Tony's Learning Log

In reading my post above, I think I am using the wrong term in ‘pitch’, I think I mean range. I will start off in one range and then run out of the range of notes that I can sing and have to alter the range or octave to sing the ‘missing’ notes :frowning:

Ok, that’s a little different then. The range of your voice can also be altered/increased, but it has limits of course. Every voice has it sweet spots, though, and we all require finding them.
But probably with learning more about proper singing technique, you will see your comfortable range increase. Lots of people (myself included) need to get familiar with their head register, for instance (aiming for higher notes) and need proper training to sing there at ease and with “more strength”. The good thing is that it is something we all can learn. :slight_smile:

But in some occasion it might be required to change the key of a tune to fit your vocal range better. It may be worth experimenting with the capo a little before you strain your voice too much.

1 Like

Thanks Lisa. I am now doing daily voice exercises and slowly tyring to increase my range. I am going to see if moving the key will work as well, but I have to be careful as I still need to be in my friends range as well as we will both be singing. Who knew that singing is so complicated :wink:

1 Like

Wow, I just seen that it is nearly 2 months since the last update! I suppose the reason, is that I haven’t really seemed to have added to my guitar playing abilities. However looking back, I think I have. I am still doing an hour to an hour and a half practice most days.

We are getting ready for a new year’s eve performance. Two one and a half hour sets on New Year’s Eve followed by a half hour set after midnight. This has meant ‘learning’ a few extra songs, as althought the first 2 setrs are rock and roll and then country, the final set will be dance/party songs and I do not have many of these in my songbook.

As it was 2 years ago at this New Years Eve party that I first mimed playing a guitar I have come a long way, and this year’s party will be the first time they will hear me sing :wink:

The main skill that I have learnt, is site reading of guitar tabs. Providing it is in a key that I know I can play the rhythm part almost straight off and quickly pick up the chord progression. I have also found that within a couple of bars, my strumming pattern has changed to one that fits the song. This has been a very useful thing to develop.

I think that’s all so far. Next year, I really must start learning new techniques to add to some of the songs. At the moment it is still basic chord strumming.

4 Likes

Hey Tony, cut yourself some slack!

You may not be progressing much through the lessons but I imagine you’re learning A LOT by playing in your band.

Very few people do what you’re doing after only 2 years. You have plenty of time to learn new techniques etc, as and when you need them. Take some credit and enjoy it. :smiley:

partying_face
That is amazing, what a great ride :sunglasses:
Have fun,Greetings

@BurnsRhythm and @roger_holland thank you for your comments. As you say it’s been a fantastic journey and I have loved every minute of it.
For the future, I am really looking forward to playing chord arpeggios to add flavour to my rhythm playing.

2 Likes

Well, I’ve done it. I have had my debut of singing at a gig, I did backing on a few songs and sang main lead on 2 songs, ‘Silver Wings’ and ‘I want to Dance with you’.
We were on stage for almost 4 hours doing a country set, a rock and roll set and a party music set. I raelly enjoyed it.

6 Likes

Well done Tony, going further and further! Happy new year! :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like

2024 round up. To think, I have now been playing for 2 years!

Oh how things change over 12 months! At the beginning of last year I hadn’t even thought about country music. That all started as a friend asked us to play, but he already had a rock and roll act, so we said, we would do country. What a lightbulb moment that was! I am now a country boy through and through. I haven’t given up on rock and roll though, we are even talking about starting a second duo concentrating on rock and roll, so that those who ask us to play know what genre they are getting.

I never planned on singing, but I was pursuaded to try it!

For 2025, I would like to achieve the following:
Sing lead on more songs as well as backing on others.
Be able to play rifts confidently on stage.
Be able to do chord melodies with confidence.

There is a lot more I would love to do, but I try to keep it to a small number to aim at, as I want to be good at a few things rather than adequate at lots of things.

4 Likes

Love your learning log, an inspiration to us all. So much progress made in 2024 so I can’t wait to see what you get up to in 2025. Good luck :grinning:

1 Like

@ziggysden thank you. It will be interesting to see how 2025 goes. I still class myself as a beginner guitarist. By the end of 2025 I would love to class myself as an intermediate guitarist.

1 Like

Well done with the marathon gig, Tony. And your singing debut as well.

Is there no end to this man’s talents? :smiley:

1 Like

What a fab way to end another guitar year, Tony! Congrats on your singing debut, that was sounding really good! :smiley:

From here, the sky’s the limit. :wink: Hopefully, 2025 brings you as much joy and fun learning and gigging. It’s truely inspiring to follow your progress!

1 Like

Thank you @BurnsRhythm and @Lisa_S for your kind thoughts. Here’s looking forward to 2025. Onwards and Upwards.

2 Likes

Not a guitar piece, but practicing a new song. This shows that anyone can sing :wink:

3 Likes

Sounds promising Tony. As someone who struggled with singing, let alone singing and playing its good to see you having a go. It was pressure from a long lost Forum/Community member to get me to commit to vocals and I am glad he did. Good to see you didn’t need the same level of “press ganging” as I did but hey if Mr Shootov is still lurking on these pages, I owe you the world and then some.

The world is your oyster Tony ! I still don’t know what that means, except reach for the stars sir ! Good share !
:sunglasses:

1 Like

Tony

Well sung: you became more confident as the song progressed; your voice is at a similar pitch to Willie Nelson - not a bad place to start! Try taking deeper breaths between phrases of the song: this will give you extra capacity to control the volume of your singing and ensure your voice doesn’t tail off at the ends of the phrases.

Brian

1 Like

Thank you for listening. The way I was press ganged, is that my mate put a microphone in front of me when we were playing, saying ‘no pressure, but you need to learn to sing backing so that it doesn’t look like you are just a spare in the duo’ :wink:

Thank you Brian for listening and the great advice. I will take that on and practice my breathing a lot more.

1 Like

Great update and progress on your singing, Tony! :smiley:

You have a great way of putting feeling into your singing, something that is most hardest to learn, if you don’t have it. It sounds very true and authentic to me, pleasant voice, too. Also, I second Brian’s suggestion on breathing. It sometimes even helps to mark the spots along the lyrics, where you should breathe. That helped me a lot, especially with difficult or long phrases, when I was singing in a choir back at school.

You are very well on your way with that part of your journey, Tony. :slight_smile: