Singing Guide: Burl Ives
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Burl Ives was one of the most recognizable voices in folk and American music. His deep bass tone, easy vibrato, and Southern charm were loved by millions. I will show you how you can learn to sing like him.
The unique vocal technique of Burl Ives:
Burl Ives's unique style was his use of a "yodeling" technique. It was achieved through stretching the vocal cords, so there was a switch in tone between the head voice and chest voice. In other words, it was a transition from a clean, bright sound to a more breathy, open-throat sound. Burl Ives's yodeling technique was the cornerstone of his singing ability, and it's what made his voice famous in some of his famous songs, such as "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "Big Rock Candy Mountain," and "Ghost Riders in the Sky."
Songs showcasing his vocal technique:
To understand Burl Ives's unique vocal style, you can listen to some of his top-hit songs. For example, his rendition of "A Holly Jolly Christmas" beautifully showcases his ability to yodel in his lower register, and "Blue Tail Fly" is an excellent showcase of his high-range belting. Other notable songs include "Big Rock Candy Mountain," "Ghost Riders in the Sky," and "Wayfaring Stranger."
Practical advice and relevant Singing Carrots resources:
If you want to learn how to yodel like Burl Ives, there are some essential things you need to keep in mind when practicing. First, you need to practice singing between your chest and head voice while maintaining a steady airflow. You should also work on strengthening your vocal cords by doing vocal exercises such as the ones found in Singing Carrots' Pitch Training, which will help you control your voice through breathing and support. It's also important to develop proper pitch control, which can be trained using Singing Carrots' Pitch Accuracy Test.
Additionally, you may find Singing Carrots' articles on breathing and vocal registers helpful. There are exercises for your warm-up, such as Farinelli breathing, that can help you control your breathing, and experimenting with various voice registers to find your sweet spot.
Finally, always start with the basics, humming exercises like Humming or some foundational articulation exercises like Finger bite before practicing any advanced vocal technique.
I hope my tips and Singing Carrots' resources will help you get started in learning how to sing like Burl Ives. With practice and patience, you can develop a deep bass voice, vibrant tone, and the yodeling technique that has made Burl Ives's music so famous.