The Steel Guitar Forum

(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??

Yea if they use a harmonizer.

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

The throat singers of Tuva, Siberia

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.

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".

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!

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.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 26 June 2003 at 04:33 PM.]</p></FONT>

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Miguel e Smith on 01 July 2003 at 08:00 AM.]</p></FONT>

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.

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