[DoNotPassGo]

So with the help of Dash Riprock, vocals are finished for Jackson Browne’s “The Load-Out” and “Stay” (played together as many radio stations have). However, when putting everything together, I realize that I’m going to need some advice on the harmony placement for some voices.

 

 

The Load-Out is straightforward with no harmonies (just the lead singer), but Stay has an interesting issue.

 

There are 4 distinct voices which come in this song:

 

1) Main Singer

2) Male backup

3) Female singer

4) Guitarist [male singing Falsetto]

 

The main singer will be HARM1 (as should be), but I’m trying to figure out how to place the other 3. The issue with combining is trying to “match” the voices up with an equal counterpart for two of them.

 

One option is to match the male backup with the male guitarist part (as they are both male and sing in different sections), but the issue here is that the backup is in range, and the guitarist sings in Falsetto… which could make it very difficult/awkward for that HARM singer (ignoring the fact you can sing whatever octave in RB and still work).

 

Second option would be to match up the female singer with the male falsetto. They would not overlap, and someone planning on singing the female part would have an easier time hitting the higher alto notes and the falsetto. Only problem is that technically I’m combining a male and female singer into one HARM.

 

Third option would be to drop the male backup, and just put the female and guitarist on their own HARM. However, the backup is relatively audible, and I would prefer not to do this.

 

 

Options 1 and 2 seem the best, but not sure what one. I like the second better, but I’m not big on the male and female merge. Plus, even though it’s a woman singing, it’s closer to the “high” tenor range than an alto I feel, so maybe it would go better with the similar range male backup?

 

 

I would love some insight on ideas. Thank you.

[Farottone]

Without knowing the song, consider one thing: since you can’t have 3 set of lyrics on screen, WHAT the part is actually singing may force you to make a choice. In You Spin Me Round we had to do just that a drop one part of the “carousel” because of the third set of lyrics.

[Nyxyxylyth]

Another guideline: if one harmony is the same as another vocal part just shifted by an octave, use a more interesting harmony.

[DoNotPassGo]

There is never more than 2 sets of lyrics at one time.

 

Lead

Lead + Backup

Female

Female + Lead

Guitarist

Guitarist + Lead

Lead

Lead + Backup

 

I can post the .rpp with just the vocals if anyone want’s to visually see how they match up?

[Nyxyxylyth]

There’s no real conflict in this song anyway – the falsetto is a solo. Personally I’d put it in H1, because it’s still the lead.

[DoNotPassGo]

There’s no real conflict in this song anyway – the falsetto is a solo. Personally I’d put it in H1, because it’s still the lead.

 

The falsetto is not the lead; it is sung by the guitarist (stated on the album). The lead is Browne on piano.

 

Yeah, there is not much conflict lyric wise. When Lead + Backup are singing it’s the same lyrics together, so no issue. The other two “conflicts” I have listed are basically the individual solo ending and the leading coming back in with pickup notes. The backup doesn’t join on the pickups, so there no conflict.

[Nyxyxylyth]

The falsetto is not the lead; it is sung by the guitarist (stated on the album). The lead is Browne on piano.

I meant it’s the lead in the sense that it’s the only one singing at that point – PART VOCALS will have to include the falsetto.

[DoNotPassGo]

I guess that makes sense.

 

Yeah, I have the Lead -> Female -> Falsetto -> Lead in the PART VOCALS already as it should be.

 

I was under the impression that different singers/vocalists should have different HARM parts? Or are the harmonies more a way to chart in multiple voices that are at the same time only? I’m guessing it’s a mix when applicable.

 

 

So your recommendation would be:

 

PART VOCAL: Lead -> Female -> Falsetto -> Lead

 

HARM1: Lead + Falsetto part

HARM2: Male Backup

HARM3: Female Singer

 

With HARM2/HARM3 technically being interchangeable?

[Farottone]

I was under the impression that different singers/vocalists should have different HARM parts? Or are the harmonies more a way to chart in multiple voices that are at the same time only? I’m guessing it’s a mix when applicable.

 

Usually H2 is higher, H3 is lower, and it’s good if a part sticks to a specific harmony. And then there’s the hard reality of how songs are actually composed… ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif”>

[Nyxyxylyth]

So your recommendation would be:

PART VOCAL: Lead -> Female -> Falsetto -> Lead

HARM1: Lead + Falsetto part

HARM2: Male Backup

HARM3: Female Singer

With HARM2/HARM3 technically being interchangeable?

That’s what *I* would do, but feel free to lay it out however you like.

 

The only thing that would be criminal would be leaving one part out, thinking you could only support three singers. RB3 only supports three at the same time.

[Dash Riprock]

I think this approach is going to cause issues with phrase markers. With the exception of the Male Backup part, which I totally missed , everything else is pretty much solo, with slight overlaps here and there.

 

Since HARM3 doesn’t use phrase markers, how would Female Singer phrases be marked?

[Farottone]

Since HARM3 doesn’t use phrase markers, how would Female Singer phrases be marked?

 

Using H1 and H2.

[Dash Riprock]

Even if h3 is solo at the time?

[Farottone]

Even if h3 is solo at the time?

 

Yep, just like H2 when H2 is solo at the time.

[Dash Riprock]

The empty phrases on 1 and 2 were throwing me for a loop.

 

But Magma didn’t puke, so…

 

I’ll get it right one day. ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_cheeky.001.gif” />

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