How to Learn Singing like Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist known for her powerful and unique voice. She was a legendary singer of soul music and regarded as the “Queen of Soul.” In this article, we will explore the techniques and style of Aretha Franklin that made her voice so iconic, and how you can learn to sing like her.

Techniques to Sing Like Aretha Franklin

Vocal Range: One of the first things that comes to mind when we think of Aretha Franklin’s voice is her incredible vocal range. Franklin had a wide vocal range, spanning over three octaves. Her voice ranged from a sweet, soft voice in ballads to powerful raspy belts in her soulful songs.

Belting: Belting is a technique where a singer uses a chest voice in their higher range, resulting in a full, powerful sound. Aretha Franklin was an expert at this technique. In her signature hit "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," there is a perfect blend of soft and powerful vocal delivery.

Vibrato: Another technique that Franklin was known for was vibrato. Vibrato refers to the slight pitch fluctuation in a sustained note and is essential in soulful singing. She seamlessly and naturally embellished musical notes with vibrato and created an emotional and powerful effect.

Resonance: Aretha Franklin's voice had a unique resonance that projected a rich sound that filled any room. You can achieve this resonance by opening your mouth and engaging in open-throated singing.

Aretha Franklin’s Iconic Songs

• Respect: This classic song is one of Aretha Franklin’s most famous songs and became an anthem for the feminist movement. The song is a perfect example of her powerful and confident belt singing style, along with her exceptional control over dynamics.
• Natural Woman: This song is an example of her ability to weave an emotional story through expressive and soulful singing. Her perfect blend of soft and powerful vocal delivery creates a stunning effect.
• Bridge Over Troubled Water: This song highlights Franklin's gospel roots and showcases her ability to incorporate her style and technique with a soulful gospel hymn. The song features rich dynamics and melisma that displays her range and control.

How to Sing Like Aretha Franklin

1. Vocal Warm-ups: To start with, you should warm up your voice with vocal exercises that aim to loosen the tension, strengthen the breath support, and prepare you for singing with intensity.
2. Singing Techniques: While singing like Aretha Franklin, you must incorporate her techniques, such as belting, vibrato, and resonance. Use Singing Carrots tools like Pitch Training, Vocal Pitch Monitor, and Vocal Range Test to identify your vocal range and strengths. Practice and experiment.
3. Choose songs that showcase your strengths: Start with songs that showcase your strengths and improve your singing style. Use the Song Search tool to find songs matching your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
4. Record and analyze: Record your singing and analyze it using the tools and resources available on Singing Carrots, such as the Vocal Pitch Monitor. This helps identify areas where you need improvement and work on them accordingly.

Conclusion

Aretha Franklin was a larger-than-life artist whose music and influence will forever remain unrivaled. By understanding her techniques and incorporating them into your singing, you can learn to sing like Aretha Franklin and take your singing to the next level. Singing Carrots offers you a vast array of singing tools, such as Vocal Range Test, Pitch Monitor, and Pitch Training, to help you develop your singing abilities.