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Singing with a live band
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Author:  eben [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Singing with a live band
Well, our company had a BBQ this afternoon and what a blast. We have some incredible musicians at our work. A drummer, bass player, three guitarists and flautist. So, we decided to do a jam session. I brought  my gear and set it up for the band and it was great.

One problem. They asked me to sing. I said, sure why not. I mean I sing Karaoke all the time so  shouldn't be a problem. Well, I have brand new respect for singers who sing with bands. Of course maybe we should have practiced it more than just playing it through once but these guys are so good, they can adjust to anything quickly and improvise. I am no slouch when it comes to vocal improvisation but being so set to Karaoke or CD music, I got lost a few times during each song. It didn't help that they tried a lot of standards and jazzy tunes, which I know very little about.

Well, it was an experience. It was the first time I tried it and I am definitely going to practice more and try it again. We are talking once a week or two doing this for fun. Man, it was a blast never the less.
Author:  Chuck2 [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
eben @ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:30 pm wrote:
Well, our company had a BBQ this afternoon and what a blast. We have some incredible musicians at our work. A drummer, bass player, three guitarists and flautist. So, we decided to do a jam session. I brought  my gear and set it up for the band and it was great.

One problem. They asked me to sing. I said, sure why not. I mean I sing Karaoke all the time so  shouldn't be a problem. Well, I have brand new respect for singers who sing with bands. Of course maybe we should have practiced it more than just playing it through once but these guys are so good, they can adjust to anything quickly and improvise. I am no slouch when it comes to vocal improvisation but being so set to Karaoke or CD music, I got lost a few times during each song. It didn't help that they tried a lot of standards and jazzy tunes, which I know very little about.

Well, it was an experience. It was the first time I tried it and I am definitely going to practice more and try it again. We are talking once a week or two doing this for fun. Man, it was a blast never the less.
I always loved singing with a band. There is interaction with the band and audience.

It's a lot like a party to me. I have thrown parties where I had to work even harder and enjoyed it less.
Author:  Jian [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
We will have a live band karaoke this Saturday. It will be a blast. I will post some pictures here.
I still find it very difficult to sing with a live band without any kind of rehearsal. I will not do any song if I have not rehears it with the band. Its not like normal karaoke.
Author:  lbister [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
This is a very interesting topic to me because I have had the opposite experience that you all have had.  I've been a singer/musician for 40 years.  Except for the past 2 years all of my experience was with a live band.  Until we started our duo I had never sung karaoke and didn't really know anything about it.  It took at least a year before I started feeling comfortable with it.

One of the big differences between karaoke and a live band is that with a band you not only hear the drums you can also feel them through the floor of  the stage.  I find it easier to get into the beat if I can feel it.  The other thing is that the bands I played in were always pretty flexible.  If people were dancing and having a good time we could stretch a song.  You can't do that with karaoke—when the song is done it's done.  You can't shout "one more time".

It was only after the duo had been going for awhile that I actually attended a karaoke show and participated.  And then I discovered how hard it was to sing with out a guitar in my hands.  I had never done that.  Holy cow!  How do you guys do it?  

I think the coolest thing about a live band is that everyone feeds of of everyone else's energy.  In our duo we do a lot of funny bits.  It's not stand-up comedy but there is a lot of humor, joshing around with each other and back-and-forth stuff with the crowd.  My partner was ill for 3 months earlier this year and I did some shows by myself.  It was very difficult to try to carry the show without my partner.

Larry
Author:  Lonman [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
lbister @ Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:30 am wrote:
One of the big differences between karaoke and a live band is that with a band you not only hear the drums you can also feel them through the floor of  the stage.  I find it easier to get into the beat if I can feel it.  Larry


