harmonizer Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I would like to help our bass player, who has a marginal voice, fulfill his desire to sing a lead vocal, and still have the result sound good for our band. I play in a weekend warriors covers band, and we have a good lead vocalist and two decent backup singers (I'm one of them). He has already sang the lead on The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" at a couple of gigs (we put it in the last set, when fewer people would be there). We record gigs and sometimes rehearsals, so we have all heard the "iffy" results. His voice is not awful, but IMO he has not helped himself as much as he might to create a serviceable result by thinking more carefully about his approach. Anyway.... I think the type of song that would work best would have these traits: a) be smack dab in the middle of a male baritone range (F-Bb perhaps?), b) would have mostly small jumps in pitch (mostly whole steps and 3rds), c) would have some 3-part vocal harmonies with his "lead" note on the bottom, and d) have a simple enough bass part part so someone else could play the bass line (perhaps me on keyboard). He cannot really sing and play the bass at the same time. In case it matters, here is some info about our band: we have a woman lead singer, a rhythm guitarist, a lead guitarist, my simple keyboard playing (sax is my main instrument), and a drummer. Here are the groups we cover the most: Fleetwood Mac, Doobies, Beatles, CCR, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Eagles, Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi, Cars, Monkees, Led Zep, Pretenders, Stones. Our bass player has a "weakness" for songs of the 1980s, but the song for him to sing does not have to come from that decade. I have tried to think of songs that match the above criteria, but I have come up empty. If anyone has any suggestions it will be greatly appreciated - thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 The Human Beinz "Nobody But Me" "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Lou Reed - Take A Walk On The Wild Side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Jx Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 The Ramones - I wanna be sedated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Lou Reed - Take A Walk On The Wild Side Perfect! Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Mony Mony. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 '80s + simple male vocal + keyboard bass = Trio "Da Da Da" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meisenhower Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I'd suggest the early 80's tune by The Nails, 88 Lines about 44 Women. Simple repetitive base line, nearly monotone vocal line and awesome lyrics! Yamaha C7 Grand, My Hammonds: '57 B3, '54 C2, '42 BC, '40 D, '05 XK3 Pro System, Kawai MP9000, Fender Rhodes Mk I 73, Yamaha CP33, Motif ES6, Nord Electro 2, Minimoog Voyager & Model D, Korg MS10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Why let someone sing who can't sing? Especially if he can't play his instrument at the same time? Some people weren't meant to be singers. Your bass player sounds like he's one of them. Your desire to do a nice thing for your bandmate is absolutely to be commended. Think, however, of the not-so-nice thing that you're doing for everyone your audience by indulging his desire for a 4-minute "star turn"? Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pierce Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Why let someone sing who can't sing? Especially if he can't play his instrument at the same time? Some people weren't meant to be singers. Your bass player sounds like he's one of them. Your desire to do a nice thing for your bandmate is absolutely to be commended. Think, however, of the not-so-nice thing that you're doing for everyone your audience by indulging his desire for a 4-minute "star turn"? Noah Word. --Dave Make my funk the P-funk. I wants to get funked up. My Funk/Jam originals project: http://www.thefunkery.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JpScoey Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 ' Anything by Bob Dylan. John. some stuff on myspace Nord: StageEX-88, Electro2-73, Hammond: XK-1, Yamaha: XS7 Korg: M3-73 EXpanded, M50-88, X50, Roland: Juno D, Kurzweil: K2000vp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Give him the Autotune and Vocoder treatment on The Cars 'Moving in Stereo'? Spare no expense. The Nails meisenhower? I still love that cheezy organ on 'Hotel for Women'. The Jim Carrol song 'People that Died' kind of works as its been redone a couple times with louder guitars and more gutteral vocals and the Death Metal 'Cookie Monster' vocal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gismo Recording Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Dire Straits - Walk of Life My singing voice is marginal at best and I used to sing that one in a former band. Ken Denny Gismo Recording So Cliché Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Fiala Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Anything sung by Ringo....(ducks) Tom F. "It is what it is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 "Running Down A Dream" - Tom Petty. "I'm A Believer" actually isn't all that easy to sing, although it's a simple song. Fast moving triads, like the one that opens the chorus, can be difficult to nail on picth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harmonizer Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 Thanks to everyone for the great song suggestions. I have listened to each song suggested, imagined our bass player singing them, considered what the rest of the band would play, and the styles all our band members like (our band is relatively democratic about song choices). So far I think the two that would work best are "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Nobody But Me". As far as why let him sing? - it's about fun, and it's about learning. I never sang in a covers band until I was 32 (16 years ago), and I still recall getting an elbow in my ribs once that year when I tried to sing a falsetto harmony I had not properly prepared for. That was part of my learning, and now I have a discipline about using falsetto that keeps me out of trouble. Back to our band's bass player, I do believe we can make the song work for the audience with him singing if we pick the right piece, and I am hoping this might help him improve his mental approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Jx Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Dire Straits - Walk of Life Good call! Actually anything by Mark Knoffler would probably work. Money for nothing Skate away Tunnel of love Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Just wondering how much a product like Helicon VoiceLive 2 can improve a marginal voice in a live perfomace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Dire Straits - Walk of Life Good call! Actually anything by Mark Knoffler would probably work. Money for nothing +1 on Money For Nothing. Great vocal harmonies (the sting parts), easy keyboard parts, much of it is talky-singy, well known, and hey - 1980s. I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Rap. ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. B. Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I am very curious, why do the many of the people of this forum type out a saying someone else has said and then leave the rest of the area blank? Is this the very best you can do? It's as though some of you can't think for yourselves and I know this is not the case. I do not get this odd thing many of you do. Enjoy life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augerinn Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I am very curious, why do the many of the people of this forum type out a saying someone else has said and then leave the rest of the area blank? Is this the very best you can do? It's as though some of you can't think for yourselves and I know this is not the case. I do not get this odd thing many of you do. Enjoy life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Jx Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I am very curious, why do the many of the people of this forum type out a saying someone else has said and then leave the rest of the area blank? Is this the very best you can do? It's as though some of you can't think for yourselves and I know this is not the case. I do not get this odd thing many of you do. Enjoy life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 tough crowd "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I am very curious, why do the many of the people of this forum type out a saying someone else has said and then leave the rest of the area blank? Is this the very best you can do? It's as though some of you can't think for yourselves and I know this is not the case. I do not get this odd thing many of you do. Enjoy life. Seriously, other than the two posts right after you saying this, where is this done in this thread. There are a few quotes, but always with additional comments... I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I am very curious, why do the many of the people of this forum type out a saying someone else has said and then leave the rest of the area blank? Is this the very best you can do? It's as though some of you can't think for yourselves and I know this is not the case. I do not get this odd thing many of you do. Enjoy life. Given that you responded to Bill@WelcomeHomeStudios' post, I'm going to guess that you're referring to the space below the line that reads: Steve Martin ...if so, it's because the forum software pads blank lines below a person's post so that their avatar (picture under their name on the left) isn't clipped. If that's not what you're talking about, then I'm not sure what you mean, and I'm with the rest of the folks above wondering what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliffk Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Hehe, just back from vacation and glad things are as lively as they always are on the KC! Btw, how about Queen's 'We will rock you'? Easy bassline, he can just shout it out, and the crowd will probably take over after the first verse. YouTube music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Good call Sven, I think that might be it. jymB might not be aware that they posters are not typing out this saying, but in fact it is an autoappended sig file. I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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