Total failure at singing, software help?

[SachielDVangel]

So I can't pass a single song on medium vocals; I usually fail at 26%. I must seriously be tone deaf or something. I also understand the mechanics of what you're supposed to do with the arrow on the line, landing the vocals on at the right time and whatever, so it's not that. I think I'm just jumping octaves all over the place because the arrow with shoot around wildly. I don't understand what range I'm supposed to be singing in I guess.

I don't think Rock Band is doing much in the way of training my ear either, so my question is:

Is there any (preferably free) software out there for windows that I can use with the USB mic in training my throat and ear so I'm not so terrible? Something that makes you practice scales, pitch and whatever? Some kind of singing tutor software.

[xCHRISx]

Oh man could I ever use something like this. I cant hold a tune for the life of me!

[Farrah]

I know alot of people who who try to mimic the actual singing voice in the game.
Try using your talking voice, and following the lyrics' general pitch.
Singing is just elongated talking, if you keep that in mind while breathing out, you may find holding notes longer, easier.

Well, I could get into a bunch of breathing exercises, but i don't think that much is required for the game :P

[pvtGramps]

Actually, don't bother. Most of that stuff costs a lot and is almost entirely the Mic section of Rock band.

The one that I keep hearing, and how I improve on songs, is to go obtain the songs you're stuck on through various means, and listen to them, NOT sing along to them. Enjoy the songs for what they are, and you'll begin to learn them naturally.

Another method is to play through the solo tour from easy to expert on Guitar or Drums. You'll learn the songs by repetition.

Finally, don't worry about what your voice sounds like. My voice is the same pastor-screaiming-fire-and-brimstone tonelessness it was day one. That's the curse of being a Bass singer. I don't care, and it's fun to shake windows when your voice comes out of a surround sound on "Run to the Hills" and "Welcome Home"'s ending "Oh" sections.

[BodhiWolff]

First off, the octave doesn't matter. I often drop an octave just to spare my voice, and that is okay with Rock Band. So if you switch octaves in the middle of a song, or even in the middle of a phrase, that is cool. It doesn't impact your score, if you do it well.

As to software ...

Never having needed one, I can't actually speak to any particular piece of software. However, being sure that there is a market for such stuff, I did a quick search.

I did a quick search for "pitch" and "training" and found this site as an example

http://www.harmony-central.com/Software/Windows/ear_training.html

There are probably dozens and dozens of pieces of software out there. I'd say just do a little searching yourself, and see what you can find on your own, if nobody has an actual suggested piece of software that they've used, or heard of reviewed.

Just remember that you're not alone out there. A lot of people even have no idea that the voice they hear within their head via bone conductance is not the same as the one that other people hear through the air, let alone that their concept of pitch might be a little more fluid than the standard.

As an experiment, go to Youtube, and load up a song you sing along with on Rockband (that you've "passed" on easy). Find a copy of the song, and then get your PC ready with the microphone. Play the Youtube song, and use the windows accessory Sound Recorder to record yourself singing along to the Youtube song.

Then play it back.

Does it still sound the same? Does it still sound on pitch? Does it still sound as if you have a good singer singing along with the regular band, or does it sound like one of those guys in the pews in church who is enthusiastically-yet-jarringly out of synch?

Analyzing how your voice sounds externally to your own head will help you figure out if the problem is with your voice or your software/hardware.

Then you can go about training up your ear, and honing your tools.

And remember ... you *can* train your voice, and your ear. It takes work, but it can be done.

[pvtGramps]

Oh, and P.S. You're NOT a failure.

The mic is still the least used instrument in Rock Band, so you're already miles ahead for picking it up.


Jarringly-enthusaistic-yet-off-key-and-out-of-synch singers FTW! XD

[MartyMcFly]

As someone stated. Start out by talking using your normal voice, then change your own pitch. Don't try to mimic the voice of the actual singer, you won't be able to hit the high notes.

In my case, I actually have a very deep voice, I have an easy time singing Metallica and Soundgarden, but when it comes to Weezer or the Strokes, forget about it.

I use my low octave, and raise the pitch that way. Again, don't try to sing the same as the singer, it will only make it more difficult.

Hope that helps!

