Playing and singing

[redlipsofdeceit]

Hi, guys!
I'm trying to learn how to play Hurt, by Johnny Cash, and I wanted to sing too. But I'm having some trouble because Johnny had this deep, low voice, and I can't sing some of those low parts. And, since the song was arranged based on his voice, I figured I needed to change the tones of my guitar strings, so it would be more comfortable for me to sing. That's what's been making my mind go crazy for the past days. I was studying a bit of music theory, but I still can't fully understand some definitions, like key, pitch etc... And I don't know how to conciliate both instrument intonation with vocal intonation.
Does anyone have tips about it, or any recommendations of videos or texts I can use to study it?
I am not trying to be a professional singer, I just wanna be able to know how to adjust a song to my vocal range (and identify my vocal range in the first place - from what I've read, I'm a mezzo-soprano, but I'm not sure how to apply this to my playing).

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Look into getting a capo. A capo will "squeeze" the frets for you, and you continue to play the same chord shapes. A capo is used to raise the key signature of what you're playing. So if you play a C Major chord on the first fret and what you sing is too low, place the capo on a fret that makes it comfortable to sing in your register.

 

[Andrew Milner]

The first thing, as Jak mentioned, is to get a capo. Second of all, after some bit of practice, your voice will naturally transpose itself to whatever key you are playing in.

I do that all the time in my live sessions, for there are some songs which are too high for me.

 

[redlipsofdeceit]

I already got a capo because I was watching some tutorials about how to play some songs without using barre chords.
Didn't know I could use it in this case. I'm gonna try it later!
Thank you, guys!

 

[Ed Seith]

And remember, your natural range is not that of a 75 year old man. Start by trying an octave up from original, and then use the capo to bring it up or down as needed to be comfortable for your range.

 

[Chris Johnston]

#Whateveryonesaid - Use your capo to your advantage if a song feels too low. One other thing worth mentioning is that if you're raising the chord shapes you've learned so far up the fretboard and it still isn't feeling right, or if you feel like you're going way up the fretboard to find your range/comfort point, you might want to play the same progression with alternate chord shapes, but lower on the fretboard, to keep the low end sound of the Guitar part.

For example: You can get the same chords as the song by putting your Capo on 5th fret but playing Em, G, A (for the intro) - Chorus would be D, Em, C, G, I'm sure. If moving the original Am shape around starts to feel too high because you're transposing the A string up the neck, the Em starting point could be worth a shot.

Watching a few videos of what the Mezzo Soprano range is, I reckon if you moved the Em shape down to Capo on 2nd fret, it could work? (Just guessing though!)

 

[Calvin Phillips]

You could go up an octave in your voice and try that. May be easier then changing the entire guitar.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

The first thing, as Jak mentioned, is to get a capo. Second of all, after some bit of practice, your voice will naturally transpose itself to whatever key you are playing in.

I do that all the time in my live sessions, for there are some songs which are too high for me.

I've already noticed this with my songs in write. I dont plan any vocal melody but they seem to match the key the song is in when I listen back. Practice makes perfect!

 

[redlipsofdeceit]

#Whateveryonesaid - Use your capo to your advantage if a song feels too low. One other thing worth mentioning is that if you're raising the chord shapes you've learned so far up the fretboard and it still isn't feeling right, or if you feel like you're going way up the fretboard to find your range/comfort point, you might want to play the same progression with alternate chord shapes, but lower on the fretboard, to keep the low end sound of the Guitar part.

For example: You can get the same chords as the song by putting your Capo on 5th fret but playing Em, G, A (for the intro) - Chorus would be D, Em, C, G, I'm sure. If moving the original Am shape around starts to feel too high because you're transposing the A string up the neck, the Em starting point could be worth a shot.

Watching a few videos of what the Mezzo Soprano range is, I reckon if you moved the Em shape down to Capo on 2nd fret, it could work? (Just guessing though!)

I put the capo on the 2nd fret and played the same chord shapes of the original song and it worked! Sounds way more comfortable for me and I can sing the entire song.

 

[redlipsofdeceit]

Thanks everyone for the great advices!

 

[idssdi]

Basically, what I do is sing in a register that's comfortable for me. If that means I have to sing higher or lower or grab another octave so be it. In the end you aren't Johnny cash and no one really expects you to be so you can really just make your own version and just roll with it.

 

[William B.]

I was practicing this song again (did it before) last week I think, probably got inspired by you
I like the strumming parts

 

[redlipsofdeceit]

I was practicing this song again (did it before) last week I think, probably got inspired by you
I like the strumming parts

Share it with us! I would love to see it!

 

[William B.]

Share it with us! I would love to see it!

Okay, I'm going to play it from a tab so it might not be exactly like the recording. I'll practice it some later and upload it sometime later today