74rider - Posted - 11/13/2014:  20:52:14

I have a friend who can play anything with strings and wants to get into a bluegrass band. But there is a catch, he can't sing, everyone else knows it and now he does too. But he still wants to keep trying. What instrument should he "claim" to give him his best chances of landing a spot?

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 11/14/2014:  03:40:15

Fiddle as most fiddlers don't sing but it takes a serious investment of time to play one , Bass , stand up , can be picked up enough to start playing in a band in a matter of a year and be grown into for the rest of a life, Banjo can start with a few rolls a good understanding of the keys G and C and the judicious application of a capo if you have great timing, Resophonic which involves a lot of similar picking hand techniques as a banjo and with a capo much can be accomplished ..many musicians play both mando and reso .... like fiddle and mando .. that have much in common in theory, ie how they are laid out, if not in actual operation... .... Mandolin players and guitarists are generally expected to sing ...ala Bill and Lester.. that's my .02 worth .. R/

Texasbanjo - Posted - 11/14/2014:  05:20:50

I would say banjo or bass.  Lots of banjo pickers and bass players don't sing.

74rider - Posted - 11/14/2014:  07:32:20

OK, thanks.. that's kinda what I was also thinking.

74rider - Posted - 11/14/2014:  11:58:44

I must confess, the "friend" is actually me. I just learned (I'm 60 now) that I can't sing. I thought I was OK, on key etc. but confirmed with my wife that I'm actually pretty bad. Eh, it's no big deal, I just wish I would have known sooner. But this does explain a lot of reactions that I've been getting through the years - hard head I guess. Anyway, I will follow the advice given and see what I can do about practicing up on a bass or banjo. Thanks again and sorry for the "twist".

Jim Yates - Posted - 11/19/2014:  00:50:22

If you can play your instrument well enough, you will be accepted without singing.  It won't matter what instrument you choose.  Some mandolin and guitar players don't sing, but they usually play very well.

Pickinlips - Posted - 12/11/2014:  09:38:03

If you find yourself at a jam and folks insist you sing because they think you are just being self deprecating. Belt one out and they'll never ask you again.

pizmo - Posted - 12/12/2014:  01:58:25

First of all, the vast majority of bluegrass singers don't have a Tony Bennett voice. It's one genre of music that seems to get away with bad singing. I think it's something that the audience puts up with to listen to the great licks in between the verses by the various instruments. Secondly, are you attempting to sing a song in the proper key for your voice. I don't care if Filthy Filbert and the Flophouse Five do it in G, Your voice might do it in the key of Zb. My wife (who has a decent singing voice) has this problem. She'll do a song in the key of a certain artist that she has heard, and hit so many clunkers that all the china in the cabinet breaks.  Upon forcing her to change keys, she sounds like an angel.Thirdly, if you enjoy singing, spend a few shekels on a voice coach to find your inner singing voice. It's there somewhere.  Will it be Fran Sinatra?  Probably not. But it will probably be sufficient in a bluegrass setting.

74rider - Posted - 12/12/2014:  07:44:31

Thanks for all the comments. I guess it's not all that bad. I did manage to land a gig at a coffee house where I played years ago. So I'll not expect much, but I plan on following the advise of many of you, so thanks again. This is my first solo act in quite a while and I'm at the point now where if it works out OK, I may just do this instead of pursuing a band. There are a lot of advantages of this in my mind and boils down to this - I can play what I want, when I want, how I want. And if I sink or swim, it's all on me.

I'll let y'all know how it goes.

pizmo - Posted - 12/13/2014:  01:04:09

Knock 'em dead.

mrmaxspop - Posted - 12/14/2014:  08:59:04

Hey, 74ryder.  I know another guitar who, in the opinion of many, could not sing---first name was Chet!  One must say, he managed to get by!!!!!!!!!!!  Good luck and have fun!

mrmaxspop - Posted - 12/14/2014:  09:01:07

Oops!  Shudda said "guitar picker!"

Jim Yates - Posted - 12/14/2014:  20:26:29

Judge for yourself.

youtube.com/watch?v=3eJWc0TGmt8