BeardHarmonica
28 posts
Sep 26, 2011
11:39 PM
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What do I need to do to learn vocals.
Would a vocal coach help in the blues?
What should be my fist goal, like with playing harmonica, it would be playing clear single note.
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5F6H
853 posts
Sep 27, 2011
2:33 AM
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A vocal coach will help you to sing, whatever the genre. It may also help in analysing what you do with your body & posture whilst playing the harp which can greatly improve your tone.
Working on your vocals may help you sing & play "songs" with respect to each one having an identity & particular phrasing, rather than just "making a generic noise in tempo & in key".
If you stick at it, it will also make you popular with other musicians as they'll need you to front gigs for them. :-)
Do it...do it...do it...
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www.myspace.com/markburness
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Steamrollin Stan
39 posts
Sep 27, 2011
2:44 AM
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1: start singing, get assistance from a pro, record yourself to see how you really do sound.
2:Yes.
3: This website, youtube, links, download some of Adams lessons, read, read, read, practice practice practice, and if your a good student you'll get something going, don't expect to be be a pro in 6-12 months, and once you learn "row row row your boat" and twinkle twinkle etc, your probably on your way. Check out the forum archives in this site, all your wishes are dealt with by people wanting to assist.
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barbequebob
1750 posts
Sep 27, 2011
7:46 AM
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Vocal coaches are a trememdous help in any genre, plus the fact that you learn what good breathing and relaxation techniques are, they will also improve your harp playing tremedously and I can personally attest to that.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Jim Rumbaugh
576 posts
Sep 27, 2011
10:35 AM
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At Augustat Blues Week in Elkins, WV I had the good fortune to take a few blues vocal classes from Gaye Adegbalola. It helped and taught me A LOT. I have not had the experince of a standard vocal instructor, so I cannot comment on that. But I learned a lot about the WAY to sing the blues, which is more than producing a good tone.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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joshnat
161 posts
Sep 27, 2011
11:53 AM
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Hi Bob, anyone you can recommend in the Boston area?
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RyanMortos
1141 posts
Sep 27, 2011
1:53 PM
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Is a vocal coach the same thing as someone offering singing lessons? Or is that two different things? How many vocal lessons would you recommend barbequebob? You don't offer basic vocal lessons via skype do you bob ;) ? I find myself going to jams more & more & find myself wanting & in some cases needing to sing.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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BeardHarmonica
33 posts
Sep 28, 2011
1:31 AM
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Guess i'll continue the lessons.
I just started and it felt like a waste of time.
Eat well, sleep well, stand straight. I could have figured it out by myself.
From what I understand, a vocal coach will help you with the songs you want. Singing lessons you do the songs the teacher want.
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arzajac
669 posts
Sep 28, 2011
7:27 AM
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"Eat well, sleep well, stand straight. I could have figured it out by myself."
Well, if you are not satisfied, find someone else. It took months for my teacher to cover all the basics. We covered breathing techniques such as learning muscle control (exhale slowly for more than 80 seconds) and which muscles *not* to use. Using enough air. Focusing sound as it comes out of your mouth. How to warm up properly (really helps with playing harp!) How to determine your vocal range and how to work on extending it - it can take years, but many people can add a lot of range with practice. How to find the correct key for you to sing a song. How to practice hearing and hitting notes accurately.
All that and actually singing a song is a whole other thing. Trust me, that time is not wasted, though.
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barbequebob
1751 posts
Sep 28, 2011
7:55 AM
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The last time I took them was in the early 80's and I don't have anyone specific at this moment to recommend out this way. Vocal coach a nd someone offering singing lessons are essentially doing the same things.
The very first thing before they get started is to check your breathing and breathing habits as well as your relaxation. If they don't check your breathing before you start taking them, stay away. Proper breath support is something that cannot be overstressed.
I don't vocal or harp lessons on Skype at all, unfortunately.
Bad vocal techniques can cause serious harm to your vocal chords and EVERY pro singer always worries about getting nodes on their vocal chords and the damage can potentially be permanent.
Cotton tried to sing WAY too soon after getting throat surgery and did permanent damage to his vocal chords that now he cannot sing anymore.
Another thing you'll learn is that your voice will always be changing and where your range is now will be different 5 years from now and you will have to make adjustments and that's the natural course of life.
The lessons will also be able to show you how to project properly, enunciate your vowels properly, and get the greatest projection and fullest sound with THE LEAST amount of air neccessary and that's soemthing tjhat's also important to harp playing as well.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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JInx
72 posts
Sep 28, 2011
10:26 AM
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The first step to vocal chops is; you must be able to hold a note. Not so easy as it may seem, but once you get that you are off to the races.
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MP
1848 posts
Sep 28, 2011
1:40 PM
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if you are going to sing blues, it is not a bad idea to listen to great blues vocalists.
with the exceptions of howlin' wolf, the sonny boys, junior parker and a few others- most harp players aren't the greatest vocalists.
by great, i mean singers that'll send chills down your spine.
like little milton campbell, bobby bland, b.b. king, buddy guy, otis rush, and a personal fav of mine lately, jimmy johnson.
check out their phrasing, the power and dynamics, and the sheer aplomb they infuse into every sylable of every song they do.
oh,and the soul guys too. al green, otis redding, etc.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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BronxHarp
68 posts
Sep 28, 2011
6:47 PM
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There was a good thread on here on singing in response to a question I asked about learning to sing, and can people who think they can't really sing (a.k.a. me) learn to sing. Short answer: yes. Worth a look. Here's the link. Keep singin'.
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/1626589.htm
-Jordan
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jbone
645 posts
Sep 29, 2011
3:56 AM
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"Eat well, sleep well, stand straight. I could have figured it out by myself."
as simple as that sounds it is VITAL. we sometimes skip the basics and for that we can suffer later. i took a few lessons and learned a few basic things in the 90's which have stuck with me. finding the depth of one's torso- air column- and how to focus that incredible power. finding one's own natural key for singing in. some things to NOT do. some warmups.
remember too, everything we learn about our vocal power can be applied to harp in one way or another. if you're like a lot of us you'd rather not blow out reeds at an alarming rate, which i did before i began learning about focusing air an breathing deeper. i also at the beginning of my days of vocals, used to blow out my voice in maybe 2 sets. i mean to the point i could not make even a squeak for a day or 2 after and still not have all my voice back 3 days later.
embrace the basics even if you know them already. what can it hurt?
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
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barbequebob
1752 posts
Sep 29, 2011
9:54 AM
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For vocals, you'll need to stop listening to just harp players alone. There are other singers to listen to like the jump blues singers like Roy Brown, Big Joe Turner and Wynonie Harris. Don't forget about the female singers like Billie Holliday, Big Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton, just to name a few, or singers that sraddle the line of both blues and jazz, like Joe Williams (check out his version of Everyday I Have The Blues backed by the Count Basie Band, and he phrases like a horn) or Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. These are starters.
A big thing you also learn from a vocal coach is how to properly take care of your voice.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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