics to all the songs. It's a mix of originals and covers (probably 50/50 depending on the gig) and the originals are his own songs and he obviously has them memorized but for about half the covers (so 25% of the show) he's cribbing lyrics on a mic-stand mounted cell phone holder. These aren't long gigs, 2 hours max and 20-30 songs. Nobody else in the band is using reference material.

I've never had a bandmate not learn the lyrics like this. I'm not a vocalist at all and have never had to memorize lyrics so I don't even know where to start for advice to help him out.

The band is awesome. Good music, great vibes/hangs, they are really well connected so we get a ton of shows but it's a bit of a low moment when I see him eyes down glued to the screen. The vocalist doesn't play another instrument so we usually have him up front hyping people up and getting the audience engaged but it obviously takes a step back when he has to keep his eyes on the screen.

Anyone had anything similar? Any advice for trying to improve things? I really like the band so it's not a dealbreaker even if nothing changes.

 

[BellaB]

Hi! I’m an opera singer so it’s not exactly the same but in general as a vocalist for gigs like this I’m expected to memorize all songs or atleast be able to quickly look down for reference and immediately back up. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using music but if it affects the ability to engage that can kill the momentum. Have you talked to him about it? How often are you guys rotating new songs? I’ve found that guide tracks are helpful and maybe that would be a quick way for him to practice the songs on his own.

 

[Free Bassing]

The band is only as good as its weakest link, a singer reading lyrics off of phone or tablet is not very engaging or charismatic.

if you want to keep him as a singer and he refuses to learn the lyrics on his own you might just have to have more full band practices just for him,

 

[gotly]

Have you talked to him about it? How often are you guys rotating new songs? I’ve found that guide tracks are helpful and maybe that would be a quick way for him to practice the songs on his own.

I'm the new guy so I haven't started the conversation yet but plan to talk to him about it. We're rotating songs pretty often. Maybe 4-6 new ones each month. What are guide tracks?

if you want to keep him as a singer and he refuses to learn the lyrics on his own you might just have to have more full band practices just for him,

It's his band, his music, not keeping him as a singer isn't an option nor do I want to replace him - he's a super talented vocalist. I think more full band practices is a good idea to tighten up. I do a lot of homework to make sure all the pieces are right and it seems like passively working on lyrics in your car or something would be an obvious practice method but I obviously have not had to learn 20+ songs worth of material so I'm not sure how to approach it.

 

[BellaB]

We're rotating songs pretty often. Maybe 4-6 new ones each month. What are guide tracks?

Gotcha! Again just my own personal opinion and experience, 4-6 songs a month shouldn’t be too many to memorize, and if he’s sung any of the songs in public once I would expect it to be memorized the next time he does it. You may want to approach it along the lines of positive feedback, you love how much the band gets into it when he’s out engaging the audience, etc. If it’s his band and you’re new that’s a hard spot to be in without potentially upsetting him. Guidetracks or back tracks with the accompaniment no vocals are what I send to my bands vocalists especially if they’re in a different key from the original so they can practice singing along. For singers so much of it is reps.

 

[TroyK]

Major pet peeve of mine. I know the lyrics, why doesn't the singer? No one wants to go to a concert to be read to.

What's up with that?

 

[bajaandy]

I feel your frustration. Following to see what kind of advice pops up.

 

[gotly]

Guidetracks or back tracks with the accompaniment no vocals are what I send to my bands vocalists especially if they’re in a different key from the original so they can practice singing along. For singers so much of it is reps.

This might be a really good strategy! I'm totally unfamiliar with this. Do you make your own guide tracks or are they typically available on YouTube or something?

 

[3Liter]

Even Elvis needed help....see 2:45.




I played with some guys that the singer/BL never learned the lyrics. He'd wear sunglasses to hide that he was reading off the Ipad.

 

[Beej]

I played with a vocalist who had a difficult time remembering lyrics. He eventually developed two tactics that worked - one was to print out cheat sheets with the first line of the verses and chorus. He printed them with like 20 pt fonts with white text on a black background and had those on the stage by his mic stand. The second was to develop a list of 'phrases' that he could use to sing instead of a lyric if he forgot the words. Basically just sing a string of almost words but right on the melody, and half the time no one notices. This was many years ago, but he told me recently he still uses the phrase tactic from time to time.

