Question for you vocalists...

Bern · #1 07-01-2006, 10:32 PM

Why is easier to sing harmony with others by covering one ear ?

sluggo · #2 07-01-2006, 10:35 PM

I'm not a particularly good harmony singer.

But I think people do it to lock on their part and not get drawn to the melody.

cotten · #3 07-01-2006, 10:39 PM

It's not. At least, not for me or any of the vocalists I know.

cotten

bobc · #4 07-01-2006, 10:47 PM

When people hear me sing... They normally cover both ears...

Sorry, i just had to.

mttmrphy · #5 07-01-2006, 10:59 PM

To hear your own voice better... although, I think some people only do it because they see others do it without knowing why. Aside from my solo acoustic act I sing in a rock band. Sometimes the guys get a bit louder than the monitors and I need to hear what is coming out of my mouth, I'll cover an ear.

harlon · #6 07-02-2006, 02:12 AM

I agree with cotten. It doesn't work for me - or anyone else that sings in my studio. I think it's an urban legend!!

sluggo · #7 07-02-2006, 03:27 AM

OK OK I admit it, I do it in a desperate attempt to find the note as I lack to skill or ear to grab and nail it. I have seen some pretty good singers take one side of the headphones off to help stay on pitch though.

Mr. IJaK · #8 07-02-2006, 03:49 AM

You hear your own voice more clearly. I often do that if I'm learning a line, to check I'm doing it right.

Chicago Sandy · #9 07-02-2006, 11:32 AM

I generally don't need to hear myself when harmonizing--if I'm doing it correctly I should be hearing the blend as a whole. ONly reason to hear yourself is if you need to make sure you are singing the correct part--and IMHO hearing yourself more clearly than the other singers is inimical to the blend. Some folks can't write (or memorize) a consistent harmony part and sing it independently--they need to have the other parts around them because they can only think in chords (and some of *them* can only sing by instinct, lacking theoretical training). OTOH, some folks have no harmonic instincts and must have an assigned part--whether it's one given to them or one they sat down and wrote on their own after parsing the chord. Fortunately, I can do both.

franchelB · #10 07-07-2006, 07:22 PM

I'm sorry if I sound conceited, but I never had to rely on "cupping" my hand around my ear so that I can hear my part! Quite frankly, I think it makes a singer look silly every time I see them do it.
Any singer who knows their part well enough, should be able to sing their part...no matter what the distractions are.

sirflyguy2000 · #11 07-07-2006, 08:02 PM

If the monitoring situation is iffy in a higher volume situation, it does isolate the bone conduction sound a bit by blocking one ear, thereby making it easier to hear your note.
I always think of the Bee Gees when I see people do this!

Chicago Sandy · #12 07-08-2006, 03:12 PM

I always think of Gary Owens announcing "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."

sirflyguy2000 · #13 07-08-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Sandy

I always think of Gary Owens announcing "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."

Yep, him too! You bet your sweet bippy....
Man, talk about about a bunch of whacked out, drugged out freaky people. I was too young to know all about it, but I knew they were different!

DonBob · #14 07-08-2006, 05:17 PM

Phuufme often asks me to do the ear cupping thing. It doesn't improve the harmony, but it stops me playing the guitar, and that generally enhances our sound.

Guyute · #15 07-08-2006, 07:12 PM

I sing harmony much better when I cover my mouth