Learning to Sing like the Commodores: A Guide

The Commodores were one of the most successful funk/soul bands of the 70s and 80s, with hits like "Brick House," "Three Times a Lady," and "Nightshift." Their unique blend of funk, soul, and R&B, highlighted by the silky lead vocals of Lionel Richie, make them a great artist to emulate for singers looking to develop their own style. In this guide, we'll explore the techniques the Commodores used to create their signature sound and suggest ways you can incorporate these techniques into your own singing.

1. Breathing

   Breathing is one of the most important aspects of singing. It's essential to learn how to take deep breaths from the diaphragm to support your voice and sustain long notes. A great exercise to improve your breath control is the Farinelli Breathing exercise. You can watch the Singing Carrots video on Breathing Basics to learn more about this technique.

2. Voice Registers

   The Commodores often used different voice registers to add variety to their songs. To develop your own voice registers, you need to learn how to control your voice as it transitions from chest voice to head voice. The video on Singing Comfort Zone is a great resource to help you understand this concept.

3. Vibrato

   Lionel Richie's smooth, elegant vibrato is a signature of the Commodores' sound. To produce a vibrato, you need to learn how to relax your throat and maintain a steady airflow. Check out the Singing Carrots video on Singing with Vibrato for tips and exercises on how to develop this technique.

4. Phrasing

   The Commodores' music often had long, flowing phrases, which required careful breath control. To learn how to improve your phrasing, practice singing along with your favorite songs, and pay attention to where the singer takes breaths. You can also check out the Singing Carrots article on How to Learn a Song Effectively.

5. Emotion

   The Commodores knew how to convey emotion in their music. To do that, you need to learn how to tap into your own emotions and connect with the lyrics. The Singing Carrots article on Singing with Intuition, Skills, Emotion, and Thinking can help you develop these skills.

Incorporating these techniques into your singing will take time and practice, but with dedication, you can learn to sing like the Commodores. Singing Carrots offers additional resources such as:

• Pitch training games
• Warm-up routines
• A comprehensive course on singing theory and practical tips

These resources can help you develop your skills. Start by taking the Vocal Range Test to determine your voice type and explore the Artist Vocal Ranges to learn more about the range of singers like Lionel Richie. Then, search for songs that match your vocal range and genre preference. Finally, create your song-book with lyrics, sheet music, chords, karaoke, and YouTube audio using Singing Carrots' Song Book feature to practice your skills.

Good luck with your singing career!