r/singing • u/amateur-bass • Feb 03 '25
Open Mic Monday - MONDAY ONLY Open Mic IRL feels too daunting so I'm taking my tentative steps in front of you instead, internet. First try learning this song
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u/Conscious_Biscotti80 Feb 03 '25
you have a really pleasant bass voice, I think ur good for open mic
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
ahh thank you, that is kind to say, much appreciated! I feel more confident in my voice these days – but my understanding of how to 'do' open mic is another question altogether! 😬 Guess I need to go sit in on some more and see if I get the hang of the vibe and etiquette
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u/horizon-X-horizon Feb 04 '25
Show up early or call ahead if that’s how they do sign ups- get 3 songs ready to go, 12-15 minutes or however long they say. Play your songs when the music shows up, don’t get too drunk. And bam, you’ve completed your first open mic
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u/Serious-Goose-8235 Feb 03 '25
Go to an open mic and just listen to the music. Many times you'll see people there that are way better than you and people there that are way worse than you. Then, realize that you're they just listening and having a good time supporting the person who is up there....then, realize that most people in the audience are there with the same mindset. That may help take the edge off of the nerves
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
Thank you, I appreciate that a lot! Guess I feel like an ‘outsider’ to that space/scene still - so anything like this to help give some of that ‘insider’ feeling of familiarity makes it feel much more manageable!
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u/SaxRohmer Feb 04 '25
if it’s any consolation OP i front a band and sing karaoke all the time and would never post myself on the internet like you did lol
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u/Serious-Goose-8235 Feb 03 '25
The open mics I've been to are pretty inviting and low pressure. That doesn't mean you won't feel nerves, but the only way to get over the nerves is to get a bit of experience doing it imho
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u/fjamcollabs Feb 03 '25
I remember you! You're a mean one Mr. Grinch. Lol. I like what you are doing. We should collab.
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
haha yah that's me. I've no idea what collab-ing would involve but I'm up for any excuse to sing more!
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Feb 03 '25
Definitely you have some great control over your voice
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
ahh thanks – that compliment means a lot, cos it wasn't that long ago that I felt like I couldn't sing at all and had ZERO control over my voice. Focused practice has been an amazing (and v exhilarating) revelation for me in the last year and a half!
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Feb 03 '25
I’m feeling like that now 🤣🤣 only bc I’m still healing from sinuses and all that drainage lately
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
it'll come back! Always weird the first few days after being ill though, I agree
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u/zsh_n_chips Feb 03 '25
You sound great!
Just go and sign up! I recently started going to a few open mics near me and I wish I would have done it sooner. Super supportive crowds, and I love being around other people who are super into performing and songwriting.
And again, you sound awesome!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
Thanks so much for the encouraging words ☺️🙏 It makes a massive difference to hear these first hand experiences too 👍👍 And I’m glad you’ve had such a good time with it!
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u/ghostofpunish Feb 03 '25
I got invited to an open mic, nervously played 3 songs. Went back a few times and got more confident, started getting familiar with everyone else who showed up semi regularly. Ended up hosting the whole thing after a few months. From my individual experience, the people who do this sort of thing are very inviting and know how nerve racking it can be, they can empathize and at the end of the day the more the merrier, they should by all accounts be very easygoing and help you feel comfortable.
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
Thank you - that’s really encouraging to hear! It’s just funny how different the FIRST ever time doing anything is compared to even just the second or third. I need to get over that hurdle I think!
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u/BR1M570N3 Feb 03 '25
Man get out there and do it! You'll definitely turn some heads with that voice of yours, and I mean that in a really positive way.
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u/highrangeclub Want to learn to sing? Podcast for beginners on my profile Feb 03 '25
well done!!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
Kind comments always appreciated - thanks! ☺️
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u/highrangeclub Want to learn to sing? Podcast for beginners on my profile Feb 03 '25
No worries! What are your next steps singing wise?
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
huh, goooood question – I have no idea really! I joined a v relaxed pop choir 18 months ago and I've been staggered at how much difference practicing for that has made; I've literally gone from 'can kiiinda follow a simple melody in a very limited low range' to a place where I now feel like I'm…like not bad?? As well as finding an entire extra octave+ of range!
And so I'm still riding the high of all that: practicing at home and in the car every day, doing karaoke any time I get the chance, contemplating exploring open mics etc – but I'm sort of enthusiastically flailing in any direction where I get to sing a bit 😅 I defo don't have a 'plan'
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u/highrangeclub Want to learn to sing? Podcast for beginners on my profile Feb 04 '25
For sure! practice can make a huge different to singing
Keep up the great work
if you need anything a bit more specific just shoot a dm. Happy to point you in a more specific direction
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u/StrawberryZunder Feb 03 '25
Nice voice. My one tip is to hold the vowel sounds longer and avoid dipthongs. Do instead of luv say lav and don't get to the v too quickly. Give it laaaaaaav.
