How to Sing Like Annette Hanshaw

Annette Hanshaw is a legendary American jazz singer from the 1920s and 30s, known for her sweet, delicate voice that conveyed a range of emotions. Her unique vocal style was characterized by her impeccable sense of timing, phrasing, and interpretation of lyrics. If you want to learn how to sing like Annette Hanshaw, here are some tips and resources to help you get started.

Technique

Annette Hanshaw was known for her gentle and breathy vocal style, with a natural vibrato and a velvety quality to her sound. She used a wide range of vocal techniques to create a unique sound, including:

• Breath Control: To achieve Hanshaw's distinctive breathy sound, it's important to work on your breathing technique. Start by practicing breathing exercises, like those found in the Farinelli Breathing exercise video. Focus on building up your breath support and control, so you can sustain longer phrases without running out of breath.
• Pitch Accuracy: Hanshaw's pitch accuracy was impeccable, and she used a combination of natural talent and vocal training to hone her skills. Test your own pitch accuracy with the Pitch Accuracy Test and use the Vocal Pitch Monitor to visualize your pitch and improve your intonation.
• Vibrato: Hanshaw's natural vibrato was a defining element of her style. Practice your own vibrato with the Beggars Bounce and Diaphragm Bounce exercises. Focus on developing a smooth and natural vibrato, without force or strain.
• Articulation: Hanshaw's delicate vocal style was matched by her precise articulation of each word. Practice your own articulation with exercises like the Finger Bite, focusing on clear and distinct enunciation.

Songs

Annette Hanshaw's signature sound was evident across various genres and topics of her time including love, loss, and the struggles of daily life. Here are some of her most famous and recognizable songs to help you recreate her style.

• I Can't Give You Anything But Love: This classic tune is a great example of Hanshaw's unique vocal style, with its gentle, rhythmic quality and natural vibrato. Try to match her singing style and vocal phrasing in your own performances.
• Ain't Cha: Another example of Hanshaw's sweet and delicate vocal style, with its playful phrasing and rhythmic swing. Focus on your breath control and pitch accuracy to capture the essence of this song.
• Mean to Me: This heart-wrenching torch song showcases Hanshaw's emotional range and depth of feeling, with its soulful vocal performance and heartfelt lyrics. Practice conveying emotion through your own singing, using Hanshaw as a model for how to convey the meaning of each word.

Singing Carrots Resources

Along with the above exercises and songs, Singing Carrots has various tools that can help you achieve Annette Hanshaw's vocal style and enhance your singing in general.

• Vocal range test: Start by taking the vocal range test. This will give you a baseline for your vocal range, which you can use to improve your singing skills with further practice.
• Singing course: Whether you are a beginner or an experienced singer, this 21-lesson singing course covers useful topics and exercises to help you enhance your singing technique.
• Search for songs: Use the search tool to find songs that match your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preferences. Listen to singers like Annette Hanshaw and others to learn their style and singing techniques.
• Resonance in singing: