Girl in band. Some tips please.

[cisco]

Well, i'm in a rookie band and we're looking for a girl vocalist. I want to know your opinions on this. We're want the style of metallica, incubus, and red hot chili peppers and to me, having a girl as the singer would be great since it's unique.

The thing is,my band mates, i feel, have doubts about a chick doing the singing due to our style, but i certainly feel that it's a great idea and i really want a girl as the vocalist. What do you think?

My band mates really have doubts about this,i just recieved a text from one of them saying that "I just think, can she play the songs we play..metallica?" indicating that they feel a female being the singer is a bad idea, do you know a way i can convince them enough to actually want a front-woman sining pure-oldschool style rock?

Do you guys know any bands that have this element to, so i can show my bandmates that it is a fantastic idea?
--

I have 2 more question, 1 concerning the Rhythm and lead guitarist. Now, i play rhythm guitar. It'sjust i'm confused on the roles of the rhythm and the lead, it seems confusing to me what i'm supposed to do. Lets say the song "enter sandman", there is a guitar that plays the intro... is that the lead or the rhythm. And there are some songs were only one guitar can be heard during the verses, unforgiven 2(metallica), Under the bridge (Red hot chilli peppers). Now is that a lead guitar playing, or a rhythm? And how about the songs where an accoustic guitar is present, such as "You remind me" (Nickleback), is that the job of the lead guitarist or the rhythm?

There are some rock songs i think that only has 1 guitar being played, i would like to know the roles of the lead and the rhythm. I'msorry formy ignorance,it's my first time working in a band and i'm very happy as of now.

Second question. Keyboards... Now again, i play the rhythm so i would like to know if playing the keyboard is a must. Since, like the ryhtm guitar, the key board is another/alternate instrument for rhythm, right? My bandmates think it's weird to have a keyboard and that's because our style is relivant to classical rock such as Metallica, Aerosmith, red hot chili peppers and nirvana... They think a key board will make us like a certain pop-rockband we don't like, i think that's ridiculous logic... but so i have to enlighten them some how. The only way to do that is to give some names of the bands they like "black sabbath,metallica, nirvana..." that did have a keyboard preset, does metallica have a song in w/c a keyboard is present?

Thanks so much to those who helped in advance.

[Sammy_L_D]

Female singers rule, straight up.

No real better way of putting it.

As for the second part, a keyboard's hardly a "rhythm" instrument.

A keyboard can be anything. Often rock/metal bands use keys for providing another layer on top of what's happening, ie. a string counter-melody. They can also provide lead. Ambient back-tracks. Piano licks. Etc. etc.

And to say classic rock bands don't use keys either is absolutely ridiculous.

Two words: Led Zeppelin.

Not to mention about 90 other well known classic rock bands that have keys.

That all said, do you feel a keyboard is needed? Use your judgement.

[cisco]

thanks do you know any bands that have a female singer?

[Violent_Bill]

Classic Rock with keyboard: The Doors, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Stooges to name just a few.

Some awesome bands with female singers (maybe not your genre but who cares): Jefferson Airplane, Patti Smith, Pixies (mostly back up but still awesome), PJ Harvey, X

[cisco]

:thumb: thanks...more replies/opinions,please.

[ilovesheep808]

Yay another girl in the band. Sadly, my band broke up. Personally, i prefer male singers, but there are some pretty kick *** female singers. As for what is rhythm guitar and what is lead, don't get to caught up it that stuff. Just play what you and your band decide who should be playing what. You could play some lead and some rhythm, but don't get too out there, it could sound like crap if you get mixed up of whatever. Me, personally, i think having a keyboard is strange, kinda reminds me of songs from the 80's, even if the key board dosn't sound like that. I don't know, that's just my opinion. For Under the bridge, the intro is probably a lead part, and she chords during the chorus are probably rhythm, if played by 2 guitarists. The chili peppers only have 1 guitarist, john frusciante (he rocks, by the way, which you probaly know.), bu t on their albums, you can hear that he sepretly recorded the lead, and rhythm parts, and are played at the same time, so they sound like 2 (correct me if i'm wrong, that's just my opinion". Anyway, you have GREAT influences, and, good luck :)

[something vague]

oh god those are terrible influences. whatever.

the band i'm in has a girl singer, but she never sounds like she cares when she sings. can't blame her, our band sucks.

[eug008]

Well, i'm in a rookie band and we're looking for a girl vocalist. I want to know your opinions on this. We're want the style of metallica, incubus, and red hot chili peppers and to me, having a girl as the singer would be great since it's unique.

