Home VOCAL DEMONSTRATIONS for the Bold!

Demo Area for the Bold - Critical Feedback for the more Experienced

11618202122

Comments

  • TommyMTommyM Pro Posts: 270
    Hiya folks,

    I hadn't submitted anything to the forum for critical review on here when I initially joined as I thought it was more for KTVA students already working on the programme, so my apologies if I'm posting inappropriately or anything.

    I've been singing since I was about 14 but stopped for quite a while, only really getting back into professional, paid work in the last year or so. Singing in rock and metal bands for years with a bad technique took its toll on my voice, but fortunately I came across Ken's videos on YouTube and basically started again from scratch as a complete newbie.

    Prior to that, I'd started posting some vocal covers on YouTube, so I can already look back at those and hear the difference that even the most basic exercises have brought! I wanted to post a few examples of my voice to get some feedback/criticism from yourselves, so please feel free to be as harsh as you want; I'd much rather that than any pussy-footing around as you guys seem to really know your stuff and I trust your opinions based on what I've read on here so far.

    I think I'm naturally a baritone, but I'd be interested to hear your take on it as I think it'd help me focus more on the areas I really need to work on to make the most of my instrument.

    Here's my vocal cover of "Ore D'amore" by Fred Bongusto (you might know it better as "The World We Knew" from Sinatra's version, or maybe from Mike Patton's Mondo Cane project).

    Another, post-Ken's videos cover I did was "Overkill" by Men at Work. I'd approached this with a much cleaner tone that I'd been using for years and had developed more volume control that I'd ever had, thanks to Ken's YT videos.

    I'm currently singing in a rock/soul covers band at the moment, so I'd been trying to bring some grit back to my voice on this cover of "Green River" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Unfortunately, and rather stupidly, I was singing at this gig while trying to recover from the 'flu and then do another two 3+ hour shows the following two nights...yes, I'm a total fool. Hahahaha!

    Any advice or feedback would be appreciated. I should hopefully be starting a new job at the end of this month after eight months of unemployment and low-paying gigs, so KTVA's at the top of my list of purchases but unfortunately I'm not enrolled or using Ken's programme fully at the moment.

    All the best,

    Tommy


  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    From your low tones you sound like a baritone. Tenors can't quite get that rich of a low-end on their voices. That said, you sound fine on a B4, which is a very respectable note for a baritone. Your tone and pitch are very good. On the scales up on the last verse of overkill, you could support those notes more to keep them from punching so hard. Those would be better if they were finessed and compressed just a bit, to get a little more consistency, but it's a good run of notes.

    Nice job. Good to hear your voice.

    Bob
  • TommyMTommyM Pro Posts: 270
    edited January 2017
    Thanks Bob, I really appreciate your time and comments. I know what you mean about the support and keeping the notes from punching so hard, it's something I've been continually working on as I was still falling into bad habits like using too much pressure, pushing rather than releasing into it, etc.

    I was able to consistently hit and sustain a G5 before I stopped singing full-time, so to know that my B4 sounds anywhere near acceptable is a great boost.

    Thank you again!
  • everdroneeverdrone Pro Posts: 183
    a friend from another forum did this remix for my song, it sounds amazing!

    https://youtu.be/R_zGpQJ6rSw

  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited January 2017
    @everdrone definitely agree ... very bright sounding.

    @highmtn @bentk I've been working on pitch. I did this at the lowest end of my voice as soft as I dare. I sense the most resonance when soft and that low. This down to E2. I can go down to D2 but can't sustain as good as E2. Does this sound in tune to you guys? @highmtn bright enough?

  • everdroneeverdrone Pro Posts: 183
    cool thanks brutha
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    edited January 2017
    @stratman,

    Nice bright tone. On the "I'm found" you slide down into the pitch on "I'm". You could try to hit it with a bull's eye and it will be even better. On those notes (the F# and E2, you could experiment with being even a little brighter. I know that seems a little counterintuitive, but keeping it really bright can help you to hear the pitch down that low with greater accuracy, which will help you to bullseye that note more quickly and confidently.

