#1916033 - 03/25/08 12:53 PM
Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
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CMDN
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So, as I have mentioned before, I'm now playing guitar and doing vocals for a new band. It's a riff rock/stoner band, and the combination of doing all the vocals, a ton of rhythm and all the leads is quite a challenge, but I love it.
Now, I'll say this right off the top:
I'm nobody's idea of a traditional rock vocalist. It's more bellowing than singing, I guess. My range is fairly limited, but I hit the notes in the melodies I sing with confidence, and I sell it.. because if I don't believe it, nobody who hears us is gonna believe it, right?
As a result, I never half-step. I'm not gonna be one of those vocalists who says, "Oooh I won't sing tonight--I'm saving my voice." That always sounded like bull to me. SING--it's why you're there! SO... I blast, full-on, every single take at rehearsal... I mean, when it's appropriate. Not every song requires bellowing.... but many do.
Anyway... I make it do what it do, as Ray Charles used to say.
The thing is, it's really exhausting. After a good four hours of jamming, I'm freaking BEAT. I drive home in a daze. Shows aren't as bad--we're all original, so we do hour/hour-and-a-half sets. I know, I know. I sound like a light-weight. Frankly, I've never had to be the sole vocalist in any of my bands, so this is a new experience for me. I'm getting better and better at it, but I guess I had hit a plateau where I felt pretty confident--like I had a ton more power and could totally kill it all night if necessary.
But last night... woo... it felt like I wrenched my heart and lungs out, threw them on the floor, stomped them with ice cleats and rolled them in slivers of jagged glass before dipping them in pure grain alcohol and jamming them back down my throat.
Don't get me wrong--I don't lose my voice, and it didn't hurt... I was just plain ol' worn out... like I gave it everything I had and left myself with nothing.
My question is... does this happen to anyone else?
_________________________
\m/
Erik
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#1916046 - 03/25/08 01:14 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: CMDN]
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Mudcat
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...My question is... does this happen to anyone else?
Yes. Last time it happened to me was years ago when I did some marathon vocal tracking sessions on a buddy's school project.
Based on how you describe your vocal style, you may want to check this out. I thought the article was very informative. It deals specifically with singing as a "belter."
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#1916053 - 03/25/08 01:21 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Mudcat]
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CMDN
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Wow... very good stuff. I knew a lot of it already, but yeah.. very useful.
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Erik
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#1916056 - 03/25/08 01:26 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Mudcat]
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miroslav
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Playing and singing is a very physical process...so it sure can tire you out!
Even though you are not loosing your voice, you should try to find the most "economical" way of bellowing (as you put it)...so you don't eventually blow out your vocal chords and rip up your lungs. You don't want to end up spitting out blood....so be careful.
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miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1916064 - 03/25/08 01:40 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: miroslav]
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CMDN
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Yeah, I think I'm more reacting to the physical side of it... the whole thing of just playing and singing at once. I usually leave tired as hell, but my throat/vocal cords never hurt... they're just tired.
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Erik
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#1916095 - 03/25/08 02:48 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: CMDN]
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A String
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How is your breathing during singing? Could be that you are slightly depriving yourself during the sets and that is winding up making you feel "dragged out" at the end of the night?
Could also just be because you don't sing a lot. Your muscles could still be a little weak so they have to work over time to get some of the notes. If that's the case, more singing will fix you right up.
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#1916108 - 03/25/08 03:40 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: A String]
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d
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How long have you been doing this?
When you mention a night of jamming, is that focused rehearsal or a lengthy, perhaps rambling workout?
Things to consider:
Breathing exercises or any routines that can build your stamina both for lungs & general phyicality;
Posture...it's amazing how much easier it is to sing when your body's properly upright;
Take frequent breaks during sessions & drink lots of water(more than other bevvies);
When first learning a song, don't add full-on vocals until the arrangement is solid;
Practicing any song only 2~3 times in any session;
Practicing sections of songs rather than the entire thing, especially when polishing certain elements;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead.
...Oh, & you might want to consider encouraging other band members to do some vocals as well.
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#1916370 - 03/26/08 06:34 AM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: d]
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CMDN
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How is your breathing during singing? Could be that you are slightly depriving yourself during the sets and that is winding up making you feel "dragged out" at the end of the night?
Could also just be because you don't sing a lot. Your muscles could still be a little weak so they have to work over time to get some of the notes. If that's the case, more singing will fix you right up.
That's a good point. I haven't totally examined my breathing during singing... I'll have to consider that. There's a good chance that I'm not thinking enough about breathing regularly during the process, and I'm probably expending a lot of energy and not taking in enough air for myself.
I think the big thing for me is that I'm still pretty new to being the only vocalist in the band, so, while I am comfortable enough doing vocals, I'm just not particularly adept yet. My bandmates compliment me a lot about my progress, so either they're getting used to my caterwauling... or maybe I'm getting better, little by little.
How long have you been doing this?
When you mention a night of jamming, is that focused rehearsal or a lengthy, perhaps rambling workout?
Things to consider:
Breathing exercises or any routines that can build your stamina both for lungs & general phyicality;
Posture...it's amazing how much easier it is to sing when your body's properly upright;
Take frequent breaks during sessions & drink lots of water(more than other bevvies);
When first learning a song, don't add full-on vocals until the arrangement is solid;
Practicing any song only 2~3 times in any session;
Practicing sections of songs rather than the entire thing, especially when polishing certain elements;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead;
Make others sing, too, whether back-up or lead.
...Oh, & you might want to consider encouraging other band members to do some vocals as well.
I've only been this band's vocalist in earnest for about five months, so I guess I am pretty new... we rehearse/write/jam about 10 hours per week (yes, that's a lot, but we enjoy it), and I'd say I sing for six to eight of those.