 

[BellaB]

This might be a really good strategy! I'm totally unfamiliar with this. Do you make your own guide tracks or are they typically available on YouTube or something?

youtube is a great source especially if you don’t want to spend too much off hours time doing it. I typically use logic and make a simple bass and piano track, bounce it and send it off to members. Sometimes the other instrumentalists will do a quick voice memo track at the end of rehearsal as a guide track. Whatever is easiest without feeling too obligated but it sounds like you want to make this work!

As someone who is a professional singer first and newer instrumentalist second I definitely see both sides of the coin. I often get frustrated with other singers and on the flip side have found it nice to be a supportive group member playing just the bass. That being said, I would like to give people the benefit of the doubt and usually assume that the singer isn’t aware that being stuck in their score is detracting from the performance. Starting the conversation will give you a lot of information where they’re coming from. And hopefully it will be more of an awareness issue and they’ll adjust! Good luck!

 

[mambo4]

the vocalist doesn't memorize lyrics to all the songs.

- he's a super talented vocalist.

failing to learn the words is not "super talented" imho

 

[Dincrest]

Before we get all dismissive, how do we know the vocalist doesn't have some kind of medical condition or disability that affects their memory? And what are some strategies that could help?

 

[Killing Floor]

Are they newer songs? (To the singer)

Have you entertained firing the drummer?

 

[Obese Chess]

Sorry, but there's no sense in anyone, including you, sugar-coating this: "learning the material" is the absolute bare minimum that is to be expected of someone in a band. That's what's happening here - you're playing gigs and one of the guys in the band doesn't know the material.

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry, but I don’t like having to rehearse because someone else didn’t do homework. But if it’s his band, you have to grin and bear it or quit. Not much else you can do.

 

[TeaTime]

He may be a vocalist, but he's not a performer. Kick him back to the minor league karaoke and get yourself someone who wants to be there.

 

[neddyrow]

Story of my ex-wife. Great singer but could never remember the words. I made a binder of all the lyrics and I’d be in trouble if I didn’t rennet her lyrics.

ex-wife

 

[bigjames]

I was a vocalist first (classically trained and then moved into crooning) before learning bass. Learning and knowing lyrics and getting them right is important to me. It drives me crazy when the front man / woman in a group I am playing in forgets lyrics or gets them wrong. I think it is reasonable to expect it and the band expects it from all the other players. Vocalists, in my experience, sometimes spend the least amount of time shedding and a mediocre vocalist can get by for a long time before it burns them.

My favourite example of this was when I small group formed for a specific show. We were covering Sweet Home Alabama and the lead guitarist (who normally was also lead vox) asked me to sing it from behind my bass. Absolutely. Great tune.

He then started going through the lyrics as though I had never heard the song before and I was patient until he got to the second verse and quoted:

"Well, I'm just a young singer bouter
Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down..."

I stopped him there and was like, that doesnt even make sense and corrected him. LOL.

 

[Michedelic]

Hi guys! I've got a new band and everything is going great except one thing - the vocalist doesn't memorize lyrics to all the songs. It's a mix of originals and covers (probably 50/50 depending on the gig) and the originals are his own songs and he obviously has them memorized but for about half the covers (so 25% of the show) he's cribbing lyrics on a mic-stand mounted cell phone holder. These aren't long gigs, 2 hours max and 20-30 songs. Nobody else in the band is using reference material.

I've never had a bandmate not learn the lyrics like this. I'm not a vocalist at all and have never had to memorize lyrics so I don't even know where to start for advice to help him out.

The band is awesome. Good music, great vibes/hangs, they are really well connected so we get a ton of shows but it's a bit of a low moment when I see him eyes down glued to the screen. The vocalist doesn't play another instrument so we usually have him up front hyping people up and getting the audience engaged but it obviously takes a step back when he has to keep his eyes on the screen.

Anyone had anything similar? Any advice for trying to improve things? I really like the band so it's not a dealbreaker even if nothing changes.

You need to read through this…
Memorizing lyrics, any tips?