The thing is,my band mates, i feel, have doubts about a chick doing the singing due to our style, but i certainly feel that it's a great idea and i really want a girl as the vocalist. What do you think?

My band mates really have doubts about this,i just recieved a text from one of them saying that "I just think, can she play the songs we play..metallica?" indicating that they feel a female being the singer is a bad idea, do you know a way i can convince them enough to actually want a front-woman sining pure-oldschool style rock?

Do you guys know any bands that have this element to, so i can show my bandmates that it is a fantastic idea?
--

I have 2 more question, 1 concerning the Rhythm and lead guitarist. Now, i play rhythm guitar. It'sjust i'm confused on the roles of the rhythm and the lead, it seems confusing to me what i'm supposed to do. Lets say the song "enter sandman", there is a guitar that plays the intro... is that the lead or the rhythm. And there are some songs were only one guitar can be heard during the verses, unforgiven 2(metallica), Under the bridge (Red hot chilli peppers). Now is that a lead guitar playing, or a rhythm? And how about the songs where an accoustic guitar is present, such as "You remind me" (Nickleback), is that the job of the lead guitarist or the rhythm?

There are some rock songs i think that only has 1 guitar being played, i would like to know the roles of the lead and the rhythm. I'msorry formy ignorance,it's my first time working in a band and i'm very happy as of now.

Second question. Keyboards... Now again, i play the rhythm so i would like to know if playing the keyboard is a must. Since, like the ryhtm guitar, the key board is another/alternate instrument for rhythm, right? My bandmates think it's weird to have a keyboard and that's because our style is relivant to classical rock such as Metallica, Aerosmith, red hot chili peppers and nirvana... They think a key board will make us like a certain pop-rockband we don't like, i think that's ridiculous logic... but so i have to enlighten them some how. The only way to do that is to give some names of the bands they like "black sabbath,metallica, nirvana..." that did have a keyboard preset, does metallica have a song in w/c a keyboard is present?

Thanks so much to those who helped in advance.
OK

1. For your style if you can get a GOOD male singer i'd go with that over Female

2. Thse parts you were talking about could be either, but I'd say it would be rhythm especially in the Metallica songs cause i'm pretty sure Hetifield plays them

3. I don't see why using keyboards makes you a "Pop" band, a lot of Metal bands use them (Dream Theater, Opeth, Children Of Bodom, heaps more) and they certainly don't sound like pop to me.

[ilovesheep808]

Yea, only get a male singer if he's good, same with female. And DON'T get some whiney emo boy who can't scream or sing...

[pitchfork]

Well, i'm in a rookie band and we're looking for a girl vocalist. I want to know your opinions on this. We're want the style of metallica, incubus, and red hot chili peppers and to me, having a girl as the singer would be great since it's unique.


Yeah because no other bands have girl singers...

Oh wait yeah they do how the hell is it unique, don't limit yourself to female singers.

Also anyone who sings like a pop punk/ emo nobhead with a vice round his ****, punch them in the face and tell them to come back when you have a personality and some ****ing talent.
Same with anyone who just screams all the time, they can go fornicate themselfs with an iron stick.

[eug008]

Yea, only get a male singer if he's good, same with female. And DON'T get some whiney emo boy who can't scream or sing...
123, sick of those emo singers

[Trigger_003]

Haha, one of my bands consists of drums, keys and electric (or acoustic, depending on the song), with me (a girl) or the drummer pretty much doing the vocals these days... trust me, it works. We play a whole heap of stuff (jazz, rock, metal, flamenco(ish), etc.) but yeah, we have done Incubus, RHCP, Jet, Metallica, etc., and a lot of my compositions and arrangements for that band are kinda based around rock and metal. I just wish we had some recordings for you.
And one of my best mate's bands just got into the final of a big battle of the bands playing stuff similar to what you're playing - with a chick singer.

Anyway, there are some chicks that are awesome at the style and some that, well, suck. But isn't that true with guys too?

The best way to convince them is to show them some examples. here are a couple more to add:
Sunshine On My Window by Spiderbait. It's on the start of Ten Things I Hate About You, so you might recognise it. Usually the drummer sings for this band, but the girl bassist sings this one.
Killing Heidi. Check out "I Am" by them.

Another take on it is something like Nightwish. Metal band with classically trained female vocals (well, up until last year anyway). Might sound a bit stupid but it's seriously great. Check out some music by them. They use keys as well btw.

