Singing Guide: Chas & Dave
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you want to learn how to sing like Chas & Dave, the iconic London duo famous for their unique blend of British rock, country, and boogie-woogie piano style, here are some practical tips, guidance, and resources that can help you.
Chas & Dave used to sing in a distinctive London dialect, characterized by a broad accent, local slang, and a good sense of humor. Their music is charming, catchy, and relatable, often telling stories about everyday life, working-class struggles, and the joys of simple pleasures.
To sing like Chas & Dave, you need to focus on several key areas, such as:
- Vocal style and timbre: Chas & Dave's singing style is energetic, lively, and playful. They often use a shouty, rough, and raspy tone to add character and authenticity to their songs. To achieve this, you can try singing with a slightly pushed, edgy, and gritty sound, using your chest voice and accentuating your vowels and consonants. Additionally, you may want to practice singing in a few different dialects, such as Cockney, to capture the unique flavor of their music.
- Rhythm and phrasing: Chas & Dave's music is heavily influenced by boogie-woogie and rock and roll, which means that the rhythm, timing, and swing of their performance are crucial. To improve your rhythm and phrasing, you may want to practice using syncopated patterns, swinging eighth notes, and shuffle rhythms, as well as emphasizing the backbeat and the upbeat. You can also try singing with a swinging, bouncing feel, accentuating words and phrases, and using pauses, breaks, and stutters for effect.
- Piano style and accompaniment: Chas & Dave's piano style is one of the most distinctive features of their music, with Dave Peacock providing a driving, percussive, and rollicking rhythm section while Chas Hodges delivers melodic, boogie-woogie-inspired solos. To emulate their piano style, you may want to practice playing walking bass lines, chordal accompaniment, blues riffs, and pentatonic runs, using a combination of hands and relying on a solid sense of groove and timing.
- Song selection and interpretation: Chas & Dave have an extensive repertoire of catchy, upbeat, and sing-along tunes that showcase their unique style and personality. To learn how to sing like them, you may want to start by studying some of their most popular songs, such as "Rabbit," "Gertcha," "London Girls," or "Ain't No Pleasing You," and analyzing their lyrics, melody, structure, and arrangement. You can also experiment with different ways of interpreting the songs, adding your own personality and flair to them while staying true to the original spirit.
To support your learning process, Singing Carrots offers a range of valuable resources, such as:
- Vocal range test: Determine your vocal range and compare it with Chas & Dave's favorite songs using the vocal range test.
- Pitch accuracy test: Train your ear and improve your intonation using the pitch accuracy test, which includes simple melodies and exercises.
- Pitch training: Explore the pitch training module, where you can find interactive vocal warm-ups, pitch visualizer, and exercises for range and agility.
- Song search: Find Chas & Dave's songs and similar tunes matching your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference using the song search tool.
- Artist vocal ranges: Discover Chas & Dave's and other famous singers' vocal ranges using the singer database.
- Singing course: If you want to learn more about singing theory and practice, check out the singing course, which covers topics such as breathing, posture, tone production, and performance skills.
By combining practical advice, relevant resources, and your own creativity and enthusiasm, you can learn how to sing like Chas & Dave and develop your own signature style and sound.