How to Sing Like Nina Simone: A Vocal Technique Analysis

Singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist, Nina Simone is a unique performer. Her voice is rich and full, often compared with soul and jazz legends such as Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. She had a profound impact on the American music, especially in the 1960s.

Vocal Range and Timbre:

Nina Simone's voice is classified as a mezzo-soprano, which enables her to reach low tones, and, at the same time, belt strongly and powerfully to high notes. Her vocal timbre is prominent, featuring a unique combination of deep, melancholic soulfulness, and passionate vocal delivery. To learn to sing like Nina Simone, a good starting point is to take the vocal range test offered by Singing Carrots. This will give you an idea of your vocal range and make it easier to choose songs that complement your voice.

Breathing:

Effective breathing is key to singing like Nina Simone. You should adopt the farinelli breathing exercise, which will enable you to control your breath and empower your singing. In addition, you could consider breath support and deep breathing to foster good vocal health. Your singing journey will benefit from these essential techniques.

Vocal Registers and Voice Break:

Like most singers, Nina Simone uses her chest voice extensively, but she also employs head and mixed voices. To understand the importance of voice registers, it is important to watch this video, which teaches how to control your voice and avoid strain. In addition, singers can learn to manage the break in their voice as Nina Simone does by practicing this video.

Articulation, Vibrato:

Nina Simone's distinctive vibrato is critical to her unique sound. Singers should be aware that vibrato is a complex musical technique, and it requires dedicated practice. This video is a good resource for learning how to implement vibrato and warm-up exercises. Also, these articulate and nasality resources can help to perfect your voice.

Song Choice:

One of the best ways to learn how to sing like Nina Simone is to concentrate on her songs. Some great tracks to use as case studies include "Feeling Good," "I Put A Spell On You," "Ain't Got No - I Got Life," and "Sinnerman." You can use this search songs by vocal range resource to find songs that fit your vocal range and complement your voice.

Conclusion:

Learning how to sing like Nina Simone is a wonderful way to embrace your soulful side. Her sound is unique and soulful, and it reflects the spirit of the times in which she lived. By using these Singing Carrots resources and incorporating good singing techniques, you can deepen your vocal range, broaden your singing knowledge, and begin the immersive journey towards singing like the talented Nina Simone.