Any tips for improving timing for singers?

[Prages]

I'm not a vocal teacher at all.

Mrs. P and I are working on a recording, and while she has a great singing voice and really good pitch, she really struggles with timing.

I can see that she's trying to count out the breaks and stuff, but she still struggles a lot with coming in on time. It's like she always wants to come in either 1/2 a beat too soon or too late, and she can't quite hear that she's off until 1/2 way through the line.

Any tips on how to fix this? It happens even if she knows the song frontward and backward. It's driving us both crazy, and I don't know what to tell her to do about it.

[Mark Wein]

The easiest thing is just to figure out who word or syllable falls on the downbeat (or what space between words) if she is trying to sing a pickup phrase coming out of a break. Try to target what words fal on which chord changes or parts of the riff....not very pro but sometimes it works...

Working on timing with singers who don't play an instrument is difficult because they usually haven't learned how to feel time properly. IIRC Mrs P plays a little guitar...is it something she can work out playing guitar and trying to sing? Then she can get more of a feel for where the vocal falls against the chords...

[Mrs.P]

I actually used to be a musician (well in high school and middle school). I played concert and marching band flut for years. I don't understand why I am having such trouble with hearing where I need to be. I can find it as the verse goes on, but it's just catching the drop in from a break that is giving me the biggest problems right now. I know the count and the beat, but I just can't seem to hit it.

[Prages]

I think we'll try Mark's tip for figuring out which syllables fall on the downbeat, even if that means leaving out the syllables leading up to that beat for a little while. It's worth a shot, if you're willing to go through that much trouble.

[Mrs.P]

If you understand the words you are typing, and can explain them to me, I am willing to give it a shot.

[Prages]

I think I do. :o

[Mark Wein]

lol.

Video of recording session plz?

[Mrs.P]

biggrin