How do you sing a new song you don't know?

*Tufty McTavish* · 26-06-2009, 11:50 AM

A general question for the floor - how do you tackle singing a song you don't already know?

Reason I ask is that in a recent band night I was stood next to our singer rather than on the opposite side of the room flailing away on Expert guitar. I discovered he just hums the songs he doesn't know, which seemed to be most of them. I found this massively off-putting as it took all the energy out of playing together when somebody wasn't putting any effort in as far as I could tell. In other words it took me out of the moment and distracted me terribly to hear this humming up and down. Bahhh.

How do you singing folks tackle songs you don't know that other people want to play? E.g. DLC you don't have at your home when singing over at a mate's pad?

Stinja · 26-06-2009, 12:15 PM

Badly?

TA DUM!!! Thank you i'm here all day

But yeah i just stumble thru, usually failing about 50%. Seems wrong to just hum.

PlexShaw · 26-06-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tufty McTavish

A general question for the floor - how do you tackle singing a song you don't already know?

Reason I ask is that in a recent band night I was stood next to our singer rather than on the opposite side of the room flailing away on Expert guitar. I discovered he just hums the songs he doesn't know, which seemed to be most of them. I found this massively off-putting as it took all the energy out of playing together when somebody wasn't putting any effort in as far as I could tell. In other words it took me out of the moment and distracted me terribly to hear this humming up and down. Bahhh.

How do you singing folks tackle songs you don't know that other people want to play? E.g. DLC you don't have at your home when singing over at a mate's pad?

Whilst I agree that having someone humming the whole time is very distracting - as bad as, say, everyone else singing along whilst the person with the mic is trying to play properly - the problem is that if the singer doesn't know the song at all, how else are they supposed to play it without failing horribly? This is a common problem faced by most vocalists in a party situation and the only way to get around is for the singer to learn it.

It's much easier to play a song you've never heard before on guitar, bass or drums because even if you don't know the exact rhythm, you've still got the notes as a guide. With singing, it's very difficult to sound good (which is what most of us strive for) singing a song you've never heard before, even if it's one, according to the other players, "you should know".

Another issue is that it is often assumed that you "should" sound exactly like the original singer even if your vocal range prevents you from doing so. Singing in a video game merely requires you to harmonise with the lead vocals and is nothing like real singing, so it is often infuriating that people confuse the two (I have a friend who is particularly annoying in this regard).

In answer to your original question, if I'm at a friend’s house and song comes up that they want to play and I have never heard it before, I simply pass them the mic and tell them to get on with it. It can take me a long time to learn a song to the point where I can 100% it on Expert but thankfully, as a London commuter, there is plenty of time in the day for that!

Bursar · 26-06-2009, 12:43 PM

If you've got access to a PS3 and SingStar, try We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Pretty much every word is split up into at least 3 syllables, with hyphens between them. Trying to piece together the words and sing them as you go is a nightmare!

Ah - a video: YouTube - Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire (SingStore)

Stinja · 26-06-2009, 3:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

It can take me a long time to learn a song to the point where I can 100% it on Expert but thankfully, as a London commuter, there is plenty of time in the day for that!

So you're that annoying person that sings on the tube!!!

PlexShaw · 26-06-2009, 4:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinja

So you're that annoying person that sings on the tube!!!

Guilty as charged!

I'm currently learning Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm (I was doing so prior to Jackson's passing), so you can imagine the strange looks I'm getting on the Underground.

Kinetic Frenzy · 26-06-2009, 6:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

Another issue is that it is often assumed that you "should" sound exactly like the original singer even if your vocal range prevents you from doing so. Singing in a video game merely requires you to harmonise with the lead vocals and is nothing like real singing, so it is often infuriating that people confuse the two (I have a friend who is particularly annoying in this regard).

In answer to your original question, if I'm at a friend’s house and song comes up that they want to play and I have never heard it before, I simply pass them the mic and tell them to get on with it. It can take me a long time to learn a song to the point where I can 100% it on Expert but thankfully, as a London commuter, there is plenty of time in the day for that!

Yep well put Plex, it annoys me how the songs on rock band do force you to sing in the vocal range of the original singer, it's not realistic, when you hear bands cover another band's song the vocalist rarely has the same range of the original singer.