But yeah, if you find an awesome male, take him on by all means. The gender shouldn't matter as long as whoever it is works well with you guys and suits what you're doing.

Add Aerosmith to those classic rock bands that use keys. Loads of bands use keys - it doesn't make you sound like a particular band just becuase you include them. Symphony X and a whole heap of other metal bands use piano parts and it's not like that makes them sound like pop artists or anything, as just said. You can use keys for rhythm parts, as happens in a lot of jazz... they're used a lot for strings and so forth, but hey, you can even just play the bassline if you really want. It's all up to you - there aren't any hard and fast rules. Music is an art so get creative with it.

Black Sabbath have done some songs with piano, but they seem to just be the slow/dark/sad ones... I don't think I've heard them personally.

And to give you the general idea, rhythm guitar usually is based around chords or power chords, whereas lead tends to focus more on the melody, playing the licks and pretty much the majority of guitar solos.

[cisco]

Yeah because no other bands have girl singers...

Oh wait yeah they do how the hell is it unique, don't limit yourself to female singers.
.

Well, im not from the US so i don't know too much of any underground bands from that country. I'm from the philippines were rock is the main music. And i really don't see much bands that have a female as the vocalist singing metallica/incubus-esque songs. There are very few like that compared to most of the rock groups.

And one of the biggest reasons or just evidence to support why I think having a female for my band is great is through the show, super nova. Most of the best contestants there are female, and they sing most of the rock songs originally sung by a guy. I've observed many gigs; seen the famous bands here in the Philippines perform replications/versions or covers of there favorite songs, not only that but the supernova thing i've just stated and it seem that a female can adjust to any type of format: a girl has a better chance of singing a guy's part and making it something hot, but not visa versa... from what i've seen/heard mostly, so i know that opinion isn't valid to most. i've heard girls cover bush weird, but it works; boys2men songs, Michael Jackson's Beat it, and some songs from nickleback and 3 doors down, so it just seems nice if my vocalist can sing something that has the essense of Incubus, metallica, RHCP, Nirvana...

[pitchfork]

You see a few girls though, its not unique, unique is singular.
Even one of my bands has a female singer, she's actually pretty good for someone who's only been singing for 3 years.

[cisco]

You see a few girls though, its not unique, unique is singular.
Even one of my bands has a female singer, she's actually pretty good for someone who's only been singing for 3 years.


I think you've mistaken the term "Unique" to mean "something new"... it isn't something new since it's obvious there are bands like that, regardless it's almost out of the ordinary.

[Merkaba]

If the person can sing and likes the musical style at hand then it doesnt matter, duh.

So dispense with all the english class stuff. We know what the poster was getting at.

[DillingerEscp]

:thumb: thanks...more replies/opinions,please.
bands that are fcking awesome with female vocals.

battlelore (go look at their live videos on youtube... simply amazing)

lacuna coil

arch enemy (youd never guess its a female... EVER)

within temptation

nightwish

sirenia

amaran

theater of tragedy

[StrawberryFieldsForever]

One word:

Heart

Best female vocalist in Classic Rock imo.

Barracude and Crazy On You are good examples of her voice.

[Nicko_Shmicko]

keyboards....dream theatre anyone?

[ninjaXcore]

I like the chick from The Distillers. Shes a great female singer.

[Salpointe]

Thread is a little repetitive but nevertheless... I agree with Merk. Any good singer, male or female, should earn your bands respect to the point where most other issues will fall to the side. All I would say is PLEASE don't go for a female singer because of the gimick. It's sad when a bands cd covers feature a shot of their female lead as opposed to something that remotely has to do with the album. If you respect your music than you'll be happier with a "good" than with a "hot" one. There's my two.

[Sammy_L_D]

Nightwish for the female lead vocals win.

[fuzzyhair]

hmm show your band mates arch enemy.

[cisco]

I know Heart. IMO, Heart wins in terms of instrumentals but i can't really go for the girls singng voice as much.

I love crazy on you, but it would be better if the girl had a better vocals... she sang well in baracuda though.

The best female vocalist in a rock band IMO is Amy Lee. I have yet to hear someone (a chick) that can rock the mic like her. Thing is though, i only liked one song of evanescence (bring me to life), "Broken" too... if that counts but in the end, evanescence just has poor instrumentals IMO.

The Instrumentals of Heart is probably the best example of a good band it's just the female vocalist that brings down the points for me. That's just my opinion.