    Good support on those low notes, by the way. Our lowest notes will wobble on us if we don't hold on to a very steady stream of air. That's hard to do, because we are singing on the full length of our cords and that requires a slightly greater quantity and consistency of air flow to keep an even volume and pitch.

    Nice job.
  • rob.a.crob.a.c Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 30
    Ive been studying vol 1 for a month would like some brutal feedback and suggestions on where to focus pretty please thanks









    theres tons more on me soundcloud if ur interested nothing like finished state lol but its useful to see if im getting better, be warned i make a lot of weird guitar impression noises to try and figure out how to make sounds i like lol you may find it odd i find it hilarious and helps me relax when practicing
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    edited February 2017
    I thought you were doing quite well with Mr. Crowley for the first two verses, but after that it went downhill.

    Right before the solo, you missed the high note. It goes up to G# on the word "birth". There are more G#'s in the last verse too that you weren't singing either. The last verse sounded much worse overall than the first two.

    Your excessive humming and "dadadadadas" during the solos is not necessary, and the more it goes on, it just gets more and more annoying. Please don't do that. Just don't.

    Like I said, you were on good pitch for the first two verses, and your tone wasn't bad either.

    Overall I rate it 5/10. You asked for brutal feedback so there you go.
  • everdroneeverdrone Pro Posts: 183
    ha! I just finished it, I hope you check out my new original doom metal video called "TWO SECONDS TO INSANITY":

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3x7A66a6mo


  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @everdrone
    If you could clone yourself into a headless quintet, you wouldn't need any bandmates. This is the complete doom metal sound, vocals, instruments... This is ultimate doom. It doesn't help that there's a full moon outside right now...

    You are ready for the doom room. Full Moon Doom Room.
  • everdroneeverdrone Pro Posts: 183
    @highmtn thanks for the vote of support friend! heh ya my doom clones came to musical consensus really quick on the songs


    ...but now they are hunting me down trying to take me out!!! lol ***howls at full moon***
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited February 2017
    Just passed 2 years. I can do the vol 3 exercises with no trouble at all and now trying to use the techniques in songs. It's weird being able to do all those vol 3 exercises easily but struggling when applying to songs ... slowly making song progress though. Been working on my pitch heaps too.

    Here's some examples of me pulling back air as much as I can. I think I might be using glottal compression but unsure.




  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @stratman,

    It's time to start doing a few tunes on vowels only, starting with the LAH. No consonants. Sustaining contiguous vowels to the melodies. Working on supporting the notes. After the Lah, then the vowels transitioning on the actual vowels. Just take one song at first. Make it your laboratory. Line-by-line. Finally, adding only the minimum consonants required.

    There's a little bit of wobble, or unevenness in your breath. You'll want to hunker down on that a little bit, even though you're cutting back the breath. Appoggio means literally "to lean on". Cord closure can help to cut back the amount of air you use, but mostly it comes from overall conservation of breath. But you have to keep it moving smoothly. There's a balance you have to find to regulate an even, smooth, low flow. Closure helps to keep that from being a slow leak.

    All the Best!

    Bob
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    Thanks Bob. Long journey but really worthwhile. Finally got a compliment from one of kids today :)
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    That's huge. They don't show their cards very often. They remember when you first started, though. They know.
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited February 2017
    Here's another I did today that I supported to max I'm currently able.

    Note: is blocked from playing inline on the forum :/ but will play if you click to go to youtube.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33crPxGlHNY&feature=youtu.be
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @stratman like your new SoundCloud posts. Your really learning to hold that breath in gives that nice soft warm sound to your voice. Good job keep it up!
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @everdrone Two seconds to Insanity. You really getting a nice sound compared to when you first started out. You used to sound like you were hurting your voice by all the extra air that was escaping. But now man your voice is really coming out. Great job on this.
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @highmtn I'm still hanging out listening and the voice is still growing. Different muscles are beginning to get involved holding back my air. I'm recently getting into trying to get a good sound with Jonny Cash "Hurt". It's coming but will take time to get that extra slow air air. I'm learning to get past trying to slow that air in my throat which has been a major problem of mine. Now I have to get my new muscles built up we'll see how as time goes. As always thx for being there to help us all grow our new voices.
    Steve
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @stratman this song came to mind listening to your voice. Wonder if it's something you might table later?
    https://youtu.be/Tm4BrZjY_Sg
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    @SteveK thanks. I was away on a work trip last week and was doing vol 3 practice in car park at airport. I had a definite aha moment that I'm desperate to achieve again. I was holding back air well and the high notes were effortless with what I felt was great tone.