That's where subs with plenty of power to push them come in  :D
You can get a live feel from karaoke!
Author:  maninblack [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
Larry said the key word 'ENERGY'
I've been singing with live bands since I was 16 and there's nothing in the world that can replace it. I did 20 years in Atlanta doing mostly heavy metal/hard rock. There's just something about having the drummer behind you beating out a beat with a bass player that shakes the whole building, then a live guitar screaming out riffs loud enough to make your ears bleed, and a massive audience banging their heads to the beat of the music, it makes you feel.....ALIVE.  
It's a rush beyond description. I have yet had anyone come up and ask for my autograph after a Karaoke show...LOL
and the groupies, well they're still there, just not as wild and crazy as with a live band.
But that was then and this is now. I'm still a vocalist, just singing to a different tune.
Which brings up the main reason I do like Karaoke. I now get to sing songs that I would have never been able to do with a live band. I can get up in a single night and sing anything from Aerosmith, to Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, John Lennon, Merle Haggard, The Doors, Santana, so forth and so on. As a singer, I'm now allowed so much more expression and flexibility than I was with a live band. It's a welcomed challenge when someone comes up with a request for a song that you haven't heard in 30 years and you get to sing it based on a distant memory of how the tune went. So as a vocalist, I love that I still get to do what I do best, sing.
It's just done to a different audience, but at least I'm still getting the chance to do it, and that puts a smile on my face every time I step on to the stage.

James
Maninblack
Author:  pflugerville [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
full agreement, here!  energy and crowd interaction is a MUST!  of course eye contact with several of the folks close to the stage helps, too...and not just the females.  i've found that the crowd wants to feel like they are a part of something.  when you make contact, it pulls them into the song with you!  
sing it like you mean it!
Author:  Jian [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
Most karaoke singers depend too much on the monitor for the lyrics. And even if there is a lyric sheet in front we still need it to sweep. Some songs that I sing, I cannot figure out when to start and when the next line start; I just need to see the monitor.
Author:  lbister [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
Jian,

I know what you mean.  That's why whenever possible I try not to sing anything I have never done before.  I guess part of it is pride and not wanting to look like a fool but the other part is what I think of as professionalism.  Whether I'm playing with the duo, doing a karaoke show or participating in someone else's show I want to put my best foot forward every time.  For me, that means preparation.

Lonman,

I agree with you about the subs.  We use them in the duo.  But they are out in front and at least to me there isn't a "live" feel to it—maybe because of where the subs are positioned.  So it's been quite a task for me to adjust to that.  Luckily I've got the best partner in the world and working with him has made it a lot easier to make the adjustment.

Larry
Author:  eben [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
Jian @ Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:06 am wrote:
Most karaoke singers depend too much on the monitor for the lyrics. And even if there is a lyric sheet in front we still need it to sweep. Some songs that I sing, I cannot figure out when to start and when the next line start; I just need to see the monitor.


Yep, that's the crutch for the karaoke singers. We expect the monitor to let us know exactly when to come in on a song. I got lost at least 3 times during the song. We, as a Karaoke singer, don't count measure between verses or what notes to sing. I just had the lyrics in front of me and had too read it while singing. If I had sheet music, maybe I would have done better, although I don't really read music, at least it would have given me some idea where to come in.  Next time, I am going to try at least a few times with the band before trying it live.
Author:  Echo Karaoke [ Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
I always use a stage monitor. Comes from years of stage work. Gives the singer the feel of being in a live band. Not exactly, but closer.

I use to know hundreds of songs by heart, but health has done some damage to memory and I have a very tough time remembering words to even simple songs. So for me, Karaoke works great. A lot of the songs I do are midi format karaoke. That keeps my music different from my audiances music. They seem to like that as it throws a little change into the show.
Author:  lbister [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
[quote="eben @ Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:40 pm
Yep, that's the crutch for the karaoke singers. We expect the monitor to let us know exactly when to come in on a song. I got lost at least 3 times during the song. We, as a Karaoke singer, don't count measure between verses or what notes to sing. I just had the lyrics in front of me and had too read it while singing. If I had sheet music, maybe I would have done better, although I don't really read music, at least it would have given me some idea where to come in.  Next time, I am going to try at least a few times with the band before trying it live.[/quote]

That's one advantage of singing with live bands all these years.  Counting measures is second nature.  Because I play guitar too I am also always aware of the chord progression.  That helps a lot.  

I have a friend who wants very badly to play in a band.  He's just not a very good musician.  A couple of years ago he asked me how I knew when to come in at the start of a song.  It was very hard to explain.  I've been doing it so long that it's become second nature and I'm not even aware that I'm counting measures or following the chord progression.

