Singing Guide: Mary Mary
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
How to Sing like Mary Mary
Mary Mary is a contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters, Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell. Their music is a fusion of gospel, R&B, and hip hop, with powerful lyrics and dynamic harmonies. Singing like Mary Mary requires a strong and flexible voice, an understanding of gospel vocal techniques, and a sense for modern gospel music.
Vocal Range and Style
Mary Mary often use a wide range of notes, from powerful chest voice belts to high head voice notes. Additionally, their style features a lot of vocal ornamentations such as runs, trills, and vibrato, which make their singing sound more intricate and expressive.
To develop this style, it is important to practice voice exercises that promote flexibility and control, such as lip trills, sirens, and head voice exercises. In addition, the use of diaphragmatic breathing, which is essential for gospel singing, can help improve support and endurance over time. The Singing Carrots Vocal Range Test can help you determine your vocal range and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Key Techniques
Belting
Belting is a signature technique in Mary Mary's music, involving singing in a powerful, high chest voice. It gives gospel music its emotional charge, making the music sound passionate and joyful. To develop a strong belt, it is important to practice exercises that develop the muscles used for chest voice singing, such as scales and arpeggios that emphasize the lower and mid-range notes of the voice. The Singing Carrots Pitch Training Game can help you develop your pitch accuracy and strengthen your chest voice.
Runs and Licks
Mary Mary's music is distinguished by vocal runs and licks, which are often used in gospel music as a way of improvising on a melody or adding ornamentation. To develop this skill, you should practice exercises that emphasize agility and vocal flexibility, such as scales that move quickly through different notes or runs that use different intervals and patterns. The Singing Carrots Pitch Monitoring tool can help you visualize your notes and improve the speed and accuracy of your runs.
Phrasing
Mary Mary often use expressive phrasing to communicate the meaning behind their lyrics. This involves understanding the rhythm and flow of a song, and using breath control to emphasize certain words or lyrics. To develop this skill, you should practice exercises that focus on breath control and timing, such as singing legato lines and holding notes for longer periods of time. The Singing Carrots Song Search tool can help you find gospel songs that emphasize phrasing and interpretation.
Mary Mary's Songs
To practice singing like Mary Mary, it is a great idea to choose some of their most iconic songs, such as "Shackles (Praise You)", "God In Me", "Yesterday", and "Heaven". These songs showcase the duo's unique style and their distinctive sound.
For example, in "Shackles (Praise You)", Mary Mary use powerful belting in the chorus, along with intricate runs and licks in the verses. In "God In Me", they use a mixture of chest and head voice to create a dynamic, uplifting sound. And in "Yesterday", they use their vocal range to convey a sense of longing and reflection.
By practicing these songs and developing the key techniques described above, you can begin to sing with Mary Mary's unique style and emotive power.
Conclusion
Mary Mary is a powerful contemporary gospel duo that has inspired many singers with their music. By practicing the techniques and songs they use, you can develop your own vocal range and style, expressing your own unique message in a way that inspires others. Singing Carrots offers a wide range of tools and resources to help you achieve your goals, from pitch training to vocal health and course programs. So why not try it out and become the next Mary Mary?