-
Vocal Parameters in Songwriting
In a recent post I could swear Lisa said something about her vocal register being different from Mona’s, and at the time I thought I had a decent grasp of the concept even though I cannot find that post. Upon further reflection I thought maybe not so much and did some online research that revealed that the only general agreement on register is that it’s loosely defined. I decided to proceed under the assumption that you know what it means and how it relates to your process and vision. I bring this up because I wanted to ask whether vocal register factors in with the key in which a song is written, and for that matter, how is the key decided upon, and does that then affect the decision on who sings the melody vs. harmony? Happily, I believe I do get the “serving the song” approach that is a component in all your songs and figure that applies as well.
-
4 Replies
-
Hi Dale,
I hope I understood this right. Are you asking whether we choose the key of a song to fit our voices (and vocal register)?
Yes, we do 🙂 For example, I can sing a little higher in chest-voice, Mona sounds better in a lower key or singing falsetto harmonies. So sometimes we move songs around to a key that suits our voices best. Sometimes they work fine as they are (when we’re covering someone else’s tune). Normally we just play around with different keys and vocal parts until we find an arrangement that sounds best. The easiest way to do that is use a capo and move it up and down the neck.
Hope that makes sense.
Best,
Lisa -
Hi, Dale.
A couple of weeks ago I posted a question asking whether they choose a key to fit their vocal ranges (plural), and Lisa answered in the plural as well. Maybe that’s the post you were thinking of.
-
Between this reply and Q asked as with the other Q asked and replied to(David), I now have begun to sort of grasp the understanding/concept aspect of Transposing, how keys in register interweave into components/elements when figuring out/arranging/composing /structuring a song idea from it’s thought /vision on mind, onto theory, then onto all other steps until completed to utmost satisfaction and effort goal achieved by??… Thankyou, my new thing learned today.
-
On the case of singing “Close to you”,..when you LIsa, jump (a trill?) an Octave as the song dictates, you are better controlling that kind of difficult passage, in contrast to a few songs of that kind in your earlier years.
As I’ve known, are you planning to never stop learning til’ you can’t go any further?
Do you write your originals with the aide of a able person who can help you shape what you want done?
The forum ‘MLT-FAQs’ is closed to new discussions and replies.
