[atraxler]

Does anyone else sing while playing drums? I'm just curious how common this is and what type of people do.
-Amanda

[einarabelc5]

atraxler, on 08 December 2011 - 01:10 PM, said:

Does anyone else sing while playing drums? I'm just curious how common this is and what type of people do.
-Amanda

I know a little bit about singing (Jaime Vendera's Raise your Voice) I would have to be nuts to do both like that. But hey, Don Henley does it so why not?

If it's something simple in either drums or voice I think is feasible. But I don't think Mark Portnoy will ever sound or have the technique James Labrie and real vocalists have. I don't see a freaking viable way you can sing with your diaphragm, rib and back muscles and play the drums at the same time. Singing requires you to hold your breath for extended periods of time and be ok with it. Drumming requires to breathe fast.

If you're talking of stuff like Karen Carpenter or Don Henley then that's a different story. I'm talking about people like James Labrie, Geoff Tate, Jim Gillete, Bruce Dickinson and singers that sing other generas but are the same level. Many people that have no idea of things (including musicians) think that singing is just being in pitch and opening your mouth but that's not the case or the reality of it for the ones that are the real deal. For example, Jaime Vendera can hold a note for 3 minutes uninterrupted. That takes your entire body,and yes it is an extreme but I put as an example that really singing also takes your entire body and it's very taxing and demanding. You just don't see it because it's happening inside our bodies.

Keep in mind I'm talking about top notch demanding singing here and not simple stuff.
I've never seen it done so I don't know.

This post has been edited by einarabelc5: 08 December 2011 - 01:32 PM

[atraxler]

Okay, I didn't know Don Henley does. I know Karen Carpenter did quite well. Top notch at both. I've heard it's quite difficult. I'm a singer originally but developed an obsession for drums over the last year. I just sat down and made up a jazzy version of O Holy Night while keeping time on the drums, and could sing it pretty well, but since I am only just starting to teach myself drums and can't do much more than a basic groove, I don't know if I could sing while playing anything intricate. You have a point about the breathing. It would definitely not be feasible to sing while playing energetically.
If anyone thinks of any other big names that sing while playing, I would like to know.

[realscotch]

atraxler, on 08 December 2011 - 01:36 PM, said:

Okay, I didn't know Don Henley does. I know Karen Carpenter did quite well. Top notch at both. I've heard it's quite difficult. I'm a singer originally but developed an obsession for drums over the last year. I just sat down and made up a jazzy version of O Holy Night while keeping time on the drums, and could sing it pretty well, but since I am only just starting to teach myself drums and can't do much more than a basic groove, I don't know if I could sing while playing anything intricate. You have a point about the breathing. It would definitely not be feasible to sing while playing energetically.
If anyone thinks of any other big names that sing while playing, I would like to know.

How about Phil Collins.

[atraxler]

Really? Shows you how much I know! lol guess i'll be watching youtubes of Phil Collins tonight.
(Scuze my ignorance, like I said, I'm new to drums.)

[FourPieceMetal]

The drummer from Skillet sings and drums at the same time, I think.

[rocklady]

realscotch, on 08 December 2011 - 01:48 PM, said:

How about Phil Collins.

Funny that was the first person that came into my mind. I can sing and play drums too but hey I'm only learning the drums

[AN0NYM0US]

peter criss
ringo starr
levon helm
the drummer for autopsy did vocals


singing (whether or not you have a good singing voice) or even talking while playing is something every drummer should be able to do

[atraxler]

FourPieceMetal, on 08 December 2011 - 02:04 PM, said:

The drummer from Skillet sings and drums at the same time, I think.

That's another one I'll have to check out!

[einarabelc5]

atraxler, on 08 December 2011 - 01:36 PM, said:

Okay, I didn't know Don Henley does. I know Karen Carpenter did quite well. Top notch at both. I've heard it's quite difficult. I'm a singer originally but developed an obsession for drums over the last year. I just sat down and made up a jazzy version of O Holy Night while keeping time on the drums, and could sing it pretty well, but since I am only just starting to teach myself drums and can't do much more than a basic groove, I don't know if I could sing while playing anything intricate. You have a point about the breathing. It would definitely not be feasible to sing while playing energetically.
If anyone thinks of any other big names that sing while playing, I would like to know.

IMHO I don't see either Don Henly or Karen Carpenter being even close to what I mean Top notch.

THIS is top notch:






There's also a difference between a vocalist and a singer.

There are many musicians that sing and get by good.
For example, many people think Billy Joel is a great singer (including myself) except that Billy Joel himself thinks he's a mediocre singer and you know what. From the perspective I'm talking about I think I agree with Billy.

This post has been edited by einarabelc5: 09 December 2011 - 02:32 PM

[einarabelc5]

realscotch, on 08 December 2011 - 01:48 PM, said:

How about Phil Collins.

Singer, not a vocalist. Just like Don Henley.

Here's a former Vocalist:



And a vocals teacher:



I will have to check skillet.

