VOCALS
[ 5 STEPS TO TIGHT VOCALS - PART 2 | Sheri Gould ]
We continue from where we left off in the Volume to take the sound you give him and amplify it
August 2017 issue of Worship Musician. Work on getting everyone’s volume levels so the intended audience can hear it. It is not
the same BEFORE you get in front of the his job to make sure you’re in tune or have a
microphones. Getting the right blend is YOUR pleasant tone quality. Nor is it his job to see that
job as singers, not your sound tech’s job. you are blending well, with the proper volume
4. SMOOTH OUT YOUR BLEND
in relation to the rest of the singers. That’s
One of the signatures of great vocals is a tight,
smooth blend. Of the five steps, this will likely Vibrato YOUR job. Thirdly, most of the techs serving
take the most work. Achieving a great blend Make sure that the only vibrato going on is in our churches are volunteers with little or no
takes skill and effort, but it’s worth it in the end. NATURAL. A natural vibrato is created by good training. They simply aren’t qualified to do all
Most of the time, when I first listen to a vocal breath support and does not change pitch. It that we often ask of them. The simpler we can
team, I am able to pick out every individual should only change volume. A natural vibrato make their job, the better.
voice. The team members have simply chosen can be a part of a good and healthy blend. NO to sing together without any real regard to vibrato is typically the result of a stressed or Use the Mic Correctly.
actually blending with each other to make one immature voice. Using a microphone properly is not difficult, and
yet many singers do not. It helps to understand
sound. This aspect is often a completely “new”
Tone Quality what type of microphone you are using
This is the aspect of blending that will likely because different mics respond differently, but
Blend actually starts with humility. When we take the most skill. A singer, in order to affect a good rule of thumb is to plant your mouth 1
choose to blend with another singer, we make their own tone, will need to learn how to access inch away from the center of the microphone
a decision to consciously put aside some of our various areas of resonance in order to make and keep it there. Probably the most important
own sound/style for the purpose of creating a their voice sound more like someone else’s, thing you can do is to be consistent with your
new sound with another singer or singers. along with the other things I’ve mentioned. microphone usage. Do not overly work the mic.
Obviously, our individual voices will help to This is a skill that takes concerted effort and Even moving an additional inch away will cut
color the sound, but our voice, in and of itself, practice, but is a great one for any vocalist to your perceived sound by half most times, so
should not be distinguishable. Each singer have. take note of your position and stay consistent
idea for most singers.
so your sound tech isn’t spending all his energy
needs to keep this goal in mind. By striving for
5. USE TECHNOLOGY CORRECTLY trying to track YOU.
be difficult for people on a number of levels, Today’s technology has so much to offer us Treat Vocals as ONE Instrument in Your IEM Mix.
but first and foremost one must be willing to as musicians. With proper use, we now have There is a difference between how we mix
approach the situation with the attitude of, “I’m the ability to not only amplify our voices and monitors with external speakers versus the way
willing to make any necessary changes to my instruments, but also the ability to personally we mix with IEMs. It’s important to understand
own sound for the good of the team.” monitor our sound with the use of in-ear that vocals should all be on one track in your
this, we recognize that our voice may need to
be changed or altered in the process. This can
monitors. Used correctly, IEMs can help to save IEM so that you can hear and respond to the
Some important aspects of finding a good your voice and save your hearing. However, in actual volume levels of each singer. If you have
blend are these: order to use this technology to its fullest, there each singer separated, you will have no idea
are things to keep in mind. what the vocals actually sound like in real time.
Vowels
When they are mixed together you can respond
Uniform vowel shapes are key to getting a Blend is Our Responsibility. appropriately and your sound tech has less to
good blend. We sing vowels and articulate Generally speaking, I find that most vocal deal with.
consonants, so make sure everyone is shaping teams today tend to sing as they wish and look their vowels in the same way. This is best to the sound techs to fix any blend issues they achieved by first practicing in front of a large can through technology. This is a mistake on mirror where everyone can see themselves and many levels. First of all, your sound tech may each other at the same time. not be a musician. Secondly, his job is primarily 28 August 2017
God bless you as you sing for Him!
WorshipMusician.com