Good luck with your next performance.  Rehearsing a couple of times with the band will make things much more comfortable for you.

Larry
Author:  Chuck2 [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
I go by chord progreesion. I have known guitarists to "make it their own" and stray from the notes I was used to hearing. I also rely on the eye contact from the bass player and the guitarist. Sometimes the bass player thinks a lead has gone too long and wants to get back to the lyrics so we can put the song to bed.
Author:  fiery [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
I got to sing with a live band once, it was an interesting experience having people around me as I sang, plus having them be able to adjust the key for me... it was very cool. I found it easier to sing with them than I do karaoke. Not sure if that was just that the band happened to be tight enough to be able to wing it with people, or what. I know I loved it and I want to do more of that whenever possible. I went to an open mic a while ago, and my boyfriend (Papa bear) got up with the band and played guitar after we did a couple songs just the 2 of us. Wish now that I had jumped up with the band, knowing that I knew most their setlist lol. I think that how easy it is to sing with a band depends on the band... shame they weren't playing some songs you knew better... the band actually asked ME what I wanted to sing when I did it.
Author:  Chuck2 [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
fierynette @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:00 pm wrote:
I got to sing with a live band once, it was an interesting experience having people around me as I sang, plus having them be able to adjust the key for me... it was very cool. I found it easier to sing with them than I do karaoke. Not sure if that was just that the band happened to be tight enough to be able to wing it with people, or what. I know I loved it and I want to do more of that whenever possible. I went to an open mic a while ago, and my boyfriend (Papa bear) got up with the band and played guitar after we did a couple songs just the 2 of us. Wish now that I had jumped up with the band, knowing that I knew most their setlist lol. I think that how easy it is to sing with a band depends on the band... shame they weren't playing some songs you knew better... the band actually asked ME what I wanted to sing when I did it.
Bands are intuitive at times, karaoke CDs are not. Bands can more a lot more supportive of a singer who is not used to singing with them.
Author:  fiery [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
True, Chuck. What was cool about the band was the first thing they asked me is what key do you sing this in? I looked at them and said "uhh I dunno lol" They said to sing a bit, I did and they figured out it was D. Thinking about it makes me wish I had a band of my own  LOL
Author:  Chuck2 [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
fierynette @ Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:09 pm wrote:
True, Chuck. What was cool about the band was the first thing they asked me is what key do you sing this in? I looked at them and said "uhh I dunno lol" They said to sing a bit, I did and they figured out it was D. Thinking about it makes me wish I had a band of my own  LOL
Bands can be fun, if they show up on time and will play with their egos pit aside.

Not all musicians have these problems, I think it was more common at my age when I singing with bands.

The nusicians in my family, which means all of my family on both sides do have egos that even preceded them into any room. Before they even open a door to a room you can hear the acoustics of the room change and get darker. The energy of the room polarizes.
Author:  Papa Bear [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
I personally find it easier than karaoke, but then I play guitar as well and the guitar helps to keep my timing. It's more a matter of getting used to it, and the energy is different. With karaoke it's a machine making the music, and you tend to get caught up in looking at the screen. Both are fun though.  :yes:
Author:  Texas Gigi [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
Dang, I'd love to sing with a live band! All I have done is musical theater with an orchestra (totally different) or improv songs with a piano. I am a screen-reader, even when I know the songs forwards and backwards, but with a band it seems like you could let go and actually "do a show" instead of "sing a song" for the crowd.

Plus...live music is teamwork. The vocals are just one instrument. With a whole band, you get it all! Oh well, maybe my time will come.
Author:  Echo Karaoke [ Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Singing with a live band
I think it was harder for me to get up the first time doing Karaoke than with a band. You are the sole center of attention and you really have no one to look to for cues and remind you of key changes and so on and so forth. I did a solo act, but my buddy was my guitar, and I was in total control of the music. But as a vocalist, I was with a cpl bands and they were great stage support. My first time Karaoke singing was scary.. Sang in the wrong key for me ( didnt know it could be changed ) the screen words were wroing from what I sang, and the cd skipped in funny places and was hard to know where I was when it corrected its-self.. My music teacher never prepared me for that..lol
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