Learning to Sing like Scott McKenzie

Scott McKenzie was an American songwriter and singer of the 1960s who was best known for his song "San Francisco" (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) which became an instant hit and became an anthem for the counterculture of the 1960s. In this article, we will explore how to learn to sing like Scott McKenzie using his unique vocal techniques and songs that showcase them.

Unique Vocal Technique

Scott McKenzie’s unique vocal style is characterized by his voice's crispness, clarity, and impeccable phrasing, which is well seen in his hit song “San Francisco” (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair). His voice was warm, charming, and had a light quality to it. He could sing with a lot of feeling, and his musical phrasing was faultless, with a gentle, flowing quality that set him apart from many 60s pop singers. To learn to sing like Scott McKenzie, you should focus on the following areas:

• Open mouth and throat while singing
• Breathing and breath support
• Using chest voice and head voice
• Articulation
• Vocal range

Songs to showcase technique

Songs are one of the best ways to learn how to sing like Scott McKenzie. Some of his popular songs that showcase his unique vocal style include:

1. San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair): This song features Scott McKenzie's easygoing vibrato. It begins with a simple piano intro and builds up into different instruments, creating an ecstatic ending.
2. Like an Old Time Movie: This song has Scott McKenzie's charming vocal approach, creating a calming effect on the listener.
3. What's the Difference: Scott McKenzie's vocal range, coupled with the creative pops he incorporates, produces a unique, joyous feeling.

Practical Advice

Here are some practical steps to follow to learn how to sing like Scott McKenzie:

1. Begin by analyzing your voice range using the Singing Carrots vocal range test.
2. Incorporate these practices into your warm-up routine:
• Vocal exercises to improve your breathing and breath support, like the Farinelli Breathing Exercise.
• Chest voice and head voice drills using the Singing Carrots Voice Registers and Vocal Break techniques on YouTube.
• Articulation techniques like the Finger Bite technique.
3. Learn more about vocal health like breathing basics, active and passive breathing, and breath support by reading relevant articles like “Breathing basics” by Singing Carrots.
4. Incorporate songs like "San Francisco" and "Like an Old Time Movie" that showcase Scott McKenzie's uniquely charming vocal style and practice their delivery.

In conclusion, to learn to sing like Scott McKenzie you need to practice open mouth and throat while singing, focus on breathing, articular your words properly, use chest and head voice, and lastly have a vast vocal range. The songs "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)", "Like an Old Time Movie," and "What's the Difference" are an excellent showcase of his unique vocal style. Use the Singing Carrots resources to master the techniques, and you should be on your way to singing like Scott McKenzie.