    I'm a little frustrated because I haven't been able to do it since :( ... if I could get back on to that and get it into my singing, I will be well pleased. I often use the dude exercises where ken is singing (not piano only) so I can match his vowel mods and tone. I used an app called mp3directcut to extract the exercise bits.

    I've found that when I'm "in the zone" high notes are effortless with good tone. Unfortunately, being in the zone hasn't happened while in front of my recording gear (yet). Thinking about it, I need to install a recording app on my phone to capture those moments. Maybe the SoundCloud app can help
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @stratman if you hit it once just keep at it you'll have more and more. Keep on keep on you'll have it before you know it.
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @stratman I'm starting to be able to get a nice gentle massage feeling on my cords. It used to be massive air pressure and holding back air like my cords were holding the air back trying to do all the support. Hopefully soon I'll have something good to post but my lower muscles are still building.
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    @SteveK I did notice a little discomfort at the base of my neck after doing a full vol 3 while holding back air. Felt I was doing something wrong but it was the only way to get the better tone. The discomfort is subsiding so wonder whether it's just muscles that haven't been used before.
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited February 2017
    Here's the part of my range I want to strengthen. This is what those higher notes currently sound like with as much compression as I can muster (what a work out the support is for these notes) ... still a bit pitchy but that will come with time :)

  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    edited February 2017
    @stratman, remember that those notes up at that A-C jump will be miniature versions of a note like a G4. Taper those down in volume and in girth and hold them down at the gut. The smaller they are, the easier they are to manage. Then, once you can contain them, you can worry about whether they're big enough. That's seldom the problem. The problem is more one of getting them down to a manageable size in the first place.

    Learning support can drive you crazy. I had the same thing, as far as being able to duplicate it after stumbling onto it. You just have to keep repeating and when you have those lucid moments where you suddenly are hitting those money notes and they're relatively effortless when compared to the way those same notes feel when you're killing yourself to fail on them... THAT's where you have to pull the car over, or stop the band in the middle of the song, and turn on the recorder (just kidding, but being able to RECALL it can even be difficult, because it's just the summation of the things you've been trying to put together, and suddenly it just clicks.) . After a while, yes, you can recall it on command, or catch yourself not supporting and just go "Ungh!" and instantly support. But that magic word doesn't work unless your body knows how to do it, and your voice knows how to sit on that cushion of air.

    @SteveK, glad you're still fighting the good fight! Sounds like some of this is beginning to take hold with you.
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited February 2017
    @highmtn @SteveK I managed to capture a moment where I felt I was doing my best like the experience last week in the car. I hope to sing songs like "everyone's a winner" with this more resonant sound. What I posted yesterday was to show the extreme opposite I.e. I was using huge force on my stomach to sing that high .... noticed a headache coming on too :o

    This is more relaxed. Maybe too relaxed as I lose support on some of the lower notes. Don't focus too much on my pitch but rather the tone, particularly when I descend after hitting E5

    Comments welcome

  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    edited February 2017
    I like how open, light, and relaxed it is on some really crazy-high scales. It's not hooty-flutey high, either. Nice work. You're getting some good traction, moving ahead. Every note isn't perfect, but there are a lot of really good moments here. That's the path to better and better. You're letting the vowel mods take their natural course. Very good.

    Thanks for posting this. E5...
    :-)
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @stratman nice dude. Keep it up.
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    edited March 2017
    Was having a listen to some of my favorite male singers isolated from the backing music. Is very interesting as you can hear the compression some are using. I did upload a video here but youtube muted it due to copyright :(

    Take a look on youtube for "isolate vocals" for some of your favorite singers
  • everdroneeverdrone Pro Posts: 183
    I joined a startup Guns n Roses cover band, we need slash and duff...here is a video I made tonight of "you could be mine"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxaySYRmD6o
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
  • JonasFinnLarssonJonasFinnLarsson Pro Posts: 200
    Been writing this song. Tweaking it with better vocals.