I've not tried singing on the tube, usually too busy reading my book but i may give it a go and see how long before i get escorted off and sent to the funny farm

PlexShaw · 26-06-2009, 6:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinetic Frenzy

Yep well put Plex, it annoys me how the songs on rock band do force you to sing in the vocal range of the original singer, it's not realistic, when you hear bands cover another band's song the vocalist rarely has the same range of the original singer.

The vocals in Rock Band don't require you to sing in the same octave as the original vocalist because if they did, it would basically be impossible. The problem I've found is that in order to stay on pitch you end up having to sound like a robot and as flat as possible. I've been berated for my "horrible, monotonous whine" (by a friend who IMO sucks at the vocals, but seems to think they're great), but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that this is what gets the job done. It's a video game after all.

It's often a lack of understanding about the technicalities of the vocals in Rock Band that really gets on my nerves (this, incidentally, is not an accusation I would fling at anyone on AVF). After all, why should I be forced by others to sing in a manner well outside my limited vocal range whilst they're flailing away on plastic hardware?

Quote:

I've not tried singing on the tube, usually too busy reading my book but i may give it a go and see how long before i get escorted off and sent to the funny farm

Try it sometime. In fact, we could start a new trend...

lentini · 27-06-2009, 7:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

After all, why should I be forced by others to sing in a manner well outside my limited vocal range whilst they're flailing away on plastic hardware?

Plastic instruments or not, we still look hella cool

Knowing songs is extremely useful though. For instance, I'm a rubbish singer but I tried singing Jeremy on Expert because I'm always singing it in the car and know it off by heart. I FC'd it on my second go (I think it was). Also FC'd Once on a sightread.

PlexShaw · 27-06-2009, 7:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lentini

Plastic instruments or not, we still look hella cool

True, we do look as cool as is humanly possible. No doubt about that.

However, the point I was getting at is that I sometimes get a bit fed up of being told I'm not singing "properly" whilst others around me are rocking out on plastic musical instruments. This is by people I know in real life obviously. I guess I feel they need to put it in perspective.

*Tufty McTavish* · 28-06-2009, 9:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

It's often a lack of understanding about the technicalities of the vocals in Rock Band that really gets on my nerves (this, incidentally, is not an accusation I would fling at anyone on AVF).

That's fair enough. I've tried the singing and, despite already knowing I can't sing for toffee, found it wasn't really something I wanted to push towards. Thus I have little perspective on it other than I was attempting to sing what I was seeing even if I didn't know the song. Just after some clarity from those more experienced than I.

Kinetic Frenzy · 28-06-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

The vocals in Rock Band don't require you to sing in the same octave as the original vocalist because if they did, it would basically be impossible. The problem I've found is that in order to stay on pitch you end up having to sound like a robot and as flat as possible. I've been berated for my "horrible, monotonous whine" (by a friend who IMO sucks at the vocals, but seems to think they're great), but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that this is what gets the job done. It's a video game after all.

It's often a lack of understanding about the technicalities of the vocals in Rock Band that really gets on my nerves (this, incidentally, is not an accusation I would fling at anyone on AVF). After all, why should I be forced by others to sing in a manner well outside my limited vocal range whilst they're flailing away on plastic hardware?

Try it sometime. In fact, we could start a new trend...

I'm a bit confused now as to whether i agree with you or not

basically i find there are some songs i can get a better score on by singing to what my own ears sounds pretty flat - going for it will only see me get a crap score despite sounding better (not professional mind you

).

Every now and again i find a song that is in my range and i can go for it no problems and score highly. 2 songs as a case in point Hungry Like The Wolf - can belt this out and get a great score every time, 3s & 7s if i belt this one out i'm guaranteed a crap score, go much flatter and just concentrate on getting the pitch as close as possible and though it will be a bit boring for me to sing and not sounds so great i'll end up with a better score... go figure as the yanks would say

PlexShaw · 28-06-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tufty McTavish

That's fair enough. I've tried the singing and, despite already knowing I can't sing for toffee, found it wasn't really something I wanted to push towards. Thus I have little perspective on it other than I was attempting to sing what I was seeing even if I didn't know the song. Just after some clarity from those more experienced than I.

Tufty, just to be clear my beef isn't with you at all. Sorry if it came across that way.

It's just a (real life) friend of mine - who I've had a number of issues with recently - has been winding me up and I guess I may have been venting somewhat.