The distillers are good too... any song recomendations besides city of angels?

[ero321]

Honestly, I prefer a man as a lead singer in a band. Not because im sexist or any thing, but its just I personaly prefer the voice of males when it comes to rock.

[cisco]

Oh, ****... maybe Amy lee is the 2nd best.

I forgot about Gwen Steffani during the early days of No Doubt. Her voice actually pretty great in "Don't Speak" but damn she got trendy after..

Or maybe they're tied, I don't know....

[sickstring]

yeah, I'd go with a male vocalist for a Metallica type band, but if you can find a good female one, then great. keyboards aren't a must... it depends what kind of music you want to play, personally I find keyboards VERY cheesy, especially in metal, they're always used to make choral sounds... if they're on piano or strings voice then they're ok, if in the right context. you just gotta think about how you want to sound and what style you want, really. then take it from there.

[OpIvyKills]

Doesn't that hard rock band Flyleaf have a female singer??

[cisco]

how can we forget the cranberries?

ZOMBIE!!!!

[Steerpike]

Of the modern female vocalists, my favorite is Floor Jansen. If you want an idea of her voice in the context of different rock/metal styles, I recommend the following songs:

Face Your Demons
Being Everyone
Victim of Choices
Digital Deceit
Silence from Afar

This woman has an amazing grasp over so many vocal styles for someone of her age.

[Aus_rock_god]

Well, i'm in a rookie band and we're looking for a girl vocalist. I want to know your opinions on this. We're want the style of metallica, incubus, and red hot chili peppers and to me, having a girl as the singer would be great since it's unique.

The thing is,my band mates, i feel, have doubts about a chick doing the singing due to our style, but i certainly feel that it's a great idea and i really want a girl as the vocalist. What do you think?

My band mates really have doubts about this,i just recieved a text from one of them saying that "I just think, can she play the songs we play..metallica?" indicating that they feel a female being the singer is a bad idea, do you know a way i can convince them enough to actually want a front-woman sining pure-oldschool style rock?

Do you guys know any bands that have this element to, so i can show my bandmates that it is a fantastic idea?
--

I have 2 more question, 1 concerning the Rhythm and lead guitarist. Now, i play rhythm guitar. It'sjust i'm confused on the roles of the rhythm and the lead, it seems confusing to me what i'm supposed to do. Lets say the song "enter sandman", there is a guitar that plays the intro... is that the lead or the rhythm. And there are some songs were only one guitar can be heard during the verses, unforgiven 2(metallica), Under the bridge (Red hot chilli peppers). Now is that a lead guitar playing, or a rhythm? And how about the songs where an accoustic guitar is present, such as "You remind me" (Nickleback), is that the job of the lead guitarist or the rhythm?

There are some rock songs i think that only has 1 guitar being played, i would like to know the roles of the lead and the rhythm. I'msorry formy ignorance,it's my first time working in a band and i'm very happy as of now.

Second question. Keyboards... Now again, i play the rhythm so i would like to know if playing the keyboard is a must. Since, like the ryhtm guitar, the key board is another/alternate instrument for rhythm, right? My bandmates think it's weird to have a keyboard and that's because our style is relivant to classical rock such as Metallica, Aerosmith, red hot chili peppers and nirvana... They think a key board will make us like a certain pop-rockband we don't like, i think that's ridiculous logic... but so i have to enlighten them some how. The only way to do that is to give some names of the bands they like "black sabbath,metallica, nirvana..." that did have a keyboard preset, does metallica have a song in w/c a keyboard is present?

Thanks so much to those who helped in advance.

There's plenty of heavy(ish) bands with female vocals:

Arch Enemy, Nightwish, Evenesance...

As for your other 2 questions:

Guitar: Woah, you're thinking about this WAAAAY too much. Don't panic. Just figure out between yourselves who wants to play what part, and if you feel you're not playing enough, add stuff in dude.

Keys: If you want to do it, do it.

When it comes to creativity, it helps if you don't think too much, just do it.

[Jon]

Wendy O. Williams, Patty Smith, Debbie Harry, the Runaways.

[gunsNroses9167]

girl vocalists kick ***, expecally for those classic rock song where all the guys sing high like led zeppelin becasue its hard to find a guy that can do that nowadays, or at least in my area. i used to have a girl voclaist, she quit though(too good for us lol totally differnt style)

and keyboards don't make you pop, listen to some dream theater.

yea in metallica i think the one guitar parts are mostly rythm but it really depends.