Keeping Intonation While Singing

Frank Agliata · Post by **Frank Agliata** » 4 Nov 2016 11:03 am

I've recently started playing with a new group, on guitar and pedal steel. It has been brought to my attention that my PSG intonation suffers a bit when I'm doing my background singing part. Now I am an experienced guitarist/bassist and have no problem playing and singing otherwise. But I guess, still being pretty much a novice on the steel, it is challenging to focus on my playing and adequately sing a harmony line as well. I'm sure given enough repetition, I will eventually get the hang of this, but in the meantime it's a cause of concern to my band mates.
I am appealing to my experienced and knowledgable forum friends for any advice or tips they may have to get me past this . .

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Nov 2016 11:30 am

If you can succeed in this, you are a better man than me! I find it almost impossible to sing while playing a steel guitar.
But then, I have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time!

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 4 Nov 2016 1:05 pm

I'm not a singer, so I can't speak from experience, but I have worked with those who play steel and sing, and do it very well.
The solution seems to be deceptively simple.

Don't play while you're singing, and don't sing while you're playing.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Nov 2016 1:47 pm

Frank Agliata wrote: It has been brought to my attention that my PSG intonation suffers a bit when I'm doing my background singing part...But I guess, still being pretty much a novice on the steel, it is challenging to focus on my playing and adequately sing a harmony line as well. I'm sure given enough repetition, I will eventually get the hang of this, but in the meantime it's a cause of concern to my band mates.

Do one or the other. While there are a very few that could pull this off (Buddy Emmons and Mark Bright come to mind), there are many more (myself included) that try, and wind up with the steel playing, the singing, and the audience...all suffering. I know players who have told me "Such-and-such does a great job singing and playing pedal steel at the same time!" And I just try to smile and be nice. $:\$ (I"m trying to get over being called "brutally honest".)

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 4 Nov 2016 2:09 pm

Don't play while you're singing, and don't sing while you're playing.

What Skip says..

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 4 Nov 2016 2:58 pm

I dunno guys, I had a problem with this initially and got over it pretty well.
Main thing is don't experiment on the steel while you're singing. Just play very familiar stuff while singing. It'll get better like everything else
Jb

Allan Haley · Post by **Allan Haley** » 4 Nov 2016 4:08 pm

I can't sing when I'm trying to play steel. I can only do three things at once.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 4 Nov 2016 4:29 pm

I used to be able to sing and play together but I don't sing much anymore. If I may boast just a bit, at one of the Larry Self steel shows in Debary Fl. the great Herby Wallace complimented me when I sang while playing "Night Life". He told me I hit the right notes singing and played all the steel fills while singing. That made my day. That was in the early 90's when I was playing seven nights a week between Church Street Station in Orlando and The Barn in Sanford Fl. It ain't happening anymore. Okay I'm done patting myself on the back.

Frank Agliata · Post by **Frank Agliata** » 4 Nov 2016 4:53 pm

Thanks for the input fella's. Yes, I may be biting off more than I can chew. But I'm not playing anything too complicated. Usually just chord changes with simple fills.
I believe I will eventually get comfortable enough with it to make it work. But still, I don't wan't to embarrass myself or the band when we play out. The steel is a beautiful instrument, but very unforgiving if you don't get it spot on.

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 4 Nov 2016 5:36 pm

I don't know if anyone knows Billy Poteet but he is a chosen one too. Played an Emmons and sang like Ray Price's doppelganger, I mean Billy is as awesome playing psg as he is a vocalist. I know some guys on here know Billy cause they asked if I knew him...maybe someone will chime in...Stormy

Don Barnhardt · Post by **Don Barnhardt** » 4 Nov 2016 5:40 pm

When you're actually singing just comp (chop chords etc.) It's damn near impossible play precisely and sing at the same time.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 4 Nov 2016 5:43 pm

Don Barnhardt wrote:When you're actually singing just comp (chop chords etc.) It's damn near impossible play precisely and sing at the same time.

That's what I did last year while playing Christmas music...

Glenn Demichele · Post by **Glenn Demichele** » 4 Nov 2016 7:11 pm

I can do both, my rule: never move my bar and mouth at the same time:

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 7 Nov 2016 2:54 pm

A big part of the problem is that both the voice and the steel are non-fretted instruments. If one of them drifts from A440, the other will probably follow.
A good example of this occurred when I participated as a dobroist on a recording, and a session fiddler was called in after I laid down my part. He requested that any unfretted instrument parts be muted while he added fiddle.
The message related to this thread is that trying to control two non-fretted instruments is asking for disaster.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 7 Nov 2016 3:58 pm

I prefer to sing Giddy up Go in A so I can use only open strings on the steel.

Rick Stratton · Post by **Rick Stratton** » 7 Nov 2016 6:39 pm

And you do that song so well Mr. Bovine!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Keeping Intonation While Singing

Keeping Intonation While Singing

Re: Keeping Intonation While Singing