From Eminem to The Clash, Phil Collins to Jimmy Eat World the ad lib track is one of the best ways to breathe life into your vocal performance and song. For those not familiar the ad lib track is a track where you improvise lines under the lead vocal. Whether they are new harmonies, answers, new melodies or whatever, sending a vocalist into the room to make it up as they go on is one of the best ways to get awesome ideas down as well as adding some excitement to a track. Even non-word noises and accented words can make or break some vocal performances if placed well. Random sounds in a song (see the “BREAK” placed in the middle ((1:30 or so in to the above video)) of Phil Collins “Sussudio”) can give it excitement and less repetition in looped tracks. For further listening check out:
- Any Eminem record
- The Clash London Calling
- Faith No More – any record with Mike Patton on it