This post has been edited by einarabelc5: 09 December 2011 - 02:32 PM

[einarabelc5]

Ok, I went to their website. I have no audio tough. They look like pop singers trying to sing metal and to be honest they look softy...Oh wait Christian Rock...forget about it.


Here's a video of her singing (ONLY)



Any video of her doing both at the same time?

The only song I've found I can enjoy it and having God in its name is For The Love of God by Steve Vai and that one has Mike Mangini on drums.


Some other examples that come to mind are Steven Tyler (Who stopped playing drums) and Roger Taylor. Now, Roger Taylor sings WHILE playing the drums yet,

Could he ever sing like Freddy Mercury did, at least to be on the same category?

I don't think so.

I'm talking about singers in the same category as Freddy Mercury.

This post has been edited by einarabelc5: 09 December 2011 - 02:58 PM

[Timmy]

atraxler, on 08 December 2011 - 01:10 PM, said:

Does anyone else sing while playing drums? I'm just curious how common this is and what type of people do.
-Amanda

Phil Collins is one of the best examples, he plays advanced drum parts that flow with the vocals. This makes his playing some of the most musical drumming ever (IMHO). Trick of the Tale, or Wind and Wuthering are great examples of this.

If your going to be singing something as demanding as opera, then you probably would not be at a drumkit anyway.

[atraxler]

thanks, einarabelc5 , but I really didn't ask about "vocalists", or opera singers, or whatever.... And although many people would disagree regarding Karen Carpenter's singing abilities, I didn't even ask whether anyone sings WELL and plays, just whether they sing and play... so I have no idea why all this abrasive and argumentative stuff out of nowhere.
And I was actually more interested in people on here that sing while playing, although it's great to know about all these well known players/singers, since I am new to drumming and not familiar with most of them.

yes, Freddy Mercury was an extremely talented classically trained vocalist, no doubt, but why are you telling me what YOU'RE talking about. I'm the one who asked the question in the first place and that's NOT what I'm talking about.

[atraxler]

Timmy, on 09 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

Phil Collins is one of the best examples, he plays advanced drum parts that flow with the vocals. This makes his playing some of the most musical drumming ever (IMHO). Trick of the Tale, or Wind and Wuthering are great examples of this.

If your going to be singing something as demanding as opera, then you probably would not be at a drumkit anyway.

Exactly

[maturenewdrummer]

Amanda( is it all right to call u by your name?) .You will find on here like ive found that theres some nice people who will answer your question or others argue some dont look at your question they just answer to what the person above them has put( someone will say but thats what a forums about) sometimes some people loose the plot? i.e some members thing single bass pedal players are idiots.you dont always get the answers you want on here?

[atraxler]

Timmy, on 09 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

Phil Collins is one of the best examples, he plays advanced drum parts that flow with the vocals. This makes his playing some of the most musical drumming ever (IMHO). Trick of the Tale, or Wind and Wuthering are great examples of this.

If your going to be singing something as demanding as opera, then you probably would not be at a drumkit anyway.

I could not find any of those songs live... please let me know if you have. but watched him doing in the air tonight... now that's what i'm talking about. always loved his singing and his drumming but never knew he did both together.

[einarabelc5]

atraxler, on 09 December 2011 - 03:28 PM, said:

thanks, einarabelc5 , but I really didn't ask about "vocalists", or opera singers, or whatever.... And although many people would disagree regarding Karen Carpenter's singing abilities, I didn't even ask whether anyone sings WELL and plays, just whether they sing and play... so I have no idea why all this abrasive and argumentative stuff out of nowhere.
And I was actually more interested in people on here that sing while playing, although it's great to know about all these well known players/singers, since I am new to drumming and not familiar with most of them.

yes, Freddy Mercury was an extremely talented classically trained vocalist, no doubt, but why are you telling me what YOU'RE talking about. I'm the one who asked the question in the first place and that's NOT what I'm talking about.

Then my point is moot. I got carried away, apologies for that.
Regarding your question I think my answer was Don Henley(Hotel California) and Karen Carpenter. She used to drum Jazz, so that'll be interesting to listen to.

About the abrasive and argumentative tone in my message that comes from my mindset and how I see things when it comes to singing. It also comes from the tendency to wanting to be right. So I guess that's my bad. Sorry.

This post has been edited by einarabelc5: 09 December 2011 - 03:53 PM

[einarabelc5]

atraxler, on 09 December 2011 - 03:49 PM, said:

I could not find any of those songs live... please let me know if you have. but watched him doing in the air tonight... now that's what i'm talking about. always loved his singing and his drumming but never knew he did both together.

Best Genesis song IMHO:

[einarabelc5]

atraxler, on 09 December 2011 - 03:49 PM, said:

I could not find any of those songs live... please let me know if you have. but watched him doing in the air tonight... now that's what i'm talking about. always loved his singing and his drumming but never knew he did both together.

Tale was a typo:




You should hear it in Vinyl.