https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:18:15 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363220 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:08:07 +0000 Singing rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363220 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363219 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:05:16 +0000 Singing rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363219 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363217 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:09:10 +0000
Another trick you can do with Reaper is add the effect "superpitch" (I think it is one of the JS fx) on your second vocal track and adjust it up or down a 3rd to create the harmony. It will sound weird if you listen to it isolated, but usually blends okay with everything else. I used this on the cover of "wonderful tonight" my son and I did (pretty sure I posted it in hear, hear a while back.]]> Singing jwmartin https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/paged/2/#post-363217 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-363173 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:56:26 +0000
If you record yourself singing, one small trick I learned, was to put a slight amount of delay on the doubled track and back it down in the mix slightly...it adds a little more blend depth and presence in a subtle way. Leave the main track "dry" and blend the two voices together.

Also while 3rds is a common pitch there are other voices you can mix and/or match, such as 5ths and 7ths. A caveat about working with 7ths, is depending upon the chord harmony, they differ: If you understand the key you are in, and basic diatonic harmony, then you want to make sure that when dealing with 7ths, that you know what chord is being implied in the harmony. Major have major 7ths, Dominant uses b7 as does Minor.

So, understanding theory and diatonic harmony really helps. For example if I were in the Key of C Major and I wanted to experiment with a harmonized 7 on a G note, I know that the G in the key of C is the V chord, (Because I have a foundation and understanding of Music Theory, which really gives us the "big picture" of whats going on musically) and as such, it's Dominant in function, so I'd want to try a b7 harmony, or basically sing an F note over the G.

Another learning tool, is to isolate both melodies in a piece of music and then analyse the notes themselves to see what intervals were used. This can really add real-world insights into common harmonization practices. For example, Harmonies by the Beach Boys are drastically different than Harmonies by Layne Staley/Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains. But both are valid listening examples to understand different possibilities for coming up with harmonies.

Best,

Sean]]> Singing Sean0913 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-363173 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-363139 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:17:39 +0000
Just like you'all have been saying. Just another thing to consider when arranging a song, even if it's just a loose cover.]]> Singing rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-363139 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362931 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:36:30 +0000 Singing cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362931 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362929 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:05:42 +0000
Ride Captain Ride is here. https://www.guitarnoise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=50305
choruses at:
1:12
2:42
4:45 (I made the song longer - wanted more jam time.)

Other song cnev and I are talking about, The Pusher, is here. https://www.guitarnoise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=50304

Both are works in progress. Be gentle.]]> Singing rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362929 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362928 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:42:21 +0000 Singing cnev https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362928 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362927 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:34:04 +0000
Seriously though, I've got a fake bass-line (palm mute low-E and have at it), semi-clean rhythm, slightly gritty rhythm and lead/fill tracks. I'll send you if you like.

I should post Ride Captain Ride in hear hear and let yooze all bash it to bits and add suggestions for backing vocals.

Nice suggestion, Boxboy. I'll give that a try too.]]> Singing rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362927 https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362926 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:25:15 +0000 The backup vocals just sing portions of the lyric/phrases. That way, even if you're singing without harmonies there's a dynamic and a lead stands out.
:)]]> Singing boxboy https://guitarnoise.forum/singing/sing-your-own-backing-vocals/#post-362926