In fact, I’ve decided to explain how I set up my VoiceLive2 for harmonies, by giving you a step-by-step walk-though, so that all of the VoiceLive2 users out there in harmony land can catch on and start benefiting from this little blog today. This may sound a little difficult, but trust me, it’s not. In other words, the chords your guitarist strums will guide the harmonies created, which are still built around the notes that you sing. So, what makes the VoiceLive2 my secret weapon for AMAZING three-part harmonies? Drum roll please………………You can plug your guitar or keyboard into it and allow your instrument to control the harmonies. During the past many, many, many months, I’ve learned to love this harmony tool and discovered some pretty cool features on the unit that allows you to tweak your harmony sound about every which way possible, making this crazy little machine my “secret” harmony weapon. Through the writing process, my guitarists don’t sing because they are working out their guitar and bass parts, which means the it’s up to the ole’ VoiceLive2 to function as my backup singers. So the VoiceLive2 has been put through the wringer during our writing sessions and rehearsals. The music that I am currently writing with my own band, for our vocal/performance workshops is heavily harmony based. I’ve owned the original VoiceLive vocal processor, several rack mounts and pedals by TC as well, but it wasn’t until I got my hands on the VoiceLive2 that I realized that I had been handed a loaded gun and started shooting. I’ve tried other gear by companies such as Digitech and Antares, but I always come back to my TC. If you aren’t ‘music theory savvy’ but still yearn to master the art of harmony vocals, I’ve found an easier solution- TC Helicon’s VoiceLive2 vocal effects & harmony processor… I must confess, I am a vocal gear nut and my favorite company for vocal goodies is of course, TC Helicon. Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea, but it is tedious work. A trained musician could sit down, pick out each third, fifth, augmented fourth, seventh, etc., above and below the lead vocal, painstakingly figuring out the harmony notes line by line, note by note, until they found the exact harmony line that would fit the song. But, would that fully explain what I meant? Well, sure, if you are a musician who plays keys or guitar and understands music theory. Sure, I can tell a keyboard player or a guitarists that the easiest way to find a harmony that will blend with the lead vocal line would be to sing the third, fifth, or octave, above or below the main line. I know I’ve written a lot about vocal technique in books like “Raise Your Voice”, but, for me to write an entire book on harmony, well, I’m not your man. I’ve been asked many times to write a book for explaining and creating vocal harmonies. In fact, when I add grit, I pretend that I’m a dirty Hammond B3 organ, and when I do a vocal run, I think in terms of cool keyboard licks…
The voice is an instrument, so it is easier for me to relate my keyboard when I think of vocal lines. I tend to think of my voice as a synthesizer, when I sing, so it makes perfect sense. Hearing a three-part vocal harmony, to me is like playing a perfect chord on the keyboard. I’d say the reason I love harmony so much, besides the obvious beauty of it, is the fact that I am a keyboard player. Something about the blending of two-three voices captivated me, painting an aural picture that I had to listen to over and over and over again. Since I am a rocker at heart, I loved harmony lines by bands like Saigon Kick, TNT, Alice in Chains, Nitro and even Bon Jovi. From there on, I’ve heavily gravitated towards harmony bands. Growing up listening to bands like the Bee Gees, Journey, and Earth, Wind & Fire solidified my love of the three-part vocal mix. Here goes- The reason I am so nuts about singing is simply because I LOVE vocal harmonies. I am going to share a little secret with you that I don’t think I’ve ever shared with anyone. Probably the longest I’ve ever written, but hang in there with me because I believe you’ll walk away with lots of value, or else I wouldn’t have been so long winded, haha… Let me start by saying that this blog is loooong.
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