The EM Poll

All Together Now

Mar 13, 2008 2:47 PM, By Joanna Cazden

           

20 TIPS FOR TIGHTENING UP YOUR HARMONY VOCALS

Illustration: Kitty Meek

Video of a country-rock band playing in a small club flickers in my voice studio. One of my students is the lead singer, and she projects surprisingly well over the noise of the bar. The fiddler sounds a bit screechy, and the bass player looks bored, but the crowd claps enthusiastically between numbers.

Then the guitarist takes a turn singing lead while the rest of the group attempts a three-part harmony backup. I see lots of mouths moving, but it takes a while for the soundman to catch up. When he does, they sound like a different band — nervous and uncoordinated, with muffled lyrics and an unfocused sound. I scribble notes for our next coaching session, sympathetic to the problems faced by instrumentalists who want to sing but are having trouble getting their harmonies to sound as good as they'd like.

Genesis

The most crucial skill for band vocals is the ability to sing in tune. Staying on pitch doesn't come naturally to everyone, but in a group performance it is ultimately more important than the quality of your voice. From Take 6 to the Jackson Five, group vocals sung brilliantly in tune are guaranteed to please.

Figure 1: Hunching over a guitar strains your larynx and squashes your breathing.

During early rehearsals, turn down the monitors and lay off the drums to let everyone hear all the voices. Determine the pitch cues needed in each section of the song and which instruments are highlighted each time, so that every singer knows where to listen for his or her note.

Even experienced instrumental musicians might sing easily in a solo or unison setting but stumble on a harmony line. So be realistic as you work out multiple parts. If one band member can't hold on to a harmony, give him or her a turn singing lead or find places where the melody can be doubled effectively. And if someone consistently has trouble singing on key, offer that person an alternative showcase, such as introducing the songs or band members.

For those who can hit their notes pretty well but then have trouble sustaining them, the problem is usually one of breath support. Good breathing depends on good posture — the second-biggest problem for the untrained singer.

Figure 2: Raising the keyboard stand can put you in a better position for singing.

Spinal Tap

Have you ever rehearsed in a mirrored studio or seen your band on video? Most instrumental players tend to slump forward around their axe or lean intently over their keyboard. (Drummers might be more conscious of posture than the rest of us, because they reach for toys in every direction.) Unfortunately, a body position that's tolerable for playing your main instrument can restrict your breathing, misalign your neck, and set you up for a wimpy, rough, or easily strained singing voice. You're playing two instruments now, and a compromise is required.

To give yourself more breathing space, you need to sit or stand tall and aim for an open feeling in your chest and upper back. A physical therapist I know offers this quick posture rule: Keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in a straight vertical line. This might mean shortening your guitar strap, changing the height of your keyboard, or otherwise adjusting the standard setup to support your vocal performance. The goal is to have a long neck, relaxed shoulders, and as much freedom around your rib cage and midsection as possible (see Figs. 1 and 2).

Another problem for multitasking singer-musicians is microphone placement. If the mic is at the wrong height or too far away, you'll end up hunching forward or straining to reach it, which also puts your voice mechanism in an awkward position. Headset mics solve this problem very well but tend to be more expensive than other types, and wireless models can be a hassle for group use.

Figure 3: Use a boom stand to bring the vocal mic into the best position.

The next-best solution is to always use a boom stand, so the mic can be placed close to your mouth without interfering with the instrument you play. First get into position to play and sing, then have someone else position your vocal mic (see Fig. 3); after a while you'll get used to the visual and physical coordination required. All this preparation will pay off in a better sound and a healthier voice.