Iron Lung Vocals

[Dr.Heartless]

Until I downloaded and my band played Iron Lung by Radiohead for the first time I didn't realize that the fast parts (with the lyrics "The head shrinkers...") had lyrics that made real words and now I am at a real loss on how to be sing this part. I am getting "Awesome" on all the other parts but once I hit that I go into the red! In the recording it sort of sounds like Tom is using something to make his voice sound distorted, almost robot like but how do I copy that? Falsetto? Just sort of talk it? The pitch bar look real high pitched but when I try to sing in that range it isn't matching. Anyone else have this issue?

[HMXChrisCanfield]

I was in a band a while back that tried to cover My Iron Lung (The guitar part never repeats! Never!).

The vocalist during the beginning of that section more or less follows the pitch of one of the three guitarists, then repeats as that guitarist goes noodling off. And it repeats reliably if you can figure out the melody once. If you can't hear the vocalist, try following the guitar line which fits the lyrics. Or turn down everything but the vocalist and play through.

Ultimately, this section isn't all that higher than the rest of the song. You shouldn't need falsetto unless you have to falsetto on the "Suck your teenage thumb" part.

And yes, they're using effects pedals and filters left and right on this song. For my version of the guitar parts I picked up a Super Shifter, Tube Screamer, and a Chorus pedal, and I'm guessing there is another fuzz pedal in there somewhere. You don't need to layer effects on your voice like the artist did there, though, so long as you sing in pitch with the song you should be fine.