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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: I wrote a song but I can't sing! Can someone who can sing help me?


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/387889

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  12:05:27


I wrote a song and I put a banjo tab to it. I like the song a lot and the tab pretty well. But I don't know anything about music and I can not sing. I have no idea if the melody is a good singable melody. I was hoping someone who sings can glance at it and tell me if I'm even in the ball park of a good singable bluegrass melody or should I try again. The very first few measures are what I really worry about. I will attach a PDF. I also have a .tef file.

Thanks for any help.
Brandon


jacot23 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  12:16:42


Carthage Tennessee?

Give it a try, never know.

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  12:20:36


Yes Carthage, TN

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  12:31:22


I assume if someone wants to sing it they would want the musical notation. Here it is.

Thanks


mike gregory - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:16:51


I can sing rather well, but can't read musical notation.
What a team we'd make!

Just a suggestion on one word in the lyrics:
"Cooped" up, not "couped".

jacot23 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:34:45


Do you live near Lafayette? Maybe when it warms up this spring we can meet up and give it a go(not that I'm a great singer or anything). I see the name on that sheet music and think you may be around my son's age.

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:42:20


I am from Jackson County we used to haul our tobacco to Carthage. Sure, we may get together sometime if you want. I was hoping right now someone could just tell me if they thought it was singable, or way off and needs changing. Because I can't sing one single note. It sounds ok on the banjo is all that I can tell about it.

jacot23 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:50:47


Gotcha, I made a billion trips to Carthage and Hartsville in the 80s and 90s hauling baccer.

I think so, but its hard for me to tell without knowing the chords or hearing you play it(I cant really read music either). If I have time later I may try and hammer it out(I’m assuming that’s clawhammer). The words rhyme and flow and seems like it would be fine in my head anyway.

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:55:44


It's kind of an old timey song like String Bean or someone would sing. But no I play it in 3 finger. Kinda like pig in the pen or woah mule type song. The chords and the banjo tab are in the PDF files

earlstanleycrowe - Posted - 01/03/2023:  13:58:36


The tab's in G but the standard notation is in B (I assume you want to capo at the 4th fret?). You might want to change the key signature to B (5 sharps) so it doesn't have all those accidentals.

jacot23 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  14:00:11


I see the chords now, didnt scroll down. But yeah I think its probably fine as is. Hoepfully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in though.

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  14:08:44


Yes, when I made the tab. I liked how it sounded capoed up. I probably should change it to be easier to read. This is my first song. Here is me an attachment of me playing it without a capo.


Edited by - brj5144 on 01/03/2023 14:09:43


tdennis - Posted - 01/03/2023:  14:09:32


Many songwriters, Even the greatest, could barely sing, but they managed to belt out their songs enough to demonstrate, or make recordings for someone who could sing, & interpret music. I think you may be making it hard on yourself & others to hand out sheet music & expect someone to interpret your song. ( I would suggest you make a demo as well as you can, & pass that around, or put it on the net)

jan dupree - Posted - 01/03/2023:  16:24:37


My Niece used to sing the songs for People who submitted them to a Publishing Company in Nashville. She also had a band herself, and has done some recording herself.

banjoy - Posted - 01/03/2023:  17:16:42


Just a quick note, my family had deep ties to that area, Carthage, Gordonsville and Brush Creek, my aunt and uncle for decades owned and operated the Walton Hotel in downtown Carthage, I remember several family reunions there as a kid.

And my dad's family were tobacco farmers, so your hits hits home, nice.

brj5144 - Posted - 01/03/2023:  17:40:15


Banjoy thank you so much. If just a few people relate to your song that makes it all worth while.

banjoak - Posted - 01/04/2023:  17:32:01


quote:

Originally posted by brj5144

I assume if someone wants to sing it they would want the musical notation. Here it is.



Thanks






You have some error in how the notation transcribed your TAB; seemed to shift over a string. (that is the first note is B, not D#)



I can record a vocal for you, though I am not a BG singer.



 

brj5144 - Posted - 01/04/2023:  17:54:08


Yes I'm still learning. In the tablature there is a capo on the banjo. So the banjo tablature is in G with a capo and the musical notation is in B. I worked on that today and fixed it to match. I just made the tab and the notation both show in G to simplify it. But my new pdf is at work so I can't post it now. I assume both being in G would be the easiest for people to understand. Thank you.

stevedenver - Posted - 01/11/2023:  07:15:19


Brandon

You can sing.

Everyone can sing.



Theres no zealot like a reformed person, lol.



I had a ‘cant do’ attitude, in part, from comparing myself with others, and, not singing regularly. I used to sing as a teen, then got focused on instrumentalism, typical guy thing.





I played with others who i thought sang much better than i could, so i refrained. Well, i attempted to sing harmonies, sometimes well, sometimes not. Then a few years back, I was singing in an americana band, with a rock star, and needed to stop feeling apologetic while singing. He had pipes...theatre background, and i simply didnt know how to project, even singing my loudest.



I decided to improve.



 



as an inexpensive, easy to execute first step, if you're willing, i suggest



1 berklee press has a wonderful book and cd, vocal workouts for the contemporary singer. I used this for several months, daily. It will strengthen your voice, improve your pitch, and ear. It, alone, made a huge change in my confidence and ability.



2 a vocal coach, when youre ready.

I then found an musical actress who was a vocal coach, and later, a symphony orchestral singer.



It was, for me, hugely uncomfortable, at first, to be scrutinized. The kindness of my teachers changed this. Not to mention the teaching methods.



There are many many techniques that are counter intuitive. Singing, imho, is just like running, or any other physical activity…it takes practice and, to some extent, training, regular, daily practice.



I cannot stress strongly enough, if you make the effort, everything will change for you.



Singing, is one of the best musical joys and forms of self expression. My voice isn't show stopping, but man has it changed, and I regularly get compliments.



I hope you might give it a go. Nothing ventured, no chance.

To sing is a joy. You deserve it.


Edited by - stevedenver on 01/11/2023 07:19:16

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