[kleners]

yea my dog starts howling and my wife crys as her ears bleed when i sing. i pass songs on medium but they say im butchering them

i notice i can due the wierd vocals like radiohead, clash, ramones. ones that change keys alot. wife can hit everything else. bon jovi and iron maidan stuff

[Kinnetik]

Maybe I'm just a Karaoke maniac! :eek:

I started doing a couple songs on medium last night.

Ended the night doing Highway Star (According the 'difficulty' list it's the last tier) on hard and did pretty well.

To be fair, as others have said, I only sung songs I've known and already screamed out in the car for years...

[Lilia]

I have to say learning by repitition helps, I know I'm tone deaf to all holy hell, I've come to terms with the fact that I have not the patience nor time in my life to actually approach the ability to sing. That being said, I was a fan of the ramones growing up and listened to them alot, so while I can't even pass 90% of the songs on easy I can get somewhere around a 96% on Blizkrieg Bop on expert, so long as I'm not actually trying.

When I try, dogs bark, glass breaks, and people flee in terror, urgently evacuating their loved ones. When it comes to singing, I might as well be Cthulhu.

[erickOnasis412]

if it helps, sometimes try humming the song or just singing to yourself at a normal volume.. one time i was just lieing down on the couch singing/humming the song and got like 98%.. people focus too much on trying to be loud and that's great/hilarious for groups, but if you're just playing the solo career or something, sometimes its just good to sing to yourself.. plus with humming you'll be able to hold a pitch better and your range will be improved i've found

[Micker]

I'm not the worlds best sounding singer, but I thought that anyone could pass medium singing. Maybe you are trying to imitate the voice too much, sing in your own octave, adjust your voice with the arrow. If its still hard, save everyone around you the agony and play the drums :). I know many people who just have no idea how to hit a note. They sound like pre-pubecent boys. Like anything else though, practice makes perfect.

[CRCError]

I'm no singer by any means and I can pass songs on medium fairly well.

One thing to remember - When you first start out don't worry about getting a 5-Star everytime you play. I'm happy to make it through without failin out... Score isn't my concern yet.

Also... I don't sing the songs. I hold the mic very close to my mouth and hum through closed lips.

Before the lyrics start I hum a bit to establish my octave and get a feel for where the arrow lines up on the scale. One thing to remember is the game does not penalize you for singing when there are no words on the screen.

I watch the lines as they come to the arrow and I try to lead the lyrics - I basically look at the pitch line and get the arrow as close to it as I can before the words cross the mark where you begin singing.

Then I just continue humming nonstop until the end of the measure - I take a quick breath and do it over for the next measures.

I've not had a lot of success humming through "talky" parts. You pretty much have to say the words at the right time. Don't worry too much about pitch just read the words as best you can.

When the instrumental sections pop up I just lighty smack the mic into the palm of my hand and try my best to hit them all since I need as many bonus points I can get usually.

In the end I pass the song... Maybe not with flying colors but using the technique has worked for songs in expert mode as well. The scale is just a LOT more picky about being centered on the pitch line.

Hope this helps a bit!

[CowboyGP]

Being a notoriously horrible singer, married to a former professional Rock singer I can understand your frustration. My wife can sing anything with virtually zero effort and NO mistakes. It's nauseating.

Here's what helped me begin to get the hang of singing in RB: since I don't have anyone to play BWT with, I bought a Turtle Beach "Ear Force" wireless headset. ($100 at Best Buy). It enables you to hear the full audio from the game, but still chat online - or in my case - sing while playing guitar.

What I noticed is that since I don't have to fight to hear myself over the music and crowd, I don't force my voice so much. And I hear what I actually sound like, rather than what I sound like in my head. In one night I went from barely squeaking by on medium to being fairly competent on many songs on Hard without straining at all.You can use the headset with the regular mic, too. The headset wire (the one that connects to the controller) is removable.

Other than practice, this is the only thing I can suggest.

Oh, and just like others have said; I still sound like a wounded calf when I sing, but at least I'm now an on-pitch wounded calf. My wife thinks its HILARIOUS.

[SachielDVangel]

Here's what helped me begin to get the hang of singing in RB: since I don't have anyone to play BWT with, I bought a Turtle Beach "Ear Force" wireless headset. ($100 at Best Buy). It enables you to hear the full audio from the game, but still chat online - or in my case - sing while playing guitar.
That's a good idea, I might give that a shot. I finally got through the first two tiers of medium with even a couple of 4 stars. Persistence and practice... I think I was also forcing my voice. Thanks to those that said "use your normal voice."