Singing Guide: Liz Phair
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you want to learn to sing like Liz Phair, you need to start by studying her unique vocal style. Liz began as a folk singer, gradually transitioning to a more rock sound with her album, "Exile in Guyville”. She tends to sing with a low, sultry voice that is both powerful and full of emotion. Here are some tips to help you sing like Liz Phair:
Focus on the breath: Good singing always starts with proper breathing. Take deep breaths into the diaphragm. To maximize your control over your breath, get into the habit of making a "hissing" noise (like the sound of letting air out of a tire). That ensures you're releasing breath steadily and evenly, which helps you sustain notes.
Sing with resonance: To get the sultry vocal quality of Liz Phair, work on singing with "resonance." That means you need to push the sound forward in your mouth so that it resonates. Try making a "zzz" sound like a bee (which vibrates your lips) and focus on where you feel the sound resonating.
Work on your phrasing: Liz Phair has a unique way of phrasing her music that sets her apart from other singers. Study her style and focus on singing with a "lazy" vocal delivery. Let your notes drag on and be slightly behind the beat. Also, instead of over-enunciating your words, focus on blending them together smoothly.
Songs to showcase Liz Phair’s style:
- Mesmerizing
- Johnny Feelgood
- Help Me, Mary
- Stratford-On-Guy
- Never Said
Practical Advice:
- Take regular vocal breaks to avoid straining your voice.
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated to keep your vocal cords healthy.
- Warm up your vocal cords before you sing. Use Farinelli Breathing to do this.
- Use the Vocal range test to determine your vocal range and use it to find songs that fit your range.
- Learn how to analyze your voice using this article.
- Learn other important vocal concepts through the Singing course.
- Get help with your pitch accuracy using the Pitch accuracy test and improve your range using the Pitch Training tool.
- Use our song-search tool to find songs that fit your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
Good luck with your singing!