    People say tempo should be faster, I agree but still like the regular tempo!

    Any thoughts?
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    This is probably your best tune you've posted here. Interesting. Has a hook. I like the tempo. I like the vocal doubling here and there.
  • JonasFinnLarssonJonasFinnLarsson Pro Posts: 200
    highmtn said:

    This is probably your best tune you've posted here. Interesting. Has a hook. I like the tempo. I like the vocal doubling here and there.

    Thanks for commenting on the tempo. I think it fits too even though some people want it to go fast. I dont wanna redo everything hehe :P. I guess people will always have different opinions when listening to songs. Of course! I'll keep posting songs here maybe :) It is KTVA that started my singing, like really started.
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited March 2017
    Rush`s Panecea from Fountain of Lamneth
    Album: Caress of Steel

    https://youtu.be/KtU_tjDIamY
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @viniciusoliveira

    This is a little bit beyond your present skill-set, but I have to say, I wouldn't have believed you were capable of being even this far along, based upon your first demos in which you couldn't even hit one note in the same key as the song or exercise you were singing.

    I'm really encouraged by your effort and dedication to wanting to really learn to sing. I'm looking forward to where you are going to take this.

    You have a lot of work to do. You're still very pitchy, but you're getting closer every day.

    Start working the KTVA exercises more, and keep doing your pitch drills. You are improving. You have a lot of work ahead of you. Your determination will go a long way towards getting you there. I repeat: Start doing the KTVA EXERCISES MORE.

    Technique first. Songs after. Pitch always.

    You'll get there!
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited March 2017
    highmtn said:

    @viniciusoliveira

    You have a lot of work to do. You're still very pitchy, but you're getting closer every day.

    Start working the KTVA exercises more, and keep doing your pitch drills. You are improving. You have a lot of work ahead of you. Your determination will go a long way towards getting you there. I repeat: Start doing the KTVA EXERCISES MORE.

    Technique first. Songs after. Pitch always.

    You'll get there!

    @highmtn Thanks!
    I need to work my vocal weight,though.

    Btw,seems that the more brightness I add to my timbre ,the more vocal size I lose.
    Therefore it usually sounds like I'm whispering.

    Plus,even on my current highest chest notes (from C4 to F and F#4),my voice isn't "little boy's" enough.

    I want my vocals to be "little boy's voice" from my lowest to highest note. I try using that sort of timbre all the time,even when speaking,yet seems like I'm doing something wrong because I never seem bright and "little boy" enough.

    Please tell me more ways to improve my little boys voice,other than speaking with it all the time (because I already do that).
  • stratmanstratman Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 364
    Really working hard on compression and pitch. Trying to get the 'buzz' into my whole range to get better tone ... thoughts?

    Latest singing example:


    Starting to add distortion ... 1st verse clean, next two progressively more (still a bit pitchy though)


    I hit an A5 (I think) in my practice B)
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Nice c5 on the Neil Young song. I was wanting more brightness on the Bad Co. That one seems a hair flat. Brighter would help you to home in on the center of the pitch. Maybe needing a bit more support on the Bad Co. The Neil Young seems much brighter than the Bad Co tonally. Your Vol 3 practice has a good, bright tone, as well. Good intonation also. Great support on that long-scale.
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited March 2017
    Can we sing over MIDI songs (just like that of old karaokes) and post them here?
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    Me trying to cover an acustic version of circa survive`s get out. Couldn't menage singing those high chest notes yet... Anyways here it is.
    https://youtu.be/cmapagyr_0M

    I sound pretty much like a tenor,though I'm unsure whether I'm a Tenor Leggierio (high tenor) or not.
    Anyways..


    Begun doing vol1 a few days ago,after 2 months and a half training basic pitch.
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @viniciusoliveira

    This is still out of pitch, but amazingly closer than when you started a couple of months ago. Get to work on the actual lessons now, and let your voice start to grow and stabilize.
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited March 2017
    highmtn said:

    @viniciusoliveira

    This is still out of pitch, but amazingly closer than when you started a couple of months ago. Get to work on the actual lessons now, and let your voice start to grow and stabilize.

