Can wail on guitar...But can't sing a lick!
 

Hi Goldy Here,
Been in Nashville for over 20 years. Helped many big country artists get airplay on radio. Decided to hire 2 of the best guitar teachers (2 distinct different teaching styles) to help me get to where I expected to be right now. My biggest problem has always been trying to sing. I've always been a pretty good musician on a few other instruments, but for some reason, I still can't sing! I have actually been on stage and had the bass player pull the mike away from me (while I was singing the harmony!) Anyone out there that can recommend a true, tried and tested course or maybe a teacher out there? Would appreciate any input.

Here's an idea. Play punk music. Boom, no singing necessary! Just make whatever guttural noises come out of your moth hole, and boom. You're doing it right!

Hi Goldy,

I'm sure there are a few excellent vocal instructors in Nashville, check a few out, someone should be able to isolate your problem and rectify it.

In the meantime, even though I know it's simple and you probably have done it, take a piano or guitar and make yourself sing scales with the instrument, then find an interval and harmonize with the instrument, keep checking your intonation with the note being played . . . boring but works. You gotta get it in your ear, the vibrations of harmony notes.

do you have problems hitting notes or does your voice just sound bad?

I fall into the latter category, and it's quite unfortunate for me.

i can mimic other people's singing if I tried hard enough

what i do is sing along when the record is on and try to modulate my pitch and timbre to suit the record's singer

if all else fails, invent something like black metal country and just scream to your heart's content

That is exactly what I have to do but if I have to sing original material and I have nothing to compare it to and mimic then I'm pretty sure I sound awful to others.

i use other people's inflexions sometimes for my own songs

i did one song using Peter Noone's voice (Herman's Hermits)

This. This right here.

Or rap/country. No need to sing well, just have the ability to speak in rhyme well. And hey, while playing guitar? Then you'd be original!

Heck, I'd listen to you.

Ironically, I just finished mastering a Bowie song where I imitated something between Bowie's, Eno's voices but as if Bela Lagosi was singing . . . :confused:

Perhaps this is too obvious, but, hire a singer?