Opinion on voice/singing

sour

Loooooooooooooong story short; I am self-taught regarding every facet of music-making. Simply put, I learn as I go along, and even though I've been creating songs since about 11-ish years ago there are many things I have yet to master.

However, as the thread's topic states, I just want an opinion on my voice/singing. Overall I think it's atrocious, it feels as if I cannot carry a tune/pitch amongst various other issues (EQ-ing still molests my noodle). To exacerbate the problem, I have been listening to the same track over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again to SUCH an extent that I simply cannot judge it objectively anymore. I can listen to the same piece, re-play it, and then hear something completely different. I am exhausted. Hence why I seek help.

Basically, how bad is it? Is there hope? Anything? I am cry.

Any comment, even regarding the clarity/pronunciation might help me.

The song is a demo/intro to get some feedback, or until I decide to bin it, either way...

Here are the lyrics:

as soon as they are gone
i will welcome you to the show
where we stand around the sun
and stare into the fire below

as soon as they are gone
into the fire we will go
before we do free the wrong
and tell us what you wanted so

i needed faith more than anyone
i needed empathy when alone
i needed guidance of a wise man
but most of all
somewhere i'd be home

psyx

Nice song! Not too bad!

Vocals used to be my real musical focus and I have some experience and training in vocals.

The style of singing fits the music nicely and my critique is something I'm hesitant to give, because in this context it actually works... But you may want to check your pitch...

Its very easy to go slightly off pitch if you don't have an instrument backing you on the melody.
An easy way to hear yourself better to make sure you're pitching right is to hold your hand against your ear as though you are holding a phone with a space between your hand and your cheek.
(I learned this from a friend who used to be in the Drakensberg Boys choir :rolleyes?
This way you hear yourself very clearly and you can make the small adjustments to your pitch.

Its always good to have your pitch spot-on and to concentrate on not ever "scooping". Get the note in your head and simply sing it.

sour

Much thanks for the advice! Though, in all honesty, I had to Googlez0r what 'scooping' is...

I have also Googled around on singing-related tips and advice, but when I did that tune and starting recording I just always felt there's something wrong. Even though I hardly sing (I did some experiments with previous tunes but most of them in a quasi-speaking voice/manner), I never thought I'd struggle this hard just to stay on pitch. Bleh...

Luckily, with your feedback, I can try and get things right (if some higher power will show some mercy). Much appreciated.

AlanRatcliffe

I'm with Psyx - in the context, there is nothing wrong with your singing style. It fits in perfectly with the '80s-ish synthpop style (very Depeche Mode), but your pitching does need attention.

I also struggle with pitching and the methods that work best for me are either: record one take, autotune it and then use the autotuned track as a guide to record a second take; or record the vocal melody on another instrument and use that as a guide to sing along.

Avoid recording with too much reverb in your headphone mix - that tends to hide and sweeten things. Also don't record with the backing tracks blaring - that'll make you oversing (although by the sound of it, that is not your problem). With headphones remove one from one ear (but don't leave it open unless you kill that channel in the headphone mix, as it can create too much leakage).

...and the most important thing is practice. That's my problem - I'll happily noodle on a guitar all day, but never practice singing. :-[ It's a confidence thing - I'm not a confident singer, so I don't sing often, which means I'm not a decent singer, which affects my confidence...

psyx

sour wrote: Much thanks for the advice! Though, in all honesty, I had to Googlez0r what 'scooping' is...

I have also Googled around on singing-related tips and advice, but when I did that tune and starting recording I just always felt there's something wrong. Even though I hardly sing (I did some experiments with previous tunes but most of them in a quasi-speaking voice/manner), I never thought I'd struggle this hard just to stay on pitch. Bleh...

Luckily, with your feedback, I can try and get things right (if some higher power will show some mercy). Much appreciated.

Awesome man! I'm glad to help!

It'll be nice to hear some more of your stuff! Keep on practicing and jamming!

sour

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Avoid recording with too much reverb in your headphone mix - that tends to hide and sweeten things. Also don't record with the backing tracks blaring - that'll make you oversing (although by the sound of it, that is not your problem). With headphones remove one from one ear (but don't leave it open unless you kill that channel in the headphone mix, as it can create too much leakage).

Eerily relevant that reverb comment. I tend to record vocals with the reverb for the exact reasons you gave, to 'sweeten' things. Will definitely do the headphone trick you suggested as well.

I mean, like I said, I'm self-taught and learn as I go along. Though I must admit that I tend to get frustrated when things aren't working out, especially when I've tried multiple times. But singing is something that I am not use to and I most certainly do not have the confidence yet, so it will require a significant amount of effort and work.

psyx wrote: It'll be nice to hear some more of your stuff! Keep on practicing and jamming!

I've got some old stuff posted, but those tracks are the 'talking-type-weird-singing-crap' I mentioned in the previous post. They don't sound too good, though that's my opinion I suppose (but I think it's pretty expedient to label it that).

Anyway, thanks guys, much appreciated.