    Thanks very much. Aside from pitch,is every other aspect of my voice good?

    I'm having quite a hard time with using little boy voice below the 4th octave,though I've been trying my best to do so all the time,even when speaking.

    Fortunely,(in my opinion) my timbre is closer to "bright" than "dark" on the 3th octave... thats an accomplishment.

    Any advices?
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Be more patient.
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    Just curious. Might be too early to ask this,but.. from my previous videos, whats my voice type?
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    That's kind of hard to say, because you are still kind of birthing your voice, and you're struggling to hit notes that are still in the baritone range. But you sometimes get everything aligned to get a good sound higher up. So I wouldn't be too certain just yet. Let's see what you can do a few months down the road...
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited March 2017
    highmtn said:

    That's kind of hard to say, because you are still kind of birthing your voice, and you're struggling to hit notes that are still in the baritone range. But you sometimes get everything aligned to get a good sound higher up. So I wouldn't be too certain just yet. Let's see what you can do a few months down the road...

    The only information I have on my current voice is: my first passagio is on F#4 or F4.
    Nowadays thats the note on which my chest breaks into head.
    By adding futher size to my chest,though,I can go much higher...


    Anyways,in my current rehearsals,should I go as high as B5 with my head voice?

    That's the thinnest note from the work outs.

    The highest I can sustain through head is E5 right now,yet I've hit notes even higher than B5 before,just for fun.
  • SteveKSteveK Pro Posts: 556
    @viniciusoliveira you have a very nice voice. Great potential. Im no professional. But highmtn is looking for your voice to smooth out and get brighter as you sing. Its very soft spoken in some places as you work the program your voice will smooth out and you will have more control. Highmtn will be glad to help you thru your growth. He has given you the best advice he can at this point. Work the program he will be able to help you grow your voice if you take the time and do as he suggests.
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    SteveK said:

    @viniciusoliveira you have a very nice voice. Great potential. Im no professional. But highmtn is looking for your voice to smooth out and get brighter as you sing. Its very soft spoken in some places as you work the program your voice will smooth out and you will have more control. Highmtn will be glad to help you thru your growth. He has given you the best advice he can at this point. Work the program he will be able to help you grow your voice if you take the time and do as he suggests.


    Thank you so much! :)
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
  • JacobTaylorJacobTaylor Member Posts: 3
    Here's me singing "In The End" by Linkin Park. Tell me what you think!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4yZX8hNYRE
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Sounds good, Jacob. Be careful with that distortion. Make sure you don't sing those parts too loud, or you could hurt your voice.
  • JacobTaylorJacobTaylor Member Posts: 3
    highmtn said:

    Sounds good, Jacob. Be careful with that distortion. Make sure you don't sing those parts too loud, or you could hurt your voice.

    Thanks man! And yeah absolutely, however I find that singing aggressive parts like that require more volume than most clean parts I've ever sang. The way I do it in this video doesn't hurt or cause discomfort though! :D

  • KonradSzymanskiKonradSzymanski Pro Posts: 36
    Hi guys, this is my most recent song. Some say it sounds like progressive folk, others hear Zeppelin vibe, u tell me :) As always feedback appreciated

    https://youtu.be/yq95mr17Lvc
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Awesome, Konrad. I even heard a little vibe from "Dear Prudence" in there, about midway.
    Very, very nice songwriting and singing. Difinitely some Robert Plant flavoring in there, too. Delightful!
  • SemiSemi Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 153
    Hi @KonradSzymanski,
    great tune, man! During the intro I thought I was hearing new hit from Ed Sheeran. Nice production, overall very good recording. Let`s play it again!
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Hey guys, i am new to the sight. I have been singing for a number of years but only just decided to work on improving my voice. I don't have as much time as i would like to commit to the programme and have only done some of the stage 1 vocal exercises. I hav already seen an increase in my range. I have attached a link for don't stop believing by journey. It doesn't sound great but i wouldn't even have tried it before!!! See what you think.
    Sorry i don't know how to embed it into the forum!!

    soundcloud.com/gareth-peebles-645507322/dont-stop-believing
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    I just thought i'd add a second as a recording as a contrast to my previous one. Any advice on either would be great. This one is Moondance in the style of Michael Buble.
    soundcloud.com/gareth-peebles-645507322/moondance
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Nice job on both tunes, @vertidog! You're on a good track.
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Sorry to be a complete dunce, having listened to these would you be able to help me. I have no idea what kind of singer i am and what my range is? I have very little musical knowledge as you can clearly tell.
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @vertidog,

    Actually, you're pretty close to the tone Steve Perry uses on the Journey song, and you've got a good Buble sound going as well. Songs have a lot of moving parts, and can tend to be composites of several takes, so sometimes it's hard to make judgements, especially deep within a mix.

