Karaoke Forums

I am trying to learn some new songs, but I've never heard them before and I can't find any recordings or performances. How would you  go about learning a new song under these circumstances? I do have the sheet music, but still, I'm not sure what  its supposed to sound like, what would you do?

Hi Kristy...

Well dear, I don't read music, so sheet music  does me no good  :no: ..The way I learn a new song is to listen to it...repeatedly and sing along as I learn... Some I am just familiar with and as I try to sing em find I can feel my way through them...Others, (the ones totally new to me) I must play repeatedly.  Usually I put those in my car and just keep restarting them..I work on them 3 or 4 lines at a time, until I become familiar enough with em to get all the way through..   Helps pass the time while driving too..I wouldn't say I actually memorize them, but more familiarize my self with them.

I always sing in the car...I find it's a great way to become familiar with songs I want to learn.  Do you have any karaoke disks?   Many of them have practice tracks as well as performance tracks.  Sound Choice Star Series are good for that, but there are some others that also provide this feature.. Look on ebay...You can buy complete sets of karaoke disks there for a small price ... ...

You might also hit a few yard sales and try to pick up some cds or old cassette tapes to find some new material..I have payed as little as 25 cents for cassettes at yard sales..If it's country music you're interested in learning more of,  listen to cmt on television...Same for the other genures, respectively..  There are alot of free tunes on the web too...The music you're not singing is so much more relaxed than what you are used to...My cable network also has music stations..which is another good oportunity..I would listen and choose songs first, making a list of things you might like to try, then go in search of backings and lyrics...For karaoke we don't need sheet music  too much... (or maybe that's just my narrow  opinion cuz I couldn't read it if I had it..)

I would think show tunes and standards would be the natural choice for you with your training..But hey anything goes..Just reach out for whatever genure makes you feel good to sing..I  sure enjoyed your out of the box posts last week...and look forward to more..


Actually, you listen to a ton of music right here on SS...Don't you ever just think, gee I'd love to give that one a go?  So play it repeatedly and learn it from someone elses rendition if need be....Then go in search of the backing..Lyrics are readily available on the web..

I always sing off my own disks at karaoke, and I highly recommend that to all..The arrangements can vary greatly.  It's always less to worry about when you know how the song will play out....Helps alot with the confidence factor knowing you will probably make it through the song ok, cuz you have practiced it just like it's going to happen..

Reading your exact question again, I guess I have rambled on here, but I gave you a few different ideas...You have my email, I think, so write to me.  Maybe I can help ya out if you tell me what songs you are hunting.. I will be happy to help you find songs..

One more Ramble....There is a site where you can play karaoke music and the words (just like at karaoke) to over 20,000 songs on the web...The cost is 9.95 a month...They have the best brand names of disks and on many of those you can play a demo singer also to help you learn the songs.  I use it to hunt possible new song choices sometimes, or to compare backings, or to check basic karaoke availability..I won't list it here cuz I don't know if we are allowed but will happily share the link with you when you email or message me again..

Hope some of that helps you...  ps.  Don't know if you have a karaoke machine or not.  But just to give you  another idea, I bought my first one at a pawn shop for 50.00...I still have it, ...That one and 4 others now, .  Get yourself a karaoke machine and a cdg or two and see what developes...

_________________
When I was young, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,  then I became an adult  and  realized  that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends...

I am assuming we are talking about the classical genre here? Or, no? So, you DO have the sheet music? I can learn anything from the sheet music... but, I understand what you are saying. IF you have never heard the song before, sheet music or no.. you can't really sing it.. well,correctly, without SOME sort of direction, something to go by, to get the phrasing, emotion, etc, down. Like, when I was a little girl, I refused to play any new piano pieces, without my teacher playing them through for me first;)

What songs are they? Perhaps I can do some searching and see if I can come across any recordings for you?

If it's classical, then sheet music should be fine.  If not, go to itunes.com and you can download songs there for 99 cents apiece.  They might have classical, too, not sure.  

You should start taking voice lessons and then your teacher can help you with how the song is supposed to sound.

You should also go to the library to see if they have it; the library has many tapes/lp's/cd's.  If you are near a college, their music library should have it and you can listen to it right there.

Good luck!

_________________
~Suzanne Lanoue~

When it comes to having the sheet music well, do you have a piano/keyboard you can play it on or someone that knows how?This way you can atleast hear the melody and get an idea. Then you can just sing it your way. When I download a karaoke that I have never heard, I sing it by ear. I follow the background music and just sing it.I may not get it like the original but hey I don't want to be the original, I want to be me.That's pretty much all I can tell you if you can't find the original songs.Just sing it your way!  :)

_________________
[shadow=red][glow=violet]
~Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. - Victor Hugo

~When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched his head, and said, "I can do better than that!"
[/glow][/shadow]