If she feels they're in the wrong range, how about just singing them in a different key? I'm a madman with the capo when I sing, plus it keeps away unwanted melody doodling when I'm playing G chord shapes with the capo on the 23rd fret.
Looks like you're the guitar player from your bio, Njal. Help the missues out there, capo up and down until she's happy with whatever she wants to sing!
I thiink rather than solicit blind (or deaf) suggestions, it makes more sense to have your wife listen to women singing ballads and choose the ones that "speak"to her. There are great performances to be heard and seen on youtube.
It might be worthwhile to find out a few useful facts, like what is her vocal range, from where to where, and if this is going to limit her, or is it merely that she has been trying to sing songs in a key that doesn't suit her. Most women's voices these days are usually lower then of times gone past - think of Marilyn Munroe's squeacky little soprano - not many voices about like that these days.
For instance, a friend of mine gave me a song he'd written. He sings the verse quite low down, in the key of A, then takes a harmony to the chorus while his friends sing melody and another harmony an octave up. I took the same song and tried different ways round, ending up singing it in F, nearly an octave above him, then singing the chorus lower,because it works for me.
...and Mr. Pete is on the right track. What speaks to the missus? What does she want to sing? Sing away, where she's happy and comfortable to do so, and then make your music match what she's singing. Songs are those rare sessions moments when the singer is in charge.
Now pipe down over, I feel an uninterrupted fifteen minute set of reels coming...
There are plenty of good song books available in music stores, with a wide variety of Scots, Irish and English songs. Like the suggestions above, establish what her range is. Then look at songs not from a perspective of what key they are in, but what the range of the song is. Most songs span a single octave, some span less than that. Others (like Danny Boy) span over an octave, which is why, regardless of the key, they are more challenging. Once you find a comfortable range, you can put it into a key that suits her.
Wild Mountain Thyme is a favorite of both my wife and me.
Another point, don't push your wife too hard, let her follow her own inclinations rather than imposing your expectations s on her. There is a danger that you will make music an unpleasant experience for her and turn her off.
I think the problem is more that we are not that familiar with the style of songs.
Although we attend folk festivals we don't have many CDs of actual songs and know the names of very few traditional songs.
Well if you want to learn a few good ballads you should get a few CD's of the Clancy brothers, Luke Kelly and Christy Moore. I know these are all blokes but between them, they will give you a selection of the very best of ballads and if herself wants to sing one of thier songs.... just grab a cappo
And if you look, there are some good anthology albums of women singers. Although quality does vary with those type of things, so perhaps searching on the web is in order so you can hear clips of what you are buying.
And there are song books which have accompanying CDs with at least a verse and chorus on them, which can be very helpful when starting out.
Black is the Color is another favorite song of my wife, he originally tried to sing it up in the range that Cara Dillon sings it, but we were at a festival last year, and she heard Niamh Parsons sing it, and turned to me and said, "that is the key I want to sing it in," a fifth lower, and when we did it, the song just came alive--so key is important.
For repertoire go to your local library and take out the folk song books that they have(if, unlike me , you can read music). They will also have a selection of folk CDs as a starting point for he non-readers. Most songs, other than Burns, have a very limited range so juggling with the key should pitch it where it will be comfortable.
Sung ballad suggestions
Sung ballad suggestions
I am trying to encourage my wife to be more musical
She has started learning violin but she has always liked singing. Her voice isn't great but she sings a bit like Julianne Regan from All About Eve.
Anyway, apart from AAE songs, and obvious songs like She Moves Through The Fair, most folk songs seem to be in the wrong range for her.
Can anyone point me to some nice ballads that may suit a female voice?
I have heard loads of decent ones in pubs but for some strange reason never remember the name of them...
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Njal
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
If she feels they're in the wrong range, how about just singing them in a different key? I'm a madman with the capo when I sing, plus it keeps away unwanted melody doodling when I'm playing G chord shapes with the capo on the 23rd fret.
Looks like you're the guitar player from your bio, Njal. Help the missues out there, capo up and down until she's happy with whatever she wants to sing!
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Yes, I have played guitar for a long time (but mostly electric) and mandolin for a few months.
I'm happy to shift keys but I am still looking for song suggestions.
A link to a website would be enough - I don't know all that much about singing myself.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Njal
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Ha ha, bang on SWFL, do NOT underestimate the power of the kyser cappo lol
That is good advice though, trust in your cappo.
plus you only need to know G, C and D chords and Am and Em if your a show off lol!!