    We can be more helpful to you on some of the simple scales, where we're looking closely at your individual vowels and what you're doing with them. Also, after you've learned some of the KTVA techniques we can look at how you're employing those into songs, but again, there may be hundreds of notes in a song, and sometimes getting the basics right first is a better route to apply to songs. Then we can talk about where you need to apply this or that more or less.

    You really have a pretty good voice going on to start with. We need to strip away the song-singing for a while and look at the core of your voice and how you're producing it.

    A basic Lah scale will give us a lot of information to start with.
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Thanks i really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I will look to get that done!
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    I thought i'd add another for people to have a listen to and any comments and advice would be great.
    https://soundcloud.com/gareth-peebles-645507322/you-are-the-best-thing
  • SemiSemi Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 153
    Hi,

    after a month of struggle I was finally able to beat this nasty laryngitis. My voice still isn`t in best shape but I kept practicing, anyway. Just a quick recording from my practice, tried to open up my tone even more to achieve the relaxed Sam Cooke/Steve Perry`s round, warm sound:



    What do you think? @highmtn, @streeter
  • CherieCherie Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 122
    I think your tenor voice is wonderful! How long have you been following KTVA training?
  • CherieCherie Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 122
    edited April 2017
    vertidog Posts: 8Pro
    5:14AM Flag0
    ("I thought i'd add another for people to have a listen to and any comments and advice would be great.")

    I enjoyed your cover! I think the characteristics of you voice are great! You have been doing wedding singing? Do you gig as a solo act with backing tracks, your own PA etc?
  • CherieCherie Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 122

    Hi guys, this is my most recent song. Some say it sounds like progressive folk, others hear Zeppelin vibe, u tell me :) As always feedback appreciated

    https://youtu.be/yq95mr17Lvc

    Wow! You created such a beautiful recording, great song and your voice is so good!!! You are very talented. You definitely need to keep going. This is what you should do in life!
  • CherieCherie Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 122
    viniciusoliveira Posts: 189Enrolled
    March 20 Flag0
    "Me trying to cover an acustic version of circa survive`s get out. Couldn't menage singing those high chest notes yet... Anyways here it is."

    For me, anyway, I think that the exercises are great but then being able to apply the mass of instruction impeccably to singing actual songs is going to take time! That's where the patience and iron determination will come in! I get really inspired watching the pro video student demonstrations! Wow, every single one of those videos of student cover songs are amazing. Whenever is watch one I think, "Is THIS possible???" I want to do that well too, so I do my exercises 6 days every single week and I'm not going to give up!
    Just like me, we have not really been with this long enough to build the muscles or train muscle memory etc. yet. I bet you'll get the increased range you are after and when you have trained awhile pitch issues will resolve too. I like your voice! If you stick with it I think you'll be a wonderful singer!
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Very nice rendition, @Semi! Nice Sam Cooke licks. Great feeling in your voice!
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Cherie said:

    vertidog Posts: 8Pro
    5:14AM Flag0
    ("I thought i'd add another for people to have a listen to and any comments and advice would be great.")

    I enjoyed your cover! I think the characteristics of you voice are great! You have been doing wedding singing? Do you gig as a solo act with backing tracks, your own PA etc?

    Hi Cherie,

    I am just starting out, I have only done one gig so far. Just trying to push myself to improve as i know how competitive it will be.

    Ye i use backing tracks, i bought a PA just hoping i can earn enough to pay it off!!


  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @vertidog

    Nice job on your demo. Your voice has a lot of character. Cool tone.

