Clarence Carter: Learning to Sing like the Blues and Soul Legend

Clarence Carter, born on January 14, 1936, in Montgomery, Alabama, is an American blues and soul singer who is famous for his smooth and smoky voice. His songs, such as "Patches", "Slip Away," and "Snatching It Back," are evidence of his unique vocal style, which is an exciting combination of soul, blues, and country.

Vocal Style

Clarence Carter's voice is characterized by his smoothness, a deep and raspy quality that comes from his extensive use of vibrato. The vibrato technique he employs creates a warm and expressive tone to his singing. He also incorporates a lot of soulful and bluesy elements with a fantastic growling effect that requires excellent breath control.

Vocal Techniques

Breath Control

Good breath control is a crucial aspect of creating a soulful and bluesy tone in singing, and it is an essential part of Carter's vocal style. Vocal warm ups, such as Farinelli Breathing and Sustain Vocal, from the Singing Carrots Pitch Training courses, are useful in improving breath support, which is a critical component of breath control.

Vibrato

To achieve the distinctive vibrato that Clarence Carter is famous for, Diaphragm Bounce exercise is an excellent resource to use. This exercise helps develop good diaphragm control and coordination, which are essential in executing vibrato.

Voice Registers

Carter's vocal range includes several voice registers, and this creates a unique range of tones. The Chest Voice Explained video from Singing Carrots Skill-related Videos explains this technique in-depth. Additionally, the Singing Comfort Zone video teaches you how to expand your vocal range by exploring new voice registers.

Twang

Twang is another key technique used by Clarence Carter in his singing. The How to Twang Exercise video from Singing Carrots Skill-related Videos explains how to achieve the right sound using both the twang and growl techniques.

Songs

To learn the distinctive vocal style of Clarence Carter, listen to his songs, and try to replicate his unique sound. Some of his most popular songs include "Patches," "Slip Away," and "Snatching It Back." When learning a new song, following the step-by-step process outlined in the article How to learn a song effectively can help in effectively learning the lyrics and basic melody of the song.

Conclusion

Learning to sing like Clarence Carter requires a combination of different techniques and practice. By mastering excellent breath control, the vibrato technique, experimenting with the different voice registers, and incorporating the twang and growling techniques, you can develop more soul and blues into your singing. The Singing Carrots resources, such as the Pitch Training courses, Skill-related Videos, and the Vocal Range Test, can help you achieve your goals by providing useful tips and exercises.