You can tell Axl recorded his vocals separately on Chinese Democracy

[themovieaddict.com]

Kurt Loder said in his review of RIR that Axl would do "midnight sessions" of recording after the bandmembers had already laid down their musical parts. So basically Axl would come in after they had recorded and record his vocals separately in the studio after everybody else had left.

Anyway, I noticed a lot during this tour on the new songs he clicks his fingers - it's something you do naturally as a musician and one of the first things you learn when you start. Snapping your fingers is a good way of keeping track of the beats and rhythm. Anyway, a lot of times musicians who record separately from the rest of the band develop a habit of doing this to help them stay in track with the rest of the song.

Thought that was kind of a cool thing to see Axl doing on stage. This thread is really just an observation of that.

[nesquick]

Of course he does. That's the way most of vocals are recorded nowadays. Pro-Tools... there's no problem with it. Using technology is a good thing. I recorded myself on pro-Tools. I used it. The most important is the mix. It's how you mix your vocals with the instruments to create one cohesive entity. Your voice and the instruments should confund each other to make one. at the end, recording separately makes your job easier...

Anyway, what do you really mean?

[Steel_Angel]

tell us something we dont already know... like when the first single will drop 
jay kay.

[Lucky]

what has "snapping your fingers" have to do with anything?!
I snap my fingers all the time, even when I'm taking a shit, and that doesnt mean I'm keeping the track of the rhytm.

[dave-gnfnr2k]

He did that on the UYIs too, so what is your point.

[themovieaddict.com]

He did that on the UYIs too, so what is your point.

It's just an observation.

But you have to admit it's better than the thread about Axl's shoes. 

[DunkinDave]

He did that on the UYIs too, so what is your point.

Right - its not like they're all recording together in the round, every part is recorded seperately.

We've known that for quite a while.

[Mr_Brownface]

He snaps his fingers to keep time?  What the hell is the drummer for?

[PrettyTiedUp763]

He did that on the UYIs too, so what is your point.

It's just an observation.

But you have to admit it's better than the thread about Axl's shoes.?

  You got us there. Lol.

[russtcb]

He did that on the UYIs too, so what is your point.

It's just an observation.

But you have to admit it's better than the thread about Axl's shoes.?

Hahahaha.....I swear I actually thought the same thing when I read this reply to your topic.

[tHeElEcTrIcSiNtAr]

He recorded them seperately on Appetite too. He always has done that. Most singers do that anyway.

[Origen]

So whats your point? You noticed Axl clicks his fingers to the beat, well done I guess.

[Mr_Brownface]

This is the best thread ever.

[SLCPUNK]

I'm snapping my fingers right now...........

[ryan_of_lax]

I'm willing to bet that there are no professional singers who record their vocals "live" with the band in the studio. At least not a whole take anyway.

I really don't see how snapping fingers indicates this, though.

[D]

I think 100 percent of singers record their vocals after the music is laid down.

Its not like they band plays and the singer sings live in the studio............. This thread is bizarre.  Maybe Axl just likes to snap his fingers for effect.

[Sizzle]

99% of band out there record all instrumental and vocal parts individually, usuall a drum track is laid down first, then bass, then guitar, then vocals. I can't think of any band that records all together in the studio. If they did all record together it would make it extremely hard to edit and re-take parts because the band would all have to start playing at the same place again at the same time. One mess-up from one member would mean the whole band's audio-tracks were interrupted.

[Amish]

It used to be that way.  The band would just all play together, and they'd have to do take after take after take.

Based on a comment by Slash, I was under the impression that Velvet Revolver recorded their songs as a live band.

He said "We did most songs in one or two takes."  Am I wrong?

[dankrass]

I'm willing to bet that there are no professional singers who record their vocals "live" with the band in the studio. At least not a whole take anyway.

I really don't see how snapping fingers indicates this, though.

Well, it's not as common nowadays, but some still do. 

Bob Dylan records all of his albums in a handful of takes live in the studio with the band.
Neil Young does the same.
Tom Petty does, but he goes back and does vocal overdubs on some tracks -- Dylan and Young tend to not touch up passages.

[Buddha_Master]

wow...fucking weird.

The clicking his finger to keep a beat, and that is what singers are taught and shit to do. I seriously find this interesting...and I have no idea why. I like the topic. Its outside the box, and I personally dig observation discussions.

When Axl holds his ear/earpiece while singing. He does it about as often.