Singing Backup

[CyanideJunkie]

hmm i'm nt sure if this sounds like a stupid question but here goes...

how do u train ur backup vocals? i'm usually scared to really 'sing' into the mic cos i cant really hear myself when the full band is playing, and also afraid tat i would, as a result, go out of tune or sing in the wrong pitch and shit...

so... any suggestions? :lol:

thx in advance guys 8)

 

[pUnKdjEstEr]

basically u have got to open ur mouth and sing..its as simple as that u just have to sing. i mean if u dun even sing it out aloud then u wont be able to even hear urself to know where u go off key and which parts that are nice and are not nice.try singing to the mirror

 

[partyanimal]

backup vox, front vox, same thing. like what pUnKdjEstEr mentioned. don't be afraid to sing into the mic or else you will never be able to hear and pitch yourself. it would help your pitching if you tried singing along with the track you wanna jam to before actually jamming it in a studio.

 

[Dbell]

Listen to yourself louder.

Opening yourself and sing that's for sure, and why dun you try to cover one of your ears and open up and sing, hearing yourself blending into the music, you'll tune in better and feel better too! :wink:

 

[sage]

backup vocals... imo i'd rely on practicing to be a good listener with go in sync with the main vocals / music..

some backup vocalists listen for the range and either harmonise or improvise upon it.. the backhand knowledge of imprinting the underlying chords in your head and then doing your stuff adds to the confidence and allows more smooth pitching to go with the feel and flow..
it's all mental..
sometimes when you go off pitch, it's because you hesitate or are unsure about the pitch or the notes in that range

practicing beforehand without the music's helpful, to get a main idea of how the backup should go, and then focus on applying your melodies regardless of the different melodies scuttering around you by the other instruments..
that part need focus lor.. you can do ittttt~~ ratatatatatata

 

[DesertEagle]

back up vocalists should try singing a third up or a third down normally. Try to hold the same note for long periods to create a background effect. Also, when singing multiple notes as a backup vocalist, note that if the multiple notes are not complementing but contradicting / overpowering the melody, then its time to rework that harmony part. Back up vocalists also should not sing with any form of edge in their voice, that is to say no grunting and no chris cornell, bon jovi husk in the voice. Think richie sambora, frusciante notice how they especially love the one note wonders when they sing backup..haha..

 

[snuffleupagus]

best advice so far

 

[DesertEagle]

haha..oh thanks! I take that as a compliment!

 

[man4422]

Does harmony vocal usually lower key than the lead vocal, meaning a third note down?

 

[DesertEagle]

nope..in fact..its commonly a third higher..but a third lower is fine reli.. Just that commonly, its a third higher. No rules in music man..whatever fits best..

 

[man4422]

nope..in fact..its commonly a third higher..but a third lower is fine reli.. Just that commonly, its a third higher. No rules in music man..whatever fits best..

hey thanks...

Meaning if the lead singer sing A key I have to sing C key one octave lower for backup to harmonize her A.

If she sing D key I have to sing F key.

and so on.

 

[DesertEagle]

um..nope dude..but you got the idea right.

In the case that you've brought up, if you would like to harmonise a song in the key of A, for eg. a third higher, you would actually be providing the harmony in the key of C sharp.. because the major scale for the key of A runs in the order, A B Csharp D E Fsharp Gsharp A.

This follows the standard tonal intervals for all major scales, (tone-tone-semitone-tone tone tone semitone). Forgive me if you do not understand this. As it would take more than just a forum thread to explain this area of musical theory to you. But it'd be great if you understand. Otherwise it might be good to ask people around you with diplomas or even basic grading for music theory! Hope that helped!

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

For my part, when I first started out learning how to sing back-up vocals, I would study bands like the eagles, the beatles and just practise with a friend or just sing back-up along to a song and use that as practise.

With enough practise, exposure and guidance from an experienced vocalist I'm sure you would be able to do that sort of thing with no issues whatsoever.

 

[DesertEagle]

haha..as is the common idea coming out in every music thread.its all bout practice..u won't even b thinkin in technical terms anymore wid time..its a natural "what feels good goes" tin..

 

[Paynk]

Join a choir, (though it's totally not fun I think)

 

[man4422]

um..nope dude..but you got the idea right.

In the case that you've brought up, if you would like to harmonise a song in the key of A, for eg. a third higher, you would actually be providing the harmony in the key of C sharp.. because the major scale for the key of A runs in the order, A B Csharp D E Fsharp Gsharp A.

This follows the standard tonal intervals for all major scales, (tone-tone-semitone-tone tone tone semitone). Forgive me if you do not understand this. As it would take more than just a forum thread to explain this area of musical theory to you. But it'd be great if you understand. Otherwise it might be good to ask people around you with diplomas or even basic grading for music theory! Hope that helped!

hey thanks....
yup I know music theory..understand what you mean

 

[DesertEagle]

heheh.. great! No problem at all. sharing what little i know..0.0