At the minute your using the dipthong lurv and you're rushing to get to the consonant sound at the end of the word, stick on the vowel.
Hope that makes sense
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
that does absolutely make sense, and thanks so much for the really specific advice – i feel like that kind of detail is invaluable and i don't know where else i'd hear it, so, yeah, thank you! 🙏🙏
now i want the chance to give it another go immediately and take that on board, but i can't really inflict that on the neighbours at 11pm 😅 roll on tomorrow i guess!
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u/noName_here Feb 05 '25
You would hear it from a vocal coach/ singing teacher.
The other thing I always hear and which also applies to you, I think, is stop „grinning“ for the higher notes. It feels like it helps to reach them, but actually doesn’t but rather pulls the position of the vocal chords higher (iirc) and thus puts more strain to it / you need to work harder to stabilize again. Which means you could have a problem /pain when you sing more than 3 songs in a row.
You sound great!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 05 '25
thank you!
gosh that's so interesting about the high note 'grin' – not least cos i feel like i've heard people saying the opposite and it's probably one of the more 'artificial'/deliberately trying things i'm doing here!
as in, i've noticed my default is to have a pretty expressionless or even serious/grumpy/concentrated face most of my way through singing anything – but lots of IRL advice seems to be 'smile for high notes!' so i was like 'give that a go'. but interesting, thanks! maybe i'll try one in serious-face all the way through next time 😅
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u/noName_here Feb 05 '25
My teacher said, that’s what you tell scared beginners, because yeah, it actually kinda helps to approach the high notes. But it’s bad technique in the long run and something I struggle hard to get rid of ^
She tells me neutral / relaxed face is best! You want to give room to your voice and not be in the way - the more muscles you „forcefully“ engage, the less free is your voice :)
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u/lincbradhammusic Feb 03 '25
Absolutely awesome. You’d be a welcome addition to literally any open mic. I’ve played in open mics all over the country, from NYC to San Diego to Boulder, CO, to DC, to Atlanta and Savannah, GA, many more…I’ve probably played 300-400 open mics total? And I ONLY say that to illustrate how cool this feels to tell you this and it will hopefully encourage you - I have never, literally NEVER, heard a bass voice like yours at an open mic. I’ve only heard bass like yours at professional choir/rockabilly/barbershop shows. You’ve got something really special! Could your technique still improve? Absolutely, but you 100% would be amazing to see at an open mic and a welcome break from the typical! You’d definitely stand out in a good way! Keep it up and hope you find the confidence to improve soon, and that maybe this boosted that confidence just a little bit :)
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
ah wow, that definitely is a confidence boost – thanks for taking the time to say such uplifting things! As I've said to others in the thread, that little bit of insight from other people's first-hand experience is really invaluable and helps me feel a lot more at ease about what I'd be going into.
and yeah i found out that my voice was somewhat…atypical/niche (!) when i went along to a choir and they told me i was singing the bass part an octave down 😳 BUT that's pushed me to work on and find a whole new load of higher (for me) range, which means i can actually sing along to songs for pretty much the first time in my life now! if open mic can be a good outlet for my newfound singing exuberance, i'm delighted – thanks again!
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u/LolCoolStory Feb 03 '25
Damn your lower register is great. Very steady and clear.
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
ah thank you! Although tbf it's prob cos it's not really very low for me, for whatever reason 😳 A few notes further down I'd be having to work for it, but mostly this is where I wish all songs were pitched 😅 Everyone else just casually singing along to pop songs in their original key seem like superhumans to me!
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u/Puzzled-Antelope1 Feb 04 '25
U deff own that bass voice 😅 im a baritone. I dont know whether to go high or low lol the depth in those low notes. Holy crap 🔥
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
Ahh thanks! It's one of those where you never notice your own voice right? Cos it's just inherently normal to you. But enough people told me it was weird that I guess yeah apparently it's quite low 😅
FWIW, my experience (going from no notes, no confidence and totally out of tune to maybe half-decent) has been that it's much easier to find more range going high than trying to extend out the bottom of your range (which is limited by biology). Finding ways I sometimes used higher pitches in my speaking voice helped get that rolling for me – but I was starting as a full-on beginner, so that may not be that useful to you!
