Singing Guide: Dinah Washington
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Dinah Washington, nicknamed "Queen of the Blues," is one of the most distinctive vocalists of the jazz era. Her powerful voice and unique phrasing style set her apart from other singers of her time. In this article, we will discuss how to learn singing like Dinah Washington, including her unique vocal technique and some of her most well-known songs.
When emulating Washington's style, it is essential to focus on her powerful, sometimes piercing delivery. Her voice is incredibly confident, and she sings with a great deal of emotion. Her style of delivery incorporates lots of soulful vocal ad-libs and intricate phrasing. Washington also possessed great vocal range, which allowed her to cover a wide variety of songs.
To learn the vocal techniques Dinah Washington used in her singing, start with some warmups. Singing warm-ups loosen and strengthen your vocal cords. You don't want to start singing a hit by Dinah without first warming up. Check out Singing Carrots' 3 Minute Warm Up exercise.
Washington was known for having an excellent sense of pitch and always being in tune. To work on your pitch accuracy, try the Singing Carrots Pitch Accuracy Test, which will provide you with feedback on your pitch accuracy after singing a simple melody.
One of the most essential vocal techniques in singing is breathing. Your breath supports your voice, making it more powerful and enabling you to sing for longer periods. Washington had mastered breath support, and you can too. Singing Carrots' Breath Support educational article can serve as your guide in learning about this.
Now, let's talk about the songs. To start, there's the iconic "What a Difference a Day Makes." It showcases Washington's soulful style, powerful vocals, and fantastic range. Another favorite is "This Bitter Earth," a moving ballad that's perfect for showcasing the emotional side of Dinah's repertoire. You can find more songs suited to your vocal range using Singing Carrots' search songs by vocal range resource.
In conclusion, learning to sing like Dinah Washington takes dedication and practice by using her singing style and techniques. Don't forget to warm up, practice pitch accuracy and breath support. Memorize some of her most celebrated songs and understand the emotions she imbued in them. Resources like Singing Carrots' Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game and its singing course offering are filled with more insights to help you become a great singer like Dinah Washington.