TONE DEAF
ONE BAD NOTE SPOILS THE SONG
Use These Tips to Ensure Perfect Pitch
As singers, we may put all of our energy and effort into a song, thinking we are giving the performance of a life time. But our notes may be so far from the melody, the audience doesn’t know what we are singing. Being tone deaf or not being able to carry a tune, can adversely affect a singer’s career. We have often heard of the phrase, “one bad apple spoils the bunch”, and so it is with notes on a scale. One bad note will ruin the melodic base of a song, causing the listener to become displeased with our performance and possibly with you as an entertainer.
Here are a few tips to make sure your melodies are always on point!
VOCAL COACHING
According to Wikipedia, tone deafness or Amusia “is a musical disorder that appears mainly as a defect in processing pitch, but also encompasses musical memory and recognition. A good vocal coach can train and guide your ears to the proper notes. Sometimes it is not necessarily the fact that you don’t know the proper notes, but it’s your breath control or lack thereof. With a few good breathing techniques, so your notes won’t fall flat. The coach can also teach you how to use your diaphragm to reach for those high notes, so you won’t put a strain your vocal cords.
VOCAL PRODUCTION
You may have perfect pitch, but not necessarily know how to work the gift God has given you. A vocal producer can bring out the best melodies and provide song references for you to use, to create the best song possible. A good vocal producer will take a basic song structure and build up sonic layers that make a good song great.
STUDY THE SCALES
To stay vocally fit, study the scales. The seven notes that comprise of a major or minor scale, will help you determine what notes to sing and which ones to leave alone. It’s kind of like coloring in a coloring book-the scales will help you stay in between the lines, so that your musical composition will be a beautiful work of art.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
YouTube videos are a great way to learn about song structure, musical scales, and vocal technique. A good YouTube video will provide a brief background on the training, provide simple instructions on how to perfect your craft, and allow you to practice the technique. You can search for different videos and use the recommendations to seek out various methods and instructors.