Singing Guide: Canned Heat

Singing Guide: Canned Heat

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Canned Heat is a boogie-rock band synonymous with the late 60s and early 70s SoCal music scene. The band's enthusiasm was contagious, driven by their high-energy, powerful boogie-based blues rock. Bob Hite's distinctive voice and Alan Wilson's unusual harmonica sound were critical to the band's success.

These are the steps to learn singing like Canned Heat:

  1. Listening:

    The first thing to do when trying to learn a particular singer's style is to listen to their music. Try to internalize the rhythm and structure of their songs, as well as the texture and tone of their voice. Pay close attention to their harmonies and phrasing so you can practice emulating them later.

  2. Vocal Range Test:

    Before you begin, it's crucial to understand your vocal range. Take Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your range compared to famous singers. Knowing your vocal range can help you prepare to sing Canned Heat's music.

  3. Breathing basics and Breath Support:

    Bob Hite's powerful and energetic vocal performances were supported by excellent breath control. Singing Carrots' breathing basics article explains the importance of good breathing and offers exercises to help improve your breath support.

  4. Vocal Pitch Monitor and Pitch accuracy test:

    Alan Wilson's melodic and catchy harmonica textures have become an integral part of Canned Heat's music. Use Singing Carrots' vocal pitch monitor and pitch accuracy tests to work on your pitch control and to replicate Wilson's distinctive harmonic sound.

  5. Open mouth and throat:

    Bob Hite's singing style often emphasized on open mouth and throat techniques to achieve a powerful and clear sound. Singing Carrots' open mouth and throat article offers advice and exercises to improve your vocal resonance.

  6. Song Selection:

    Canned Heat's songs showcase their unique and high-energy blues rock style. "On the Road Again" and "Going Up the Country" are classic examples of Canned Heat's blues boogie sound. Practice singing these songs to develop a similar style of singing and to learn how to use your voice to convey the same energy.

  7. Vocal Distortion and Vibrato:

    Learn about the contemporary techniques used by Canned Heat and practice incorporating them into your own singing. Singing Carrots' articles on vocal distortion and singing with vibrato offer helpful tips and techniques to achieve these effects.

  8. Chest Voice and Voice Registers:

    Experiment with different voice registers to find the most comfortable and effective voice for singing. Singing Carrots' articles on voice registers and vocal break offer explanations and exercises to help you find your ideal voice tone.

  9. Progress Monitoring:

    Keep a log of your practice sessions to track your progress, monitor areas that require improvement, and celebrate your successes. Singing Carrots progress statistics tool is an excellent resource for tracking your progress.

With the knowledge and support from Singing Carrots resources, learning to sing like Bob Hite and Alan Wilson should be an enjoyable journey. Canned Heat's music exudes a sense of fun, joy, and hope that is infectious and inspiring. Most importantly, remember to be yourself and enjoy the process of learning to sing like Canned Heat.

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