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by session savage
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
I thiink rather than solicit blind (or deaf) suggestions, it makes more sense to have your wife listen to women singing ballads and choose the ones that "speak"to her. There are great performances to be heard and seen on youtube.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Steve L
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
It might be worthwhile to find out a few useful facts, like what is her vocal range, from where to where, and if this is going to limit her, or is it merely that she has been trying to sing songs in a key that doesn't suit her. Most women's voices these days are usually lower then of times gone past - think of Marilyn Munroe's squeacky little soprano - not many voices about like that these days.
For instance, a friend of mine gave me a song he'd written. He sings the verse quite low down, in the key of A, then takes a harmony to the chorus while his friends sing melody and another harmony an octave up. I took the same song and tried different ways round, ending up singing it in F, nearly an octave above him, then singing the chorus lower,because it works for me.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
For songs, you could spend a lifetime here:
http://www.mudcat.org/
...and here:
http://sniff.numachi.com/
...and Mr. Pete is on the right track. What speaks to the missus? What does she want to sing? Sing away, where she's happy and comfortable to do so, and then make your music match what she's singing. Songs are those rare sessions moments when the singer is in charge.
Now pipe down over, I feel an uninterrupted fifteen minute set of reels coming...
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Hear hear SS! I caught your capoing and hollering online there, fine stuff sir!
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
That is good advice though, trust in your cappo.
plus you only need to know G, C and D chords and Am and Em if your a show off lol!!
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by session savage
The above is a perfect description of my guitar playing and singing ability.
Am I doing something wrong?
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
lol SWFL, I think sir that perhaps one of those storms you get in Florida has left some water in your ears :-o
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by session savage
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
No BB, your doing nothing wrong. Your one of us... mwaaa ha ha haaa
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by session savage
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
There are plenty of good song books available in music stores, with a wide variety of Scots, Irish and English songs. Like the suggestions above, establish what her range is. Then look at songs not from a perspective of what key they are in, but what the range of the song is. Most songs span a single octave, some span less than that. Others (like Danny Boy) span over an octave, which is why, regardless of the key, they are more challenging. Once you find a comfortable range, you can put it into a key that suits her.
Wild Mountain Thyme is a favorite of both my wife and me.
Another point, don't push your wife too hard, let her follow her own inclinations rather than imposing your expectations s on her. There is a danger that you will make music an unpleasant experience for her and turn her off.
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Thanks for the suggestions and links!
I think the problem is more that we are not that familiar with the style of songs.
Although we attend folk festivals we don't have many CDs of actual songs and know the names of very few traditional songs.
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by Njal
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Well if you want to learn a few good ballads you should get a few CD's of the Clancy brothers, Luke Kelly and Christy Moore. I know these are all blokes but between them, they will give you a selection of the very best of ballads and if herself wants to sing one of thier songs.... just grab a cappo
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by session savage
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Anything by Margaret Barry (CD's available online at least).
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Mary Black, Dolores Keene, Eleanor Shanley, Maire O'Connell, there are a host of Irish female singers doing good ballads.
My favourite was Mary Black, mainly due to the Declan Synott organised backing group. But some good songs.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
"Christy Moore"
Actually, she does sing "Ride On", with me accompanying.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by Njal
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
And if you look, there are some good anthology albums of women singers. Although quality does vary with those type of things, so perhaps searching on the web is in order so you can hear clips of what you are buying.
And there are song books which have accompanying CDs with at least a verse and chorus on them, which can be very helpful when starting out.
Black is the Color is another favorite song of my wife, he originally tried to sing it up in the range that Cara Dillon sings it, but we were at a festival last year, and she heard Niamh Parsons sing it, and turned to me and said, "that is the key I want to sing it in," a fifth lower, and when we did it, the song just came alive--so key is important.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
Why the emphasis on female singers? It doesn’t matter if you learn the ballad from Jack or Jill.
Some more good sources off the top of my head (recordings):
Martin Carthy
Ewan MacColl
Peggy Seeger
A.L.Lloyd
John Roberts and Tony Barand
Almeda Riddle
These are (were) people with an near-encyclopedic knowledge of ballads. MacColl and Seeger recorded a multi-volume set of ballads.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Sung ballad suggestions
For repertoire go to your local library and take out the folk song books that they have(if, unlike me , you can read music). They will also have a selection of folk CDs as a starting point for he non-readers. Most songs, other than Burns, have a very limited range so juggling with the key should pitch it where it will be comfortable.
# Posted on November 2nd 2008 by DickT