Singing Harmony - Solo

Post by **Joey Ace** » 26 Jun 2003 11:36 am

(serious question)
I've been told that some gifted vocalists can sing a harmony note at the same time they are singing the root note.

No electronic tricks, all natural.

I find this hard to believe.
Anyone know of an example??

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 26 Jun 2003 11:41 am

Yea if they use a harmonizer.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 26 Jun 2003 11:41 am

The throat singers of Tuva, Siberia

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 26 Jun 2003 11:56 am

Glenn is correct. You wouldn't believe it, Joey. First time someone played me a recording I thought it was a hoax.
The singing is not like western vocalization---you have to free yourself of those expectations. It's a droning thing. They get the drone going, then add a sort of subharmonic growl, and then you would swear that a piccolo joined in. This ultra high whistling thing rides over the top, shifting and hopping around on some overtone series---man, my description fails. It just seems to defy physics.

There's a documentary I've seen on TV--maybe Sundance or IFC--called something like "Genghis Blues" about a blind SF bay area blues dude who just happens to also be a throat singer and who goes over there to compete in a local tournament.

Mind boggling.

Tony LaCroix · Post by **Tony LaCroix** » 26 Jun 2003 12:26 pm

Man, I'd like to open my mouth and have the sound of a barbershop quartet come out!

Jon, I think your description is very good. This one might not be so great, but it's worth noting that most of the "tones" we hear from any instrument are actually many tones on top of each other, which create a sense of one particular pitch. A brass instrument makes many harmonic combinations for each "blow", but one pitch is always aparent. Conversely, a flute or piccolo makes something very close to a single sine wave. Those Eastern singers must be able to 1) produce a large frequency spectrum and then, 2)"Cancel-out" the vibrations in the sound spectrum between the low note and the high note they are singing, all through the manipulation of the shape of their mouth, throat, and chest.

But, I bet they can't figure out the words to "Green River".

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Jun 2003 1:11 pm

Tony, those "multi-note" singers that I've heard have little to offer our "western cultured" ears. What they do is novel and different, but very limited. You'll not hear the strains of the "Buffalo Bills", or the "Sons of the Pioneers" from any these singers. It does show, however, that there's all kinds of talents, and those who appreciate them. I once saw a guy on TV who could whistle in two and three note harmony. He spent many years, and perfected it on just one song...it got him on TV, though!

Post by **Joey Ace** » 26 Jun 2003 3:28 pm

Thanks Glen, and you others,
I did a search and found

http://www.furious.com/perfect/tuva.html

http://www.mikalina.com/Texts/tuva_singers.htm

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf127/sf127p10.htm

No sound files yet, but interesting.[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 26 June 2003 at 04:33 PM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 26 Jun 2003 4:29 pm

Joey, DirecTV broadcast a Bela Fleck concert several months ago, and he had one of these guys as a guest. It's not a "normal" musical sound, more lke a sound effect or something, but it is interesting.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 26 Jun 2003 7:18 pm

John Bynham (sp) used to be able to do that.

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 26 Jun 2003 7:29 pm

Some Tibetan Buddhist monks do something similar. I read about them when they came through Indiana some years ago, but I didn't hear them. I can't say much about it, but they did work as an ensemble. I don't know how much orchestrated "harmony" work they did, if any.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 27 Jun 2003 12:44 am

yep, them Tibetan Bhuddist Monks know how to do it
they get together and chant Mantras or whatever
and they get get some stoned overtones !
is it Musik ?
it's potent to say the least

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Steel what?

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 27 Jun 2003 8:23 am

There was a brilliant jazz vocalist I saw in the 70s named Leon Thomas who sang with Pharoh Saunders and he could yodel back and forth between the root melody and a third,fifth or whatever and not just a static note - but moving lines.He did it so well and so smoothly you got the impression of simultaneous harmony.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 27 Jun 2003 9:46 am

Yep. "The Creator Has A Master Plan". Remember it well.

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 1 Jul 2003 6:58 am

Years ago, a friend of mine in Nashville, Hoot Hester (fiddle/guitar), was whistling a little tune backstage and I was trying to figure out who was whistling the harmony part with him. The thing was...no one else was. If I haven't watched and listened to him do this many times I would still not believe it possible. Anyhow, he has a handful of songs he can whistle a lead line and a harmony line (in tune) at the same time.

I suggested that he should film this for Ripley's or something like that, but I'm sure people watching would simply say it was a dubbed harmony part. Another Wonder of the World? I don't know but's it is a pretty amazing feat.

I don't think he'd worked on this 'thing' with singing but I suppose it wouldn't surprise me after the whistling.
Mike[This message was edited by Miguel e Smith on 01 July 2003 at 08:00 AM.]

Chandler Holt · Post by **Chandler Holt** » 10 Jul 2003 9:03 am

If you have not seen "Ghengis Blues", it is well worth your time to check it out. It is a great movie, not only an interesting subject.

Bill Fall · Post by **Bill Fall** » 11 Jul 2003 5:56 am

Always thought Rod Steward, like his female counterpart, Kim Carnes, sang in two different keys at the same time. Not very harmoniously, either!