Singing Guide: Morrissey
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Morrissey, born Steven Patrick Morrissey, is one of the most influential and distinctive singers in the British music scene. His unique vocal style, with its blend of whimsy, melancholy, and subversion, marked a departure from the brash and masculine sounds of the punk era. To learn to sing like Morrissey, it is important to understand both his vocal technique and his songwriting style. Here are some tips and resources to help you get started.
Vocal Technique
Morrissey's voice is often described as a blend of baritone and tenor, with a distinct nasal quality that carries through his singing. His unique sound is a result of both his natural vocal characteristics and his singing technique. To learn to sing like Morrissey, you should focus on the following areas:
Nasality
Morrissey's voice has a lot of nasal resonance, which gives it a unique quality. To achieve this effect, try practicing with exercises that emphasize singing through your nose rather than your throat or chest.
Phrasing
Morrissey's phrasing is an essential part of his style. He often sings in a conversational style, with long pauses and drawn-out syllables. To achieve this effect, try practicing singing along to his songs with a focus on the subtle changes in emphasis and timing.
Vibrato
Morrissey's use of vibrato is subtle but effective, adding depth and emotion to his singing. To practice singing with vibrato, try the following exercises:
Songwriting
Morrissey's songwriting style is just as important to his unique sound as his vocal technique. To learn to sing like Morrissey, it is essential to study his songs and understand how they are constructed. Some of his best-known songs include:
- This Charming Man
- Suedehead
- Everyday is Like Sunday
- The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
- Irish Blood, English Heart
Listen to these songs and pay attention to their melodies, chord progressions, and lyrics. Try singing along with them and paying attention to the phrasing and dynamics.
Singing Carrots Resources
Singing Carrots offers many resources to help you enhance your singing skills and learn to sing like Morrissey. Here are a few that you may find helpful:
- Vocal range test
- Pitch accuracy test
- Vocal Pitch Monitor
- Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game
- Search songs by vocal range
- Vocal ranges of famous singers
- Educational singing course
By incorporating these resources and techniques into your singing practice, you can develop your own distinctive vocal style while paying homage to one of the most iconic singers of our time.