    Bob
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
  • SemiSemi Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 153
    @highmtn, thanks for listening! Although it seems my recording has been "relocated" to another part of this thread, took me a while to find it.
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    vocaroo.com/i/s1Apl1mA6Tqi

    Playing around with some Rainbow/Dio. Only a small clip. I know for sure I couldn't sing this well a year ago. My voice is stronger in the higher register than it used to be. I definitely couldn't belt with as much clarity or power. Still have a tad bit of shakiness on a few notes, but overall I love the way my voice is sounding.
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Yeah, improving your support can help settle those shaky notes. Still, you're playing around with Bb4, C5, and D5 in chest. Yes, I would say you are getting into some serious territory. What's cool is that you're in there, working those notes, starting to build some strength and endurance up there where only the brave dare to go.

    Nice job, Kevin!

    Bob
  • KonradSzymanskiKonradSzymanski Pro Posts: 36
    @highmtn @Semi @Cherie
    Thanks, your comments are the most satisfactory reward I can get! I'm so glad people actually like what I do. Earn a living as a musician, that would also be nice Haha, I'm definitely not going to stop writing music in the near future as it simply brings me so much joy :)

    I will post here my new exotic song soon, and if you would like to stay tuned please subscribe to my YT channel or like my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/konrad.szymanski.art/

    Thanks a lot :smile:
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    edited April 2017
    Thanks Bob! I hadn't been singing for the last 4 months or so, I was working as a tax preparer and the season recently ended. Coming back into the singing is really exciting for me; I can't wait to see what this next year will bring. Gonna keep at it and maybe by next year I'll have grown another half note. One at a time. As long as it takes.
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Hi all, i'm sat here with a broken ankle and a chest infection!! So I have nothing better to do than post some so tracks. See what you think of this ine. I tried to take on board some of the adivce Ken gives when he recorded this song. Cheers!
  • great stuff vertidog!
  • ChristiaanChristiaan Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 9
    edited May 2017
    Okay. I’m totally new here but I would just like to share a few of the songs I’ve written and recorded so far. The first two are years old, but the last one is recent.

    I will listen to some of the songs by others, posted above. But right now, it’s getting late out here (NL). I should be trying to get to bed. =D

    And yes, I’m feeling embarrassed to share these songs. I guess I’ll have to share more embarrassing videos later on, actually showing myself doing exercises and stuff… =/

    I guess it’ll just take some getting used to. =D

    Anyway. Here goes.

    http://www.betacygnus.nl/artwork/bloCnoot/music/Mommy.mp3

    Pitchy at best, I know… =)

    Then, a little more recent but also some time ago:

    https://vimeo.com/esquizzy/wings-of-forgiveness

    And my most recent project, my first project in Ableton, recorded around Christmas 2016 (lyrics are a poem written by a friend of mine in our native language, Dutch — and the thunder is a Spring Reverb plug-in! ).

    http://www.betacygnus.nl/artwork/bloCnoot/Anne/De_hemelen_melden.mp3?_=1

    Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy though I really need improvement — it feels, having watched the first few of Ken’s lessons, that I have to start all over again unlearning bad habits and technique… but at least, this time it’ll be in the right way!

    Please don’t hesitate to point out the problems with my singing voice that you hear.
    I’m posting here to get honest feedback.

    I am very much looking forward to learning how to actually *sing* like a pro, through KTVA.

    =)
  • vertidogvertidog Pro Posts: 51
    Hi all, I am still off work as mentioned above I have a broken ankle. I did some recording yesterday and again tried to use the advice Ken gives to reach the high notes in the song. It was tough asI was leaning on my crutches throughout so couldn't get that upright position that Ken talks about. I think there were some support issues but I did my best considering. Let me know what you think.
    Oh by the way it's a cover of 'Always' by Bon Jovi.

    https://soundcloud.com/gareth-peebles-645507322/always-bon-jovi
  • ChristiaanChristiaan Pro, 2.0 PRO Posts: 9
    @vertidog, you have *me* impressed. If you can do *that* while leaning on crutches… *thumbs up*
  • bbergbberg Enrolled Posts: 46
    edited May 2017
    A little EP I did earlier this year (still in stage II). Pretty bad technique on the rasp in track two. I'm now in stage III trying to improve that;)

