Singing and Playing at the same time.

[David Gordon Burke]

We had an interesting thread going about singing and playing in the past. Since then I have actually started working on my voice again. First a little history.
I have sang off and on since I was a kid. In Primary School I was in the school choir that competed across the province of Ontario.
In various bands that I was in I did back-up vocals.
In two bands I was the lead singer or shared the lead vocal duties. One band was a Rock band and another was a Latin dance band. (Can you imagine a White guy singing in Spanish???) Very funny.

Here is the big problem. A terrible addiction to cigarettes. (For all you younger folks, don't even think of starting smoking, it is a terrible habit)
So when I am working on my voice actively, I can sing. When I stop singing regularly, I lose it. Right now it is slowly coming back to me.

We would all like to be able to sing and play at the same time like Ricky Muñoz or Albert Zamora. These guys do some amazing things on the accordion and SING at the same time.

What I am doing is working on very simple things. Even to the point of just playing songs where the accordion simply plays rythmn on chords. The other kind of tune I am working on is the type where the singing and the accordion don't happen at the same time. A little accordion, a little singing, a little accordion, a little singing.
The tunes I am working on are:
A little bit is better than Nada - Texas Tornadoes.
I found out - Flaco Jimenez
Volver, Volver - Traditional
Corrido #1 - Los Lobos
Contrabando y Traicion - LTDN
Las Tres Tumbas - Los Cadetes.
Prieta Casada - Albert Zamora
El Chubasco - Albert Zamora

Plus a few others.
So my way of thinking here is that first you need to get comfortable with the whole concept of singing and playing, looking at the keyboard when you need to OR not looking at it when you need to consentrate on the microphone, timing the singing with the little melodies that compliment the rythmn or the song and the million of other details you need to worry about when you take on this challenge.

In the end, one of the biggest challenges of playing the accordion well is TIMING. Combining the voice and the accordion is another challenge and complicates the whole timing element.

No matter what you do musically, you want to do it as if it is second nature. If you plan to sing in a band, even if it is just background vocals, the best advice I can give you (aside from these few pointers) is START NOW.
Stoney

[Jr Salinas]

There Really Isn't Much To Singing And Playing At The Same Time. My Uncle Told Me To Sing Parts Of The Song While Learnig It. It Helps You Hit The Right Notes And It Helps You Get The Feel For Sing And Playing At The Same Time.

I Find It Helpfull To Talk With Someone While Playing. Why?? Because Its Just Like Singing. If You Can Play Without Being Thrown Off By Talking Then Its The Same As Singing.

Its All Good Though Cuz Some Pros Cant Sing And Play At The Same Time Michael Salgado I Know For Sure Cant Sing And Play At The Same Time.

So If You Feel Like You Will Never Sing And Play At The Same Time Well Just Take A Deep Breath And Sing A Little Bit Of The Song. Talk To Someone. (Even If Its Your Dog) And Just Remember If You Get Frustrated Stop For A While And Then Start All Over Again.

I Hope You Guys Dont Think I Can Play And Sing Every Song I Know, I Too Have Trouble With Some Of This Stuff. I Can Sing And Play Some Songs Like Amor Maldito, No Te Vayas, And Vete Ya From Intocable And Gaviota From Ramon Ayala. I Have Some Trouble But Its All Good Cuz I'll Try It Later On If I Cant Do It.

I Hope This Helps Somone.

Jr Salinas

[David Gordon Burke]

Good advice. Talk to your dog. HAHA.
This is one thing that a lot of musicians leave for later and it is a really big mistake. If you want to be a well rounded musician, singing, even enough to do background vocals is essential.

There is nothing I hate worse than working in a band situation with someone who ISN'T really all that interested in anything other than WANKING on their instrument.

Some of the best songs out there are very simple, but with beautiful vocals. (In my personal opinion, the voice is the most important element of a song)

So just ask yourself, if you were the boss of a band and you had to pick between two equally talented bass guitarists, wouldn't you pick the one that had a good voice? (as long as he wasn't a snaggle-toothed, one legged Albino?)

Singing is great fun, you can do it anywhere (almost) and don't need any special equiptment. What more do you want in life? Start now!
Stoney
(no offense intended to all snaggle-toothed, one legged Albinos)

[Jr Salinas]

snaggle-toothed, one legged Albinos

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Crazy Man!!!!

Jr

[amaya]

I've been messing with a couple of songs, and it's getting easier now, but I have noticed that playing along helps out alot with keeping your voice in the right key.

I gotta admit, the songs I've been messing with are songs that tend to play a little accordion, sing a lil, and then some more accordion (Fuertemente- Intocable, De Que Sirvio- Big Circo) but it's fun, and I'm getting it little by little... I recommend to start out with songs like that, until you get the hang out it...

[mariog]

this is great stuff guys..

QUESTION IS .. CAN YOU SING SEGUNDAS..

ALOT OF FOLKS HAVE NO CLUE ON HOW TO SING SEGUNDAS.. SOME EVEN CONFUSE 1A AND 2NDA..


WELL.. I GUES IN ORDER TO SING SEGUNDA YOU MUST LEARN TO SING PRIMERA FISRT.



I HAVE BENN EXPERIMENTING ON SINGING LATELY..
AND YES IT IS A MUST.. EVEN IF YOUR VOICE SOUNDS LIKE @#$$%.. SINGING ACTUALY HELPS WITH THE TIMING OF THE SONGS.

QUESTION FOR YOU EXPERTS..
I KNOW HOW TO SING SEGUNDAS.. BUT HOW DO YOU GET THE "RAMON AYALA EFFECT" YOU NOW THAT CONTRA ALTAS SOUND.
1) I KNOW THAT HE HARDLY OPENS HIS MOUTH WHEN HE SINGS(SEGUNDA)
ANY ONE KNOWS THIS .. HELP?