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  #1  
Old 04-21-2021, 01:13 AM
takamineGD93 takamineGD93 is offline
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Default I went busking....

The spring has arrived in Sweden so I went busking this monday.
It's a great way to get a gig when there is no scene.

This is my third season. People are different but this is how long it took me to accept the situation myself. To feel comfortable to take so much space and not concern myself with what others are thinking.

And i was ill prepared. But that is is some of the point. Just practising at home is boring. Busking gives me a focus and a goal.

Since last summer I've been mostly writing songs and recording. I've played with my fingers and that doesn't work unamplified.
I don't like my headvoice. So all recording and some mike singing I've done since last summer has been with my chestvoice (open G string is my sweetspot).
I really thought my chestvoice had becomed stronger and this is the year I'm going to be busking with my chest voice. But that didn't work unamplified.
So back to my headvoice it is (the D on the 3e fret b string is the sweetspot for this).

So now i have to transpose every song for my headvoice and work out strumming patterns. And that is partly why I was ill prepared. I knew I had to change things anyway.

I don't want to use amps. No buskers did when I was growing up. Amps are a different legislation etc.
Why not try to master it without amps...and if that fails get an amp later?
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Old 04-21-2021, 02:28 AM
RalphH RalphH is offline
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Congrats on busking! It's great to push outside your comfort zone for sure!

You sure you're really using headvoice on that D? Sure you're not just pushing a lot harder in chest voice to get the notes? It's certainly the case that you have to sing much louder to go higher, but that's within each range and D is so far down in most people headvoice range they'd not be able to put much power into it.

Most people can get to at least G (3rd fret e string) in chest voice (with training). I have a very low voice -- I can get down to the C that's 4 frets below an open E (6th) string and I can get up to a G on the 1st string, though I have to push really, really hard to get there.

F# (2nd fret e string) is my comfortable limit in chest voice (yes it's only a semitone, but it's a big difference when you're approaching the limits of what you can do) and I can get up to the D @ 10th fret on the 1st (e) string in headvoice - not that it's a good sound! I tend not to use my headvoice - ever - outside of sining lessons!
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Old 04-21-2021, 02:30 AM
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Congrats on busking. I'd like to push myself to take my talents out there...
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Old 04-21-2021, 02:36 AM
RalphH RalphH is offline
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The main thing that stops me is the danger of seeing someone I know
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Old 04-21-2021, 03:26 AM
Mike McLenison Mike McLenison is offline
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I'm considering it in Phoenix. Well, after my 3rd shot.

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Old 04-21-2021, 03:28 AM
RalphH RalphH is offline
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Of vodka?
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Old 04-21-2021, 05:26 AM
takamineGD93 takamineGD93 is offline
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Yes, D is low headvoice for me. Just above my bridge.
I used to be able to take hold a B (7 fret e string) when i was young and sang rock. Now I can reach G...but D is my sweetspot
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Old 04-21-2021, 05:32 AM
rokdog49 rokdog49 is offline
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Im in the camp that believes your vocal range can always be improved with practice and the proper techniques.
I can sing Neil Young or Cat Stevens in key. That’s a broad range, trust me.
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Old 04-21-2021, 11:15 PM
RalphH RalphH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by takamineGD93 View Post
Yes, D is low headvoice for me. Just above my bridge.
I used to be able to take hold a B (7 fret e string) when i was young and sang rock. Now I can reach G...but D is my sweetspot
Cool, sound like you know what you're doing. Before I had singing lessons these were very confusing terms to be and I kinda thought my chest voice has about an octave from about C2-C3 and my headvoice another from C3-C4. Middle C (C4/2nd fret B string) was the highest note I could sing. Some of it was technique, but most of it was in my head. I've always hated singing, but I got fed up with just playing guitar on my own. I started taking singing lessons mostly to get over the fear of it. Now I kinda enjoy it.

So do you have more busking plans for the future?

It's something I should probably make myself go and do, even if it's only once.
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Old 04-22-2021, 08:27 AM
GuildF20Guy GuildF20Guy is offline
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Great idea! During lockdown, all I’ve been doing is learning how to sing and play. Playing guitar is old hat to me. I’ve always been terrible at singing. But I’ve made progress and started recording myself and sending the recordings to my band mates for criticism. I’m getting better and i will try busking!!! Thank you for the suggestion!!

PS, play major and minor arpeggios on the guitar through the circle of fifths and sing along. That will get you singing in many keys quickly.
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Old 04-22-2021, 03:38 PM
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We plan to start busking this season once the warmer weather arrives. We've already begun picking out spots in a local artsy town that has a lot of busking. We plan to start in some of the out of the way spots with less foot traffic to get used to it and go from there. Our plan is to approach our sessions like they are live, outdoor band practices where we focus largely on each other unless of course people stop to listen. I'll be sure to post how it goes once we get out there.
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Old 04-23-2021, 04:45 AM
zenkensho zenkensho is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RalphH View Post
Of vodka?
He's in Phoenix... So it should be tequila [emoji6]
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Old 04-23-2021, 05:27 PM
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I skipped last year, first time in 12 years of busking, out of fear of covid. Still not safe I'm afraid.
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Old 05-07-2021, 12:26 PM
Zexxor Zexxor is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by takamineGD93 View Post
The spring has arrived in Sweden so I went busking this monday.
Do you play only what you write, or only what others write or a combination?

I've been thinking about doing this, but in my preparation I am just making too many mistakes and feel like I would be a disaster.
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