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI_dnwzEDk7B0j_1GZHAYEj4w7PBNjp_4
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    Your link does not seem to work bberg.
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    After seeing Ken's rendition of Whitesnake, I wanted to do it myself, so here!
    http://vocaroo.com/i/s0b4cBgFm1U4
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Kevin, the playback on your demo has a lot of warbly sound in it. I'm not sure what you recorded it on. You're using a lot of power to get up to those higher notes (B4, etc.). But I can hear that you're knocking on the door up there. As you get more accustomed to dwelling in those notes, you'll be able to relax more into those notes, and do them without hitting them so hard, more in stride.

    You might want to try shedding some more weight as you get to G4 and above. It's hard to carry a lot of tone and girth up that high, without blasting to get the note to sound.

    More support in opposition to, or resistance of, the tendency to overvolume on notes like that. i.e. push down on the diaphragm more, rather than push out on the air.

    Sounding good, bro.

    Bob
  • KevinGremKevinGrem Pro Posts: 217
    highmtn said:


    You might want to try shedding some more weight as you get to G4 and above. It's hard to carry a lot of tone and girth up that high, without blasting to get the note to sound.

    Indeed it is. That's the real challenge, isn't it? Getting "girth", as you say, when you're cutting back the air.

    One vocal instructor I met told me that I should just let my mic give me my power. Makes sense, considering we can dial the volume up as high as it needs to be to, and our power is right there. I'm currently playing around with some new equipment and hope to make some better recordings by the end of the week. I'm gonna keep trying new things.

  • Dear Ken,
    We bought your Pro program so I can teach my daughter to rock!
    She would love to take lessons, but we would like to invite you to become our school vendor.
    I homeschool my daughter,Kedaton, through Ocean Grove Charter School and each child receive stipend to spend on classes.
    In order to spend the stipend, we have to use them for school vendors.
    It is free of cost to be one and the school has over 2000 students that can use your coaching.
    Please check further details here:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiGXjsXqFVXpYwKqUjk8J-Cli4El6_IEKFkWWZNNtFq9h52A/viewform?c=0&w=1


    Best regards,
    Luc
    PS: We've been watching you for hours the past 2 years and Keda really enjoy learning new technique from you.
    She would like to say hello too! Included in the links below her progress on singing.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nT9-iCGhCs

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_-dmrjawd0


    Hi! Keda speaking here!
    Finally my mom would stop talking so that I can speak to you too!
    Your video classes encouraged me to start singing in front of the public, and I, want someday, to make a career out of it!
    Singing, and playing instruments are just two of my favorite hobbies!
    and oh, it would be a dream if i met you in real life!
    I watch your videos day and night whether its 1:00 in the morning or 12:00 at night!
    I hope you like my singing videos and reply back!

    awesome regards,

    Keda

    (Now how do I get out of here?!)
  • ingalaingala Pro Posts: 14
    Alright, here's a video of me singing R U Mine ? by The Arctic Monkeys

    The level seems to be pretty high on this thread and I'm pretty far from it, still :

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=9SBMsggNND0
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    Dear @Mammalearnstorock and Keda

    Somehow I missed your post when you put it up, but I just saw it. I really like your voice. You are doing an awesome job.

    I will send your hellos on to Ken! He will enjoy hearing you, too!
  • highmtnhighmtn Administrator, Moderator, Enrolled, Pro, 3.0 Streaming Posts: 15,354
    @ingala

    That was pretty good. You've got a nice bottom tone on your voice, but it could sound even better if you would add a nice, bright top-end to that sound. You're singing with your mouth a little bit closed. If you will smile up into your cheeks and to expose your upper teeth more, you can brigthen up the tone a bit, and still have that same bottom-end sound. That brighter tone will help you to zero-in on pitch accuracy a little better, as well.

    Good job!

    Bob
  • ingalaingala Pro Posts: 14
    @highmtn

    Thanks for the positive feedback and thanks for the tips, it means a lot :smiley: I'll keep working :smile:
  • viniciusoliveiraviniciusoliveira Enrolled Posts: 303
    edited June 2017
    Keep it up you all! Rock on!
Sign In or Register to comment.