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Chords with four notes can be broken down into a three-note chord (triad) and one additional note. Let’s use Cmaj7 as an example for a chord with four notes. It would be played C, E, G, and B; this additional note is called a “seventh” because it is written as an interval (the distance between two notes) of a seventh from the root note “C”(counting C, go up seven notes and you land on B). By adding one more note…

Have you ever pulled up next to someone in your car and the sound system was blaring! The bass was just thumping causing a vibration, rattling, and buzzing sound. The sound is coming from them but the sympathetic vibration is felt in your car. Similarly, when you are singing, there are different areas in your body vibrating in sympathy with the singing voice’s vocal folds (cords). You will feel different sympathetic vibrations in your nasopharynx (which is behind the ear).…

If you are serious about your singing or piano performance and want to perfect your craft, practice in front of a full-length mirror. This exercise will allow you to see your body movements and facial expressions while singing or play. There is no better tool to really make improvements while you perform. To really make an impact, your presentation needs to be smooth, seamless and polished, which means the delivery of the song will really touch the audience. Your singing,…

One of the most important characteristics of vocal control is the ability to listen to yourself and sing “on pitch” (singing right on the note)! A good voice embodies fine technique, which requires you to sing notes correctly, not singing a little higher (sharp) or lower (flat). If you have ever heard someone sing and thought, they can’t sing. That’s probably because they are not on the note; they are flat or sharp. From time to time a good vocalist…

Taking care of your voice during cold and flu season really just involves paying attention to the normal habits that most singers should already be considering. First, be sure to drink plenty of water with a minimum eight glasses of water of day to ensure proper hydration. In the winter this is especially important because the air is dryer than usual, therefore vocal cords become stressed with the relatively low humidity. In addition, many of us often drink extra coffee…

Some musicians are born with a natural “ear” for hearing and being able to match the pitch. Others (the majority of us) need to work on this regularly. Even professionals slide sharp or flat. It is something that needs continuous attention and practice. Good singers use their ears as much as their singing voice. The soloist’s ears are as important as their vocal sound. Any vocalist or musician will tell you their ears are tools to help them sound better.…

All great singers have certain skills that are needed and you can master these skills, but it takes dedication and work (practice)! When you think of an amazing singer, what do you notice? Most likely it’s their tone, how their voice sounds when singing a song. Every singer has a certain something that makes them stand out. If you ask yourself what skills you need to be a (professional) singer, here are three skill that will get you on the…

The human voice can be the most expressive instrument, but it can also be very boring! Distinct and unique musical phrasing is essential for a compelling performance. Musical phrasing creates a recognizable and unmistakable quality for a voice. It makes a singer sound better than just singing the words on a page. Do you know what makes a voice distinctly different…phrasing; how a singer SHAPES each line of the song. The combination of tone, pitch, dynamics, diction and more contribute…

2 WAYS TO HOLD A HIGH NOTE! Knowing how to hold a note for its full length takes practice. This is a skill every singer should have the ability to do; holding a note without wobbling or dropping in pitch (flat). There are a few reasons why a singer has trouble holding notes for their full value. To have strong control you should be able to hold a note, staying on the pitch without wavering or hold a note with…

Any aspiring singer should aim to achieve clear enunciation (to articulate, pronounce each syllable). The right inflections (rise and fall of pitch), diction (words chosen for phasing) and pronunciation (the way you sound out a word) affect the feeling of a song. If you are mumbling the words you are singing, you will not get your message across because no one will know what the song is about. A good singer will have clear enunciation and they will craft each…