Singing Guide: Dwight Yoakam
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Dwight Yoakam, born October 23, 1956, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor known for his pioneering style of country music.
He has recorded more than 23 albums, including five Billboard #1 albums, 12 gold albums, and nine platinum albums. He has won several Grammy, Country Music Association, and Academy of Country Music awards throughout his career.
If you want to learn how to sing like Dwight Yoakam, you need to focus on his unique blend of country, rock, and traditional honky-tonk music.
Here are some key tips to get started:
- Listen carefully to Yoakam’s songs and try to imitate the unique vocal tone he exhibits. Yoakam often uses a yodeling technique in his songs, and his voice has a nasal twang that makes it immediately recognizable. You can try to develop your own yodeling style by practicing the different techniques demonstrated in the Singing Carrots tool on twang and nasality.
- Study Yoakam's phrasing and timing. He has a distinctive rhythmic approach, which involves accenting off-beats and holding notes slightly longer than expected. Understanding these rhythmic nuances will help you to replicate Yoakam's sound when you sing his songs. You can also find tips on phrasing, articulation, and onset-offset at the Singing Carrots blog.
- Work on your breath control and support, as Yoakam's style involves a lot of sustained notes and long phrases. Singing Carrots blog has plenty of tips on breathing, passive, and active breath management, and articulating the lyrics just right.
- Practice singing Yoakam's songs. Some of his most famous tunes include "Honky Tonk Man," "Streets Of Bakersfield," and "Guitars, Cadillacs," which showcase his unique style of honky-tonk country and rockabilly. You can find the lyrics, sheet music, and karaoke for practicing at the Singing Carrots search tool.
Remember that learning to sing like Dwight Yoakam takes time and practice. By following these tips and utilizing Singing Carrots' wide variety of tools and resources, you'll be well on your way to mastering Yoakam's signature style.