Singing Guide: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge

Singing Guide: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

How to Sing like Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge

Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge made a great duo and songs like “Why Me Lord,” “Loving Arms,” and “Help Me Make It Through The Night” are a classic part of the American music scene. In this article, we'll take a closer look at their singing style and share some tips on how to sing like them.

The Vocal Technique

Kris Kristofferson has a relatively small vocal range, but he makes up for it with a smooth and effortless vocal technique. He often sings with a laid-back, conversational style, which makes his music sound more intimate and heartfelt.

Rita Coolidge has a broader vocal range with a high-pitched voice that sounds quite distinctive. She is also known for her ability to infuse emotion into her singing, which is evident in songs like “I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love” and “We're All Alone.”

How to Sing like Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge

If you want to master Kris and Rita’s singing style, here's how you can do it:

  • Practice breath control

    Kris and Rita have excellent breath control and can hold notes for longer periods without wavering. To achieve this singing technique, practice taking deep breaths and exhale slowly as you sing. You can use Singing Carrots’ Pitch Training game to practice breath control and improve pitch accuracy.

  • Learn to infuse emotion into your singing

    To sing like Rita, you need to convey the right emotion into your singing. You can achieve this by learning how to connect with the lyrics of a song and making it more personal. You can also practice singing in front of a mirror to explore and convey emotions through facial expressions. Singing Carrots’ tips on song interpretation and stage performance can also be helpful.

  • Master the twang technique

    Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge often use the twang technique in their singing. Twang is a bright and nasal vocal technique, and you can learn how to sing with twang by practicing vocal exercises like the one in the Singing Carrots’ how-to-twag video.

  • Find the right key for your voice

    Kris Kristofferson’s and Rita Coolidge’s songs are mostly in easy keys that will enable you to sing along with ease. However, you should always find the right key for your voice to avoid straining or damaging your vocal cords. Singing Carrots’ vocal range test can help you determine your vocal range and find the right key for your voice.

Conclusion

Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge used simple techniques to produce some of the most heartfelt music of the 20th century. By working on simple techniques like breath control, emotion, twang, and finding the right key for your voice, you too can learn how to sing like them. The Singing Carrots platform offers many useful tools to enhance your singing, including vocal range and pitch accuracy tests, pitch training, and popular songs by artists like Kris and Rita.

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