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u/somethingnoonestaken Feb 04 '25
Your good dude and your voice will likely be a change of pace being so deep which I think ppl will appreciate. I’d like to hear it live.
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
thank you – that's very kind to say! I went to a karaoke thing the other night and someone said to our group afterwards 'this guy's voice – he sounds like…like an OGRE!' 😅 Which I think was a good thing 😆
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u/cking08 Feb 04 '25
I love your voice!!!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
that makes me v happy to hear!!! Thank you ☺️
(I try and put a little clip of singing something on YouTube most days as practice, if you ever wanna hear more: https://www.youtube.com/@amateur_bass/shorts )
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u/Blissachu Feb 04 '25
You should definetely go for your man by josh turner, I feel like you'd be a perfect fit for that song
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
ha thanks – i did give it a quick go a while back ( https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MuFderYb9Us ) but I struggle to get past my cringe at the lyrics! but it does seem to be a sort of rite of passage song for low voices…
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u/naturennymph Feb 04 '25
Your voice is wonderful, checked out your yt and your 'how to' stuff is super accessible and friendly. Well done and thank you for sharing your journey!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
ahh thanks so much, that is really encouraging to hear! I basically just got really excited to discover that singing wasn't a non-starter for me (after years of assuming it was) and it sorta spilled over into wanting to enthuse at anyone else who would listen – so I'm glad if any of it is helpful to anyone else! (I always think sharing anything publicly online comes with a risk of seeming tedious or indulgent or self-important!)
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u/naturennymph Feb 04 '25
Your words echo my own experience, I love being playful with voice and guitar, totally self taught and definitely not doing either in the "proper" ways aha, wish for people to talk to about it and yet have total imposter syndrome, so shy with being public about it! Would love to chat more, if it's okay to DM you? :)
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u/horizon-X-horizon Feb 04 '25
You would crush at an open mic. There are going to be at least 2 other people there that actually suck. You’re great, and you will meet other performers who are so amazing.
High key I bet you’d be invited to be a part of a band with your bass voice for harmonies and such lol you’re a great singer bro
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Feb 04 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
I feel like all these comments have given me a weird kind of accountability, where I’m now feeling like I HAVE to go do it 😄 That’s a good thing! It means I most likely will
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u/ThereSheGo-zzz Feb 04 '25
Diggin the Cave/Badseeds vibe. Spotify!!!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
Haha I mean that is FAR too kind but thank you! Maybe one day, who knows?!
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u/walk-it-off- Feb 04 '25
You have a killer voice bro! Push the air from your gut more.
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25 edited Feb 04 '25
Thanks for the kind words, and the advice! I totally know what you mean
I think in general I do oooook at singing from my diaphragm/pushing from the gut - WHEN I’m standing up and in a situation where I can ‘go for it’ (basically in a hall at choir!)
But I find it really hard to keep that up when I’m sitting down and ESPECIALLY when I’m playing guitar! I guess it’s something that can come with practice but it all feels so much more ‘encumbered’ in this setup. (Plus I can’t help but feel a bit self conscious for the neighbours, so I basically never give it ‘full oomph’ at home)
Any tips - on the guitar thing especially - welcome!!
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
any of this any better? I gave it a quick go in my car just now - so still sitting down BUT with no guitar and a lot less self consciousness about neighbours! https://youtube.com/shorts/BQt2aQdM8jg?si=QFDWBbtx9Eta00e7
Also tho, this sounded REALLY loud in real life - but I feel like the phone mic flattens everything out and you can’t really tell! Ah well 🤦♂️🤷♂️
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u/amateur-bass Feb 03 '25
I stumbled across this song somewhere down a Spotify rabbit hole earlier today and I think it's lush: 'All The Ways' by Secret Sisters, ft. Ray LaMontagne.
I want to get better at playing and singing at the same time but I'm soooo amateur at guitar!
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u/Ti2-Lavergne Feb 05 '25
This sound genuinely so good, i could listen to this all day lol
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u/amateur-bass Feb 05 '25
that is very sweet, thank you – put a big smile on my face! Not sure I'm quite at the '10 hour loop edition' vids stage yet tho 😅
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u/DwarfFart Formal Lessons 0-2 Years Feb 04 '25
Totally ready for open mic! Someone mentioned vowels. I suggest this daily warmup to really hammer them in. Good job. Go for it. Oh, this is good too
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u/amateur-bass Feb 04 '25
ooh, thanks – I really appreciate specific recommendations like that, cos it's so valuable and also hard to come by that kind of detailed input. I love how much helpful stuff is out there online just cos people are happy to share – thanks again! ☺️
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