Singing Guide: B.B. King

Singing Guide: B.B. King

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

B.B. King is often called the King of Blues Music because he revolutionized the genre with his unique sound. His voice is incredibly soulful, and he is known for his signature guitar playing style, which captures his voice's feeling and adds to the story of each song.

To sing like B.B. King, you have to find the right balance between soul and vibrato, which is what gives his voice its distinctive characteristics. His voice is a blend of African American gospel and blues styles, mixed with a touch of R&B.

If you want to sound like B.B. King, you must develop your breath control, as it's crucial to sustain long notes with power and control. To improve breath control and flexibility, you should perform daily vocal exercises and warm-ups, like the Farinelli breathing exercise.

Another crucial aspect of B.B. King's singing is his storytelling ability. With his voice, he can paint vivid pictures of the stories he sings about in his songs. To learn how to tell a story through your singing, you can try singing songs with a narrative structure.

Songs like "The Thrill Is Gone" are perfect examples of B.B. King's unique voice. In this song, you can hear his incredible control and vibrato. Other songs that showcase his voice and style include "You Upset Me Baby," "Every Day I Have the Blues," and "Sweet Little Angel."

You can also use Singing Carrots resources to improve your singing ability and master B.B. King's particular vocal style. The breathing basics and breath support articles can help you improve your power and control, while the How to analyze your voice and Resonance in singing can assist you in developing your sound. Additionally, the Vocal Range Test, Pitch Accuracy Test, Vocal Pitch Monitor, and Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game can help you fine-tune your vocal technique.

In summary, singing like B.B. King requires a combination of appropriate breath control, soulful vibrato, and storytelling ability. By practicing vocal exercises, singing the right songs and referencing Singing Carrot's resources, you too can learn to sing like the King of Blues.

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.