Hank Thompson was an American country music singer and songwriter who was best known for his honky-tonk-based sound. Throughout his prolific career, Hank produced over 150 albums and recorded major hits like "The Wild Side of Life" and "Six Pack To Go." In this article, we'll break down the techniques that Hank used to develop his unique vocal sound.

Develop Breath Support

One of the most important skills for singing like Hank Thompson is breath support. To develop breath control and support, consider practicing the "Farinelli breathing" exercise, which can be found here. Practice exercises that involve taking expanding breaths and sustaining notes for as long as possible. Try to get used to the sensation of singing from your diaphragm.

Work on Chest Voice

Chest voice was an essential element in Hank Thompson's technique. Chest voice is a technique where the singer starts a note lower and in a darker tone, resonating in their chest. Practice exercises found on the Chest Voice Explained video to help strengthen your chest voice.

Use Vibrato

All great country singers like Hank Thompson have used vibrato, which is a small variation in the pitch and volume of the sustained note. Check Beggars Bounce and Diaphragm Bounce videos for the proper way to employ vibrato.

Practice Mixed Voice

One aspect of Hank Thompson's vocal sound is the mixed voice, which helps him to reach higher notes. Mixed voice is the sound when both chest and your head are producing sound. Practice using mixed voice by following the exercises in the Voice Break and Mixed Voice videos.

Work on Open Mouth and Throat

Country music singers like Hank Thompson know that keeping the mouth and throat open helps with vocal quality. Practice exercises on Why to Open Mouth and Throat While Singing to develop this skill.

Study the Vocal Range

Hank Thompson was careful to hit each note with precision and accuracy. One way to increase your range and develop accuracy is through the range test and pitch accuracy test. These assessments can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can focus on the areas that need more work.

Belting It Out

Belting is another aspect of Hank Thompson's vocal technique. It involves singing with strong emotions and in a forceful, passionate manner. You can practice this technique and others using the educational singing game Pitch Training.

Use Singing to Your Advantage

In addition to the technical aspects of achieving a Hank Thompson sound, it's important to use your own emotion, intuition, and skill when selecting songs. Singing Carrots has a song search tool that can help you find songs that match your range, difficulty level, and genre preference, along with linking you to performance-friendly tools like YouTube audio, sheet music, karaoke, and lyrics.

Conclusion

If you're looking to learn how to sing like Hank Thompson, start by working on your breath support, chest voice, mixed voice, open mouth, and throat position, and vibrato. Take advantage of the tools provided on Singing Carrots, like the educational singing course, range tests, and pitch accuracy tests, to further develop your voice. Using the right resources and techniques and practicing regularly can help you achieve the signature, honky-tonk-based sound that Hank Thompson was known for.