Singing Guide: Free
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Today we are going to learn how to sing like Free’s Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers, born in Middlesbrough, UK, in 1949, is one of the best British rock singers in history. Paul is famous for his unique tone, powerful and raspy, that can still deliver a sweet falsetto. He has been part of many successful bands through his career, like Free, Bad Company, The Firm, Queen, and a prolific solo career.
Vocal Technique
Paul Rodgers' signature vocal technique includes a powerful, gritty, and soulful voice, using “chest voice” in most of his performances. Paul has a fantastic sense of rhythm and phrasing, and he’s a master of vibrato, using it extensively in his singing. For Paul Rodgers, the “range” itself is not a goal; he rather focuses on the delivery, where he seamlessly blends his chest, head, and sometimes falsetto voice, demonstrating an impressive dynamic control.
To replicate his style, one must start by being relaxed and not pushing too hard, else the voice wouldn't be resonant enough. Another important aspect of his style is using the diaphragm, allowing himself to amplify the grittiness of the voice.
Songs
If you want to learn how to sing like Paul Rodgers, you should listen to “All Right Now”, “Wishing Well”, and “Fire and Water” due to their catchy choruses and technical demands. “All Right Now” features an upbeat, energetic chorus that requires confident and powerful belting, also showcasing how powerful Paul's voice could be.
“Wishing Well” is another of Free's most renowned tracks. The song showcases his masterful sense of vibrato in the chorus and is an excellent example of blending his head and chest voices.
In “Fire and Water,” he shows how dynamic control is utilized in softer sections of the song, making a nice contrast with the stronger, belted chorus.
Singing Tips
Singing happens to be a delicate art that also involves performing. To sing like Paul Rodgers, you must balance well between these two aspects. Besides having a specific technique, you must be confident and have a stage presence. Make sure to incorporate some of these tips in your singing practices:
- Know your unique vocal range: Use our vocal range test to get an idea of what your range is and focus on what suits your voice best.
- Warm up: Build- up your vocal stamina and flexibility before starting to practice every day. Our educational singing course provides you a complete set of warm-ups, including breathing exercises.
- Breath support: Proper breath support is paramount in singing with power and control. Our breathing basics guide can help you learn the techniques for efficient breathing.
- Practice: Practice smart and not just hard. Learn how to effectively practice using our article on "How to learn a song effectively.
- Experiment: Experiment with different vocal registers and techniques like the “Twang” or the “Distortion” as shown in our video section.
Singing Carrots Resources
Apart from the primary tips mentioned, SingingCarrots.com provides many tools to achieve your singing goals. Some of the relevant links are:
- Find songs that match your vocal range, genre preference, and difficulty using our song search tool.
- Get inspired by other famous singers' ranges, including Paul Rodgers' while using our Vocal Ranges of Famous Singers feature.
- Our Pitch Training tool is a practical, interactive singing game to enhance your vocal agility and pitch control.
By carefully considering the aforementioned tips and resources, you'll have a great singing starting point. With practice, you'll have the skills needed to sing like Paul Rodgers. Don’t put limits on yourself, remember that you're a unique individual with a unique voice, start experimenting, and explore your vocal range today!