Learning to sing African-American spirituals allows you to tap into a rich musical heritage and connect to the struggles and joys of black Americans. One of the unique vocal techniques present in this genre involves the use of call-and-response. Spirituals have a structure of leader and chorus, with the leader singing a line and the chorus following with a response.

Some famous African-American spirituals include "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Oh, Freedom," and "Amazing Grace." Learning to sing like a spiritual singer requires an understanding of the call-and-response structure as well as the unique phrasing and rhythm present in the music.

To get started, take Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your vocal range and find spirituals that are within your range. Afterward, take the pitch accuracy test to ensure you're singing in tune.

Breathing is a fundamental aspect of singing. Proper breathing is necessary for pitch accuracy, tone, and support. Review the breathing basics article on Singing Carrots to learn how to breathe effectively.

To learn more about the vocal technique involved in African-American spirituals, review the articles on voice registers, breath support, and resonance in singing.

To get a better understanding of the practice of singing spirituals, review the article on how to learn a song effectively. This article provides information on how to read sheet music, how to work on phrasing, and how to memorize lyrics.

Finally, to learn more about stage presence and performing in general, check out the Singing Carrots articles on overcoming stage fright and tips for performing on stage.

• Twang: How to Twang Exercise
• Growling: How to Growl Exercise
• Vibrato: Beggars Bounce, Diaphragm Bounce
• Breath/Warm-up/Practice-starter: Farinelli Breathing
• Articulation: Finger Bite
• Chest Voice/Voice Registers: Singing Comfort Zone, Mixed Voice, Chest Voice Explained
• Voice Break: Voice Break
• Warm-up/Practice-starter: Humming, 3 Minute Warm Up
• Posture: Good Singing Posture
• Emotion-control/Performing: Relaxing Breath, Stage Tips
• Breath/Sustain: Sustain Vocal
• Nasality: Soft Palate, Stop Sounding Nasal
• Onsets-offsets: Glottal Onset