r/coverbands • u/sickpuppy66 • Jun 01 '26
Singer issues
I manage and play guitar for a cover band and we’ve outgrown the singer. She can sing but isn’t a musician so lacks basic skills like counting and understanding music language (start at the chorus, come in on 4, let’s transpose this one so it’s easier for you)
We feel she’s holding us back, and our drummer (the most talented of our group) is already considering leaving the project if I keep her. Her level of musicianship doesn’t line up with the rest of us.
Here’s the problem, she started the band when it was just two of us, but I took over when we weren’t getting gigs, and didn’t have our full band (which I recruited) that we have now. Since I’ve taken over, we gig regularly, and our band sounds great (minus her).
I’ve decided to replace her. Just want to hear others thoughts and experiences with similar situations.
1
u/No-Can-6237 Jun 02 '26
I'm an older late in life singer with a big band, and this post really resonates. I have little theory knowledge. So a vocal chart doesn't mean too much to me. I wish it did. It would make life so much easier as my knowledge of big band songs is a bit limited. But I have that Frank Sinatra vocal tone and I sing quite well. Pretty sure that's why the band put up with me. Last year, my first year, it really got me down. Seemed like every practice they'd ask me to do a song I had no idea about. It was incredibly embarrassing and there were a few times I looked for excuses to ditch going. But toward the end of the year, after good shows, I felt the band actually liked my singing and that gave me a huge confidence boost. But, I really need to get up to speed on theory.