Well...I've been having lessons for 2 weeks now and...

So having sung backing vocals in my band for a while, I took the leap and got lessons with someone regarded pretty highly in the field of rock vocals.

Loud, rocky songs, where I'm pushing my head voice I'm improving a lot - I can hold pitch and my power and tone have improved ten fold.

However, here comes my problem. Chest/mixed voice at low volumes (e.g. solo acoustic) my pitch is wavering. I recorded this to show what I'm talking about - this is one take, just me and a guitar - the pitch falls down a few times. I didn't do any retakes because I won't be able to live.

Here it is:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/79230/Tiny%20Dancer%20Test.mp3

I also {censored}ed up the 'Ballerina' part - its not very high but technique just went!!

Anyway - can anyone recommend exercises for improving pitch control? I'm back at University now, so no more lessons for 2 months.

i thought you had a very nice tone over all

only part that sounded shaky was the "ballerina" part , and the last few lyrics.

Im sure someone else can give you better critique, but i just wanted to tell ya nice job!

im pretty picky with this stuff too ; )

Yeah, I also thought it was quite nice and agree with the part about the last few seconds being shaky.

I don't think your pitch is a problem that needs some special solution, you obviously know where you go wrong and you just need to concentrate and first think of the tone you want to sing and then sing it. It does take some practice, but after a while the process gets pretty automatic.

Keep up the good work

Thanks very much guys!

It's small parts slightly off pitch which completely detracts from it for me...obviously you criticise yourself than other people might notice, but it bugged me.

I've been practising just singing major and minor scales in each key - as well as practising intervals (e.g. trying to do a minor 3rd interval without being given the notes) and that seems to be helping - but if anyone's got any other tips - or critique on that recording, it'd be great to hear it

Awesome job bro

I've did a small cover of Tiny Dancer a while ago. You can check it out here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=870979&songID=6866700

I'm hoping some of these Elton John tunes will help me break into that tenor range. But anyone who thinks singing Elton John is easy is dead wrong. It is definitely tough in my opinion.

I definitely like it though man...you seem to have a nice soft tone to your voice for it too.

So having sung backing vocals in my band for a while, I took the leap and got lessons with someone regarded pretty highly in the field of rock vocals. Loud, rocky songs, where I'm pushing my head voice I'm improving a lot - I can hold pitch and my power and tone have improved ten fold. However, here comes my problem. Chest/mixed voice at low volumes (e.g. solo acoustic) my pitch is wavering. I recorded this to show what I'm talking about - this is one take, just me and a guitar - the pitch falls down a few times. I didn't do any retakes because I won't be able to live. Here it is: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/79230/Tiny%20Dancer%20Test.mp3 I also {censored}ed up the 'Ballerina' part - its not very high but technique just went!! Anyway - can anyone recommend exercises for improving pitch control? I'm back at University now, so no more lessons for 2 months.

My vote is you need to work on your breath support.

if you don't have any air "in reserve" so to speak, it can cause you to have shaky vocals.

Breathing is really the entire key to singing. Once you get the breathing down where you can sing and sustain a note for say... 15 seconds or so, you shouldn't have this issue. Your delivery sounded really breathy to me.

Also, if you want to work on your pitch - get a pitch wheel, and hum into it.

Once you hit the right note you will hear one tone of your humming and the pitch wheel vibrating together.

Yes .Breath support and more importantly, scales will improve your pitch awareness, especially around the passaggio...

Consume and Romvert.....I know we disagree when it comes to the screaming thing.....but I can only agree with you guys here.

Personally....singing scales hasn't done anything for me...I've found that I (personally) need to spend time warming up my ear (or inner ear) before I even start my vocal warm-ups.

Essentially, I'll spend a half hour or so singing along with tunes....I won't even be going for the recorded performance, just for the pitches. They might be harmonies or they might be the exact pitch....tone....I don't care about, I just focus on pitch. {censored}, half the time, I'll sing it with a different dialect just to get my mouth moving...

LOL. You'll eventually agree with us a few years down the road...

Scales will train one's instrument to be flexible and versatile. Singing just one song, depending on the intervals, could trip one into bad habits; doing the pitches in a row is like learning to walk up and down the stairs. When you were a kid you didn't start by randomly jumping 2 or 3 steps at a time, did you?

Scales really give you a good idea of what your adjustments should be for a certain pitch.

As said before, breath control is really where it's at. Generally pitch goes off when there is no more air to push it.

http://www.myspace.com/wholelottazeptucson

Awesome cover, I've been taking singing lessons for about 3 months it helps alot.

Nick - thanks man - nice cover yourself! I think the next thing is to get some bass resonance in my voice.

Thanks for that advice on scales and breath control guys - like I said, I've been doing a lot of scale work recently and it seems to be paying off - I'm improving 10 fold.

Breath control I assume is stomach control as well as taking 'fuller' breaths, right? (Resisted saying 'bigger' breaths...).

Also - rjbee, incredible Zep covering there man - what a band you've got going on there.

Pitch wheel? I'm interested. Post a link? I Googled with no luck.

Thanks,

Jerry

Actually, I was just teasing you guys about the screaming thing.

:poke:

It does take talent to do it.

I'm just old and cranky. LOL

KRATT #MK1-C

THE MASTER KEY.

Virtually every music store in the world has them - usually in a glass case where the cash register is - in a little red square box for around $20.

It is a round Pitch Pipe.