I really do need to start warming up before rehearsal and shows. I'm sure that will help get me all limbered up. Tough to say about posture--I sing, play guitar and provide a modicum of something entertaining to watch while we play, so I'm not sure if I can do much to improve my posture.
We do take breaks about every 45 minutes or so, and, during those breaks, I drink a lot of water. In fact, the only beverages I ever drink at all are water and tea (unsweetened.) No alcohol of any kind, no sodas, no sugared drinks, no coffee. I do, however, consume about a gallon of water at every rehearsal.
I usually don't/can't add full-on vocals to anything we do until the arrangement is done, so I tend to mumble something semi-coherent just to keep time.
However, I'm pretty sure nobody else is gonna sing... and that's definitely a good thing. Trust me on this.
Thanks, guys... for all the advice. Last night someone compared my voice to that of Neil Fallon from Clutch. I guess that's a nice thing.
_________________________
\m/
Erik
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#1916421 - 03/26/08 07:59 AM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: CMDN]
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Dr. Ellwood
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Drink only ROOM TEMP water Erik!! never drink cold anything!!
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#1916453 - 03/26/08 08:49 AM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Dr. Ellwood]
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CMDN
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Right on, Doc... I only like cold water when I am eating, not while I am playing.
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Erik
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#1916563 - 03/26/08 12:20 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: CMDN]
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Eric Iverson
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I have heard it said that the worst thing you can drink when singing is milk!
Not that that's the beverage that is offered to you in most bars!
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#1916564 - 03/26/08 12:22 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Eric Iverson]
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Dr. Ellwood
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Not really true Eric... I don't drink but I know there are quite a few drinks mixed with milk or cream.
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#1916567 - 03/26/08 12:29 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Dr. Ellwood]
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Dr. Ellwood
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coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) rum chocolate milk cinnamon whipped cream
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coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico) Irish cream (Bailey's) milk
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chocolate milk coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) mint schnapps
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creme de cacao raspberry liqueur (chambord) milk
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strawberry cream liqueur coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) vodka milk
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rum milk powdered sugar nutmeg
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vodka coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) Irish cream (Bailey's) hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico) cream
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coffee liqueur (Tia Maria,Kahlua) coconut rum (malibu) whisky (whiskey,Bourbon...) milk ice cubes
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cream sherry milk powdered sugar nutmeg
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rum (dark) brandy milk sugar
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chocolate milk licor 43
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vanilla schnapps orange liqueur (cointreau, grand marnier...) creme de cacao milk
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whisky (whiskey,Bourbon...) whisky (whiskey,Bourbon...) milk
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creme de cacao vanilla schnapps Irish cream (Bailey's) milk
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#1916652 - 03/26/08 02:48 PM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: Mudcat]
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RicBassGuy
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Here's another thought.
Maybe your brain is plumb tuckered out?
It's actually exhausting trying to remember a ton of lyrics and recall them on command. (It's somewhat less taxing to read them off a lyric sheet.)
At the same time you're playing rhythm guitar. Maybe throwing some riffs in there between lines of lyrics. More brain drain.
Leads/solos take a good bit of mental effort, too. (At least you don't have to sing over a solo! But as the solo comes to an end you have to start thinking of what the next lyric is, don't you?)
You're juggling an egg, a bowling ball, and a running chainsaw, all while balancing on a board on a rolling barrel, AND improvising a bit of comedy all at the same time.
All together it really is mentally fatiguing.
I imagine it will get better when everything becomes second nature, muscle memory starts to kick in, and you don't have to think so hard about anything. When it becomes more of a reflex than a mental exercise.
Edited by RicBassGuy (03/26/08 02:49 PM)
Edit Reason: you're an edit reason!
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#1918285 - 03/29/08 10:29 AM
Re: Fatigue... Vocals/Guitar
[Re: RicBassGuy]
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d
MP Hall of Fame Member
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The deal about milk (or any dairy food) is that it tends to thicken phlegm & doesn't help keep one's throat smoothly lubricated. It's neither the best nor the worse thing, Lennon's use before cutting a great track aside. They had no option but to use what he'd recorded as getting him to recreate it, much less do better, was impossible; according to G Martin, his voice was shot after the marathon session of tracking the Beatles first album.
I'd like to further address the comment that getting others in the band to sing is a no-go.
CMDN, if that's the case, you should be considered the featured member of the band & get extra pay.
Here's why: while many let their singing abilities lapse to the point that they may verge on tone-deafness (BTW, notice that those who can't sing well often also have poor pitch on their instruments), we're all born with the ability to sing & can regain that ability the same way we gain it on instruments: by practice.
People who refuse to contribute vocals (with the possible exception of rhythm section members in situations where precise, syncopated rhythms are essential...& that's usually not every song) are simply taking a free ride, just as if they refused to help move gear or do any other equitable work.
That may seem harsh & be something that you're loathe to advance in the context of your band but it's true.
There are several reasons that multiple singers help any performance, from greater variety for the audience to helping the main singer not carry all the load &, as in your case, get worn out, possibly even delivering sub-par performances.
One comparison is a bassist or drummer who insisted on being flashy rather than supporting the song.
It's possible, if you think about it & prepare your rap, to bring this up diplomatically. Stress the idea that it helps the band to be better as a whole, not just that you could use some help.
PS on posture: You should be comfortable & not self-consciously attempting to maintain a pose.
I was referring to cases where I've seen people hunched over ala that cat in Oasis. Just yesterday I saw a guy bent at the knees & also at his waist (almost at the angle he might sit in a chair, maybe 100 degrees!), then he had his neck bent upward toward the mic. 
Ultimately do what seems confortable both physically & inter-personally...but don't carry the load by yourself without some equity.
Edited by d (03/29/08 10:36 AM)
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