How do I get better?

**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

I must be really bad. I picked up singing just yesterday but was met unfavorably with the difficulty. I wanted to try easy songs on Medium, and that didn't turn out well. I don't like placing last place so many times in a row. On the contrary, though, some of the higher-tiered songs are actually easy.

So I'm getting lots of 1 and 2 stars. The first problem I can see is that the cursor is constantly "scrubbing" the marked line. Its either stuck directly below or above it. Activating Overdrive is also unusual. I've only activated it about 3 times and at the end of the song as I try to figure out what triggers it.

So what do I do to get better from here?

**megallica** · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 2429 Location: Woodbridge, VA

first, if you're new to vocals, you should try reading some of the help threads that are already here. if you don't have time to look back through the threads in the forum, it's at least a good idea to check the sticky threads to see if any of them are helpful (i know there are probably a few linked to the OP of this thread that should help)

**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

Okay, that was sort of what I was looking for and it helps. I am trying to match the pitch and it works better on some songs than others. I still can't quite grasp the concept of an octave so trying to sound like the singer is the next closest thing I can relate to.
I am also using the Rock Band-branded mic. For activating overdrive, not sure if the Wii can do so off the controller, so it must be some kind of sound?

**bclare** · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 6048 Location: Boston

**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

**Icemage** · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 3200

**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

I've gotten better at hitting higher pitches and my accuracy has improved. However, the bottom 1/6 is still so hopelessly out of reach for me. It seems like if I tried what you did in that video, it wouldn't have counted because it stays higher. On many instances, it stars low, then goes high because of pronunciation, but I still can't even get that.

Following the arrow is very misleading because it stays higher on signing parts. For the blue fills or non-singing parts, it easily sits on the low parts.

**megallica** · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 2429 Location: Woodbridge, VA

there are plenty of phrases that go from a very low pitch to a very high pitch, or vice versa, and i can only hit the phrase by changing octaves mid-phrase

if you don't have a huge vocal range, you may need to do this alot, in which case, it's really important that you understand what the pitches you're supposed to sing sound like in other octaves

if you can almost hit a phrase in the octave you're trying to sing, but part of it goes too low or two high, try singing the entire phrase in a different octave and see if that same part is still a problem

i found that i can sing most phrases in more than one octave and get credit for the phrase, but using octaves that are farther from my natural voice strain it more and cause me to run out of breath faster, so picking the right one helps

most of the issues you're having will work themselves out with enough practice
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**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

I just can't. I must be learning it wrong. I don't know what the different between an octave and pitch is. I have gotten a little better since I'm now averaging about 4 stars now. 0-2-tiered songs are still the hardest to sing because its just so sensitive and nothing counts. And singing the low parts regardless of the song are still nearly impossible. I don't know how else to improve is playing in general is so disappointing.

**megallica** · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 2429 Location: Woodbridge, VA

**machetemonkey** · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 3043 Location: Minneapolis, MN

**Koetsu** · Joined: 03 Jul 2011 Posts: 292

Yes, that helps understand the scale I can intuitively "feel" for higher pitched parts. In general, and I mean about 9 out of 10 songs I played, I can't get the lower pitch at all. It's like trying to lift a heavy weight. I can do everything above better, but even where there is a slow slide to lower pitches, its just caps off. Any particular songs that make practicing this particular part easier?

**singemfrc** · Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 4406 Location: California

**Icemage** · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 3200

**PuppetMaster9** · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:04 am Post subject:

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/
Let's use this as an example for the difference between pitch and octave.

The pitch is simply the note, personified with letters/symbols such as "E" or "C#".

12 pitches make up what is known as an octave. The 13th pitch in this pattern is actually the same pitch as the 1st, but since it's in a higher octave, the frequency is higher, giving the illusion that it's completely different.

For example, let's use the two "C" keys on the piano. The left one is one octave (12 pitches) lower than the right one. If you press one after the other, it's likely that you'll hear a resemblance between the two; this is because -- even though the right one makes a higher noise -- they match the same pitch. Conversely, this correlation will not apply between two totally different pitches (ex. "D" and "G").

In summary, there's a minimum of only 12 notes you'll ever need to make in the entire game, so if a note is too high or low, shift your voice to compensate for your vocal range. If it's too low, sing at a higher octave; if it's too high, sing lower. Just make sure it's the same pitch.

It can be tough at first, but eventually you'll likely even be able to do it on impulse.
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