How to Learn Singing “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers
In this article, we’ll explore the process of learning to sing “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers. This iconic song combines smooth vocals, soulful melodies, and a unique vocal technique that adds a touch of charm to the performance.
The Unique Vocal Technique: Belting
“Just the Two of Us” utilizes a vocal technique called belting. Belting is characterized by a powerful, resonant singing quality, often associated with the singing style of soul and R&B artists. It involves singing in a high chest voice with a full, rich tone. Belting allows singers to showcase their vocal strength and create a dramatic impact in their performance.
Bill Withers, in his rendition of “Just the Two of Us,” demonstrates a seamless transition between his chest voice and head voice, resulting in a powerful and emotive vocal delivery. This vocal technique adds depth and intensity to the song, making it a standout performance.
If you’re new to belting, Singing Carrots offers a comprehensive article on contemporary vocal techniques that covers the basics of belting and provides exercises to help you develop this technique.
Learning the Song: Step-by-Step Guide
To learn “Just the Two of Us” effectively, follow these steps:
- Analyze Your Voice: Take the vocal range test on Singing Carrots to determine your vocal range. This will help you identify which parts of the song are within your comfortable singing range.
- Listen and Familiarize: Listen to the original version of the song multiple times to get a sense of the melody, phrasing, and overall feel. Pay attention to Bill Wither’s vocal nuances and interpretation of the lyrics.
- Study the Lyrics: Read and understand the lyrics of the song. Pay attention to the storytelling and emotion conveyed through the words.
- Breathing and Warm-up: Practice breathing exercises and warm-ups to prepare your voice for singing. Singing Carrots provides a breathing basics article and a pitch training tool to help you improve your breath control and accuracy.
- Work on Vocal Technique: Focus on developing the belting technique by practicing vocal exercises specifically designed for belting. Singing Carrots offers videos on how to twang and how to growl exercises, which can enhance your belting skills.
- Practice Phrase by Phrase: Break down the song into smaller phrases and practice each one separately. Pay attention to the melody, rhythm, and dynamics of each phrase.
- Emotion and Interpretation: Connect with the lyrics and the message of the song. Experiment with different vocal inflections and expressions to add your own unique touch to the performance.
- Record and Evaluate: Record yourself singing the song and listen back to identify areas for improvement. Take notes and work on refining your vocal delivery.
Similar Songs and Resources
If you enjoy singing “Just the Two of Us,” you may also like these songs that showcase similar belting techniques and soulful performances:
- “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
- “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- “At Last” by Etta James
Singing Carrots provides a song search tool where you can find songs by vocal range to further explore and expand your repertoire.