I found a sound I like

This is the sound I want to pursue further

This is an original song using a Nick Drake tuning:

I feel like when I sing original songs I don't force anything because I'm not trying to copy another artist.

I need help on how to get exactly on pitch in this style instead of reaching for the pitches, also on how to get to a long note and hold that long note and not waver from it.

Elliott Smith and Nick Drake are huge influences of mine. I would also like to be able to double track vocals like Elliott Smith did but I can never time it correctly. When I sing on top of the recording it feels like I am reacting to the first sound and then singing instead of singing in time with the recording. I feel like if I can learn to double track and layer vocals I can make my recordings stand out but I don't know how to do it.

Dude, if you like their vocal style, I think the best thing would be to sing along and pick up on their general style. You're going to sound like yourself no matter whose style you copy from, so it doesn't matter. Playing like them should come easier, just play stuff that gives off the same vibe as their material.

Can't help you with the double tracking thing..

I'm sure someone on this forum can help you with holding long notes.

It might be a breathing issue.

If you like to read books, you can try "The Ultimate Breathing Workout" by Jaime Vendera.

Or "The Voice Book" by Kate Devore (There's a chapter dedicated exclusively to breathing with

many exercises).

Do you have the sheet music for Nick Drake's songs?

If possible, I'd use computer software (like Finale or MuseScore) to

write out the sheet music and make a MIDI file of the score.

When you say reaching for the notes, I'm assuming that means you're

sliding up or down to the note instead of hitting it right on.

Try to imagine yourself jumping from note to note (like Super Mario) and attacking each note precisely.

Some people don't like those kind of visual images but it works for me.

If you have the sheet music, work out the difficult passages on a piano (or guitar)

until you can hit each note without sliding up or down.

Also, I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone, but I often "pre-hear" my notes.

Right before I sing the next note, I can hear it in my head. Basically, when I sing a note, I can

already feel the next note. It's like one note automatically pushes you into the next note and I'm

just along for the ride. I don't know if this makes any sense, but that's how it is for me.