How Is My Vocals In This Short Cover Of Perfect Day? Would Love Some Honest Feedback :)

[river454]

[andy-hughes]

If you are producing a demo for anyone other than family and friends, I would advise you to record your vocal and guitar tracks seperately.

Your voice is not strong, and your concentration split between singing and playing means neither are as concise as they need to be.

If you are singing for your own enjoyment, than fine, enjoy yourself.

If you are looking to pursue a career in music, you need a lot stronger voice, more practice on your vocal phrasing, and practice your guitar part until it's perfect.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

[Barmaid]

I'm sorry, but I did not like it. I thought your voice seemed strained. I also think that you sounded uncomfortable with the song and it sounded quite forced.

I would not listen to you singing that song. Others may suit you better (I'm not a music expert by any shade of the imagination), but to my untrained ear it didn't do it for me.

But well done for giving it a crack and keep trying!

[1ozzy]

Sorry, your version would have Lou Reed cringing in his grave.
Maybe try some Bob Dylan songs.

[emmie]

awful, time to hang up the vocals

[1ozzy]

Can't agree there Em.
Bob Dylan couldn't sing harmoniously, but sold lots of records.
If you wish to busk river454 choose songs you can sing and play well.

Good luck and keep practising.

[emmie]

can't sing a note, sorry only being honest.

[Ken4155]

Dylan has sold millions because of his lyrics. Same with Leonard Cohen. When you can write brilliant prose, the singing voice becomes almost irrelevant. Perhaps if 'river454' could write?

[1ozzy]

Or perform songs that suit?

[river454]

thanks for the comments. How about this video though?

[andy-hughes]

Your song Keys are at the top of your range, making your voice strained, try lower registers.

Your guitar playing needs more rehearsal, it's not confident enough.

An upbeat song in a lower key may suit you better.

[naomi24]

Your second is better than your first. 'Perfect Day' isn't for you, but don't let that deter you from trying something else. I've heard many a highly successful professional sing songs that don't suit them. I'd still like to hear you sing something more upbeat.

[river454]

Hi Andy. Thanks for your feedback. I find it fascisnting how in my other recording I posted a few days back, everyone seemed to think it was ok/good yet this one is worse than nails on a chalkboard haha how can a person sound soooo different on two songs? In any case these comments cofirm what I always knew, which is that a singing voice is a NATURAL talent, end of. And I am someone who has not been given one. In any case it is ok as the guitar is my main love. This however brings me to my 2nd point. Although I agree with and respect your comments about my voice, im not sure I do about the guitar! I am an experienced player who can play solos and everything and am certainly capable of strumming some chords in perfect day. What is it about the guitar that sounds wrong to you there? I am strumming all chords in time and even adding melody licks in with the bridge part which i am playing on the b string as well as the chords at the same time... So im intrigued to know what you think isnt right about the guitar here? thanks

[TheWinner]

I think you should choose a different key to play perfect day. If your guitar is in concert pitch, it sounds like you might have a capo on the first fret and playing in A. Take the capo off and play it in C and see the difference. Your guitar playing isn't that bad and although your voice may not be strong, its adequate and in tune. You've also had the courage to sing/play on here, and that is commendable. Jam sessions with other guitarists would be a big help too.

[Patsy33]

I thought your guitar playing was fine. Your voice is slightly raspy and reminds me a bit of Bryan Adams. I'd like to hear you sing your rendition of Summer of 69.. :-)

[The Builder]

I think what Andy is getting at (re: the guitar) is that the whole thing is "guitar-led"
What I mean by that is that the song should come first, and the guitar should fit in around that.
You're doing the opposite. You're concentrating on the accompaniment as though the melody is an afterthought.

As an exercise, I would try singing it unaccompanied. Preferably with a metronome.
This would help you with your phrasing since you won't be worrying about the guitar at all.
Any song should be about melody; phrasing; emphasis and (sorry for the cliché) telling a story.
Accompaniment should support the whole thing without getting in the way.
Also...... a lot of people think guitar is all about strumming. That can often make everything sound too "busy".
One trick is to play a single hit on the guitar every time the chord changes instead of trying to fill it all up with strumming.

Those are just my first thoughts. Stick at it. Just let the song speak for itself............... not the guitar.

[Atheist]

Lou Reed didn't have a particularly good voice, but he sang with a softness and a feeling that suited the song. You sound a bit strained. Maybe a self-written song would be better for you, if you were singing about something that you felt in your heart. Bob Dylan was judged by Woodie Guthrie as not a particularly good writer but with an excellent voice. I think that Dylan was a brilliant singer, and fortunately could write good stuff. Have you tried writing? Your throat sounds tight, and Lou sounds soft and relaxed. You can have a voice whch is not technically 'good' but which can have an appeal. Relax your throat; let your breath out freely; sing from your chest; sing from your nose, sing from your kidneys, your sinuses, sing from your stomach or the top of your head, but above all, relax. You can sing in tune, now relax and sing without any forcing.
I'm not very good at explaining, but carry on working at it.

[Atheist]

I second everything that Builder said.

[Old_Geezer]

In my totally inexpert opinion: the second offering was better than the first. You have some natural ability but I reckon you'd benefit greatly by honing your skills with a professional musuc teacher. Even just a few lessons, taken seriously, should help you get the right pitch, decent strength, etc..

For busking it's fine, but presently, let's just say, I'd not put money on you hitting the top in the music industry. It needs some work.

[Old_Geezer]

...MUSIC...