Singing Guide: Deep Purple
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The iconic British rock band Deep Purple has produced songs that stand the test of time, driven by the unique vocals of their lead singer Ian Gillan.
To learn how to sing like Ian Gillan, it's important to first understand his distinctive vocal technique. Gillan is known for his powerful, screaming high notes, and a distinct vibrato that he combines with his falsetto voice. A great example of this is heard in "Child in Time," where he really lets loose, especially in the wailing chorus.
To begin learning and developing this type of vocal technique like Gillan, one should start with proper breathing techniques. Building up your air capacity and control is fundamental when attempting to sing like Ian Gillan. The Singing Carrots articles Breathing basics, Breath support, and Active and passive breathing are handy resources for developing proper breathing mechanics.
Following this, one can start practicing their pitch accuracy and developing an extensive vocal range with Singing Carrots' Vocal Range Test and Pitch Accuracy Test. It is also essential to develop one's ability to sing in head voice, which can be mastered with the help of Singing Carrots' Pitch Training tool.
There are plenty of Deep Purple songs that showcase Gillan's unique technique. In "Child in Time," he demonstrates his powerful high falsetto tones and strong vibrato, while "Smoke on the Water," shows his full-bodied, belting technique. The chorus in "Perfect Strangers" is an excellent example of Gillan's octave jumps.
Overall, acquiring Gillan's singing technique requires practice and patience, but with the right tools and resources, it's an achievable feat. With Singing Carrots' resources, articles, and tried-and-true vocal exercises, you too can sing like Ian Gillan and rock your way through Deep Purple's vast catalog.