Hi,
For somebody who is just starting out in using vocals.Me.
What songs would you recommend in singing to.For example would it be easier to sing slow numbers rather than faster rock and roll types or maybe country hits?

Ive had a bit of practice with songs like:
Always on my mind.
Have I told you lately.
I want to wake up with you.
The lady in red.
How am supposed to live without you.
Wooden heart.

Are these songs I have listed being a bit to adventurous for a begginner?

Any comments from the pro's would be most appreciated.

Regards,
Daz

Daz...
Start with songs you LOVE. Songs with lyrics you can relate to. Songs with a melody you can feel in your heart. Never force yourself to sing anything you don't feel you do well...save them for practice at home til you get it or decide you want to pass on it.

And, don't worry about covering a song exactly like the artist who made it popular. Keep it simple or put your own spin on it.

Eddie

There is no right and wrong here....We all have Very DIFFERENT Voices and talents to use them....Some songs are right for the singer some are difficult due to overall key range, phrasing, timing, etc etc....
Slow or Fast is not too much of an issue...you gotta sing from your heart,ya gotta have soul my friend, you gotta memorize them and forget looking at lyrics & your fingers, you gotta look at the audience when you sing, makeye contact, you gotta have a certain MIC Technic also knowing when to to back on/off,
so you can make the song your own, Not Everyone can do it effectlivly...
A Vocal coach, Years of experience, watching & listening to other singers are all things tht can help you only IF YOU have the Foundational qualities to even become a good singer...Let your friends hear you, get some feedback from strangers too, absorb critisizm, because in the end if your gonna do it for an audience THEY will have the final say & you'll find that out as soon as you finish a song on stage for sure!!

Good Luck

------------------
www.donnypesce.com



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-17-2004).]

Like Shoeless Joe said:
"You gotta have heart"

If you FEEL it, then you can sell it. Read the words - out loud, OUT of rhythm. Make them make sense. Memorize the lyrics and then move on to phrasing the lines to make the lyrics come alive. Think of it as a 3 minute play. You're a story teller. Get into characher ........ and TELL the story, my friend !
Jimmy Durante, Louis Armstrong, Rod Stewart ...... none of them have great voices, but they are ALL great singers. It comes from inside. Good luck!

Of these songs, I would say Lady in Red is the toughest (for me at least) because of the range of notes.
One advice: sit at the keyboard and determine which are the lowest and highest notes you can sing comfortably by playing them on the kb as you sing. Then you can more readily pick songs that fall within those notes, bearing in mind that you may well have to adjust the key to fit your range.
Then, as the guys said, practice. Start with songs you know well and don't have to really work to learn the melody lines. As you progress it gets easier and easier to extend your repertoire.
I started singing because the singer didn't show up one night and I wanted to get paid.
But I had been practicing at home with a tape recorder for a long time.
The tendency starting out is to enhance your voice with effects, and that isn't all bad to a degree,as it can give you confidence. But be sure you are enhancing it, not hiding it.
Good luck,
DonM www.donmasonmusic.com

A few additional pointers:

Record yourself. This is the reality check you must do. Don't be too bummed out if you dont like what you hear, but decide what it is that you don't like, then re-record and listen again. Keep doing that and slowly but surely you will hear improvement.

Practice, practice, practice! A good place is in your car with backing tracks you've created for your tape or CD player.

Good luck, better yet, keep practicing!