Singing Guide: Grey Gardens

Singing Guide: Grey Gardens

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

If you want to learn how to sing like Grey Gardens, you've come to the right place. Grey Gardens is a fascinating duo consisting of two ladies with a unique vocal style and amazing stories behind them.

In order to sing like Grey Gardens and perform their mesmerizing songs, we need to analyze their unique style and techniques. Grey Gardens is known for their raspy, soulful and gritty vocal style, manifested in their songs with expressive storytelling, unique phrasing, and interesting melodies.

So, how can we learn to sing like Grey Gardens? Here are some tips and techniques that will help you improve your singing to approach Grey Gardens style:

  • **Analyzing your voice type:** Before you embark on your Grey Gardens journey, it is recommended that you identify your own voice type. Use the Singing Carrots article on voice types to guide you.
  • **Breathing techniques:** Effective breathing is the foundation of good singing. Check out our Singing Carrots article on breathing basics to learn how to breathe properly.
  • **Vocal Registers:** Grey Gardens singing style often involves using their chest voice which is important to master. Check out our collection of Singing Carrots videos about voice registers to help you learn the basics.
  • **Pitch Accuracy:** Grey Gardens has an amazing ability to deliver expressive and nuanced pitches. Use the Singing Carrots pitch accuracy test to determine the accuracy of your pitch and train it with our Pitch Training educational singing game.
  • **Emotion Control:** As Grey Gardens often delivers emotional performances, learning how to control your emotions while singing is crucial. Use our Singing Carrots video on emotion-control/performing to hone your skills and be able to deliver nuanced and powerful performances.
  • **Nasality:** Grey Gardens sets themselves apart from regular singers by mastering the art of avoiding nasality in their voice. Use our Singing Carrots video on nasality to learn how to improve your own singing.

Now that you know some tips and tricks to approach Grey Gardens style, let’s dive into some specific techniques you should focus on with their songs:

  • **Raspy tone:** To generate the raspy grittiness which characterizes Grey Gardens songs, try practicing with your voice slightly hoarse. This will also allow you to practice singing comfortably while using a certain level of tension.
  • **Phrasing:** Grey Gardens has a unique voice that allows them to be very precise with their phrasing. Listen closely and use the listening and song-search tools to help you absorb their style and emulate the same phrasing in your own performance.
  • **Expressive sing-talking:** Sometimes Grey Gardens uses expressive sing-talking. This technique involves singing with a light approach to pitch along to the melody, but speaking the lyrics with great emotion and inflection. It can be very effective when done correctly.
  • **Heavily melodic lines:** Grey Gardens has a way of creating heavily melodic lines that flow seamlessly from one note to the next. Be sure to focus on hitting the right notes, as this will help you execute powerful and memorable melody lines.

Now that you’ve mastered some of the techniques that Grey Gardens use to make their unique sound, let's break down some of their best songs and how you can learn to perform them like Grey Gardens:

  • “Tokyo Sunset” showcases the duo's vocal and musical abilities, offering a great opportunity to practice your pitch accuracy and phrasing.
  • “Strange Bird” is a second chance to emulate Grey Gardens' delicate yet expressive singing style. Be sure to focus on the song's thoughtful emotional progression and use the emotional control techniques to deliver a moving performance.
  • “In Your Arms” puts Grey Gardens vocal range on display, and gives you a great opportunity to try all the techniques showcased so far to convey the song's emotions.

With these tips regarding Grey Gardens unique vocal style, Singing Carrots helpful articles and videos on breathing and vocal technique, and our selection of songs that showcase their style, you're well on your way to mastering the art of singing like Grey Gardens. Happy singing!

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.