Hi Pete! I'm no technical singing expert but I've been there, so I can beak off a little. A true story! Sorry, this turned into a bit of a novel, but it's nice to share something near to my heart with someone...When I started in bands at about 16, I had no singing experience but my ear was somewhat trained from years in school band and my exposure to a lot of music in the home. So, while I would work out the hard parts and teach the other band members the parts, the bastards would not let me near a microphone. Of course, I was no doubt terrible, but looking back I should have been much more demanding of a chance to try. Hell, I owned one of the three mic's!
I slowly got the odd chance to add a bit here and there as backup vocals, mostly ooh's & aah's. My first attempts at lead vocals were actually not bad because by total fluke, I had picked cover tunes that were not too demanding, probably because I was still very insecure. Then, with the ice broken, I thought I was on my way. I grabbed songs that were totally out of my range (range? what's that?) and proceeded to make a fool of myself. I learned the hard way that what you can sort of pull off in the relaxed, controlled rehearsal situation requires a whole different approach live. With the stage volume stupidly loud and the monitors non-existant, I couldn't hear a thing, so I pushed harder and blew my voice out. Very embarrassing. Furthermore, we had about three weeks of work ahead. Somehow we struggled through, then I quit. The thing is, I then thought that I had no talent for singing. I retreated into my shell and did not try again for a long time.
Anyway, the years went by (now in my upper-mid 20's) and I became just somebody's bass player for many years. Not much singing lately. Good guitarist's were always a dime a dozen, so I got more work on bass. Then, I began to get calls for fill ins on country gigs and old rock&roll acts. I realized that not all music required on to sing really high notes to be efective and appreciated. I met nice people that were more interested in the feeling that I tried to put into my vocals rather than any technical wizardry. I began to feel relaxed and welcome to the microphone. I still wasn't very good but I was learning.
By this time I had been doing a duo with a guy who was a very strong singer. This is what I recommend! Find a similar situation, listen, learn and practice your harmony singing. I find it interesting that some think of backup singing as the easier role. Ha! You generally end up singing higher parts, you have to learn to nail a note cold, from nowhere, and you have to project just as loudly plus forming a vocal tone that blends well. Great training though. Work into the lead singing gradually. Singing all night at the volume required takes fair energy and careful pacing.
Anyway, eventually, I wanted to get off the road because my first son was born and I wanted to watch him grow up. There was very little duo work in town so what to do?
A single act. Scared the hell out of me! All by myself! Took some little gigs 1 hr. out of town where no one would know me, singing mostly old country and old R&R with a dinky P.A., a 12 string acoustic and a cheezy beat box. By God, they liked it and no one insulted my singing! I'd beaten my worst ememy, me.
Singing in a way that most people will sit and listen to does require that you can sing moderately in tune. This requires experience. However, I remember taping several nights of my duo in a packed club, singing our asses off and thinking we were dead on! The best gig we'd ever done! The place went nuts and we played 1½ hours overtime. I listened to the tapes 2 days later and discovered that I was badly over-singing and maddeningly and consistantly SHARP all night! It was horrendous - but who cared? Who really noticed? Our enthusiasm and energy that night far overshadowed this. Sometimes we worry about all the wrong things.
I'm now 42. I play every weekend in pubs, lounges and one nighters (dances & parties)as a single act. I sing everything from Frankie Valee to Willie Nelson, ZZ Top to Roger Whittaker, Beatles to Tom Waits, Stan Rogers to Billy Idol, Proclaimers to Gary Moore, Waylon to Van Halen. It's a riot! I make good money doing this. If i had not has "big ears" and an open mind, I would have ended up a one trick pony and certainly not doing this. This was total luck, not foresite, but I'm a happy camper. A lot of people laughed at my attempts over the years and suggested I move along. I'm glad I'm stubborn, and didn't quit. I'm still not "super vocalist" and my tone is not incredible but what the hell. Many think I am very good and a lot of old faces that have since drifted off the track can't believe it. I love entertaining and the rest is details.
My experiences have taught me: be persistant and insistant, don't worry too much about what others think (for now), sing songs you like, don't be afraid to transpose down a key or two (if the song still has some kick), try different styles of music early in the game. There is no substitute for hands-on experience. Start now, go hard and believe in your dream to be a singer.
I believe that with practice, just about everyone can sing. Who's to say whether you can or can't? Listen to some of (my fave's)the great character voices like Dylan, Prine, Waits, Hiatt, even the guys from AC/DC. Millions love 'em, some don't, so who's right? Who cares? Listen to all the singing styles that you can. Borrow from many. Discover your natural range, get really familiar with it, the expAND it. Try harder stuff.
Love it or hate it, Karaoke has given a lot of people an opportunity to find a talent they might never have discovered otherwise. Actually, it's excellent training! It really is.
Well, it's late and this prolonged rambling has gone quite long enough. Though totally off the cuff, I suppose it has been fun to share my thoughts but most importantly, I hope that if you are even a bit more inspired to go for it a bit harder, it's not for naught. Man, I wish that someone had given me some basic belief back then.
Peace, & happy trails!
Eric, from Alberta, Canada