Singing Guide: Ohio Express
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Ohio Express Vocal Techniques
Ohio Express is a pop-rock band that achieved their biggest commercial success during the late 1960s. Their distinct style relies on catchy rhythms, high-pitched vocals, and amusing lyrics, full of fun and energy. If you aspire to sing like the Ohio Express, here are some tips and tricks to learn and explore.
The Ohio Express Band Vocal Styles
The Ohio Express band members have unique singing styles that contributed to their iconic sound. The band's lead singer, Joey Levine, delivered a high-pitched singing voice, with a mixture of breathiness and grit. Levine's voice was often mixed with all the band members' vocal harmonies, creating a sense of group vocals that still allowed for individuality.
Ohio Express Vocal Techniques
- Sing with a high pitch - Levine sang in a high pitch, so train your voice to hit those higher notes. You can use online tools like the Vocal Range Test to determine your vocal range and challenge yourself to improve it.
- Use vibrato - Vibrato is a voice technique that produces a quick oscillation of the voice's pitch. It adds depth and color to your singing and can be an effective tool in delivering emotional lyrics. You can learn how to sing with vibrato with the help of this video.
- Focus on breath control - Breath control is an essential singing tool that enables you to sustain long notes and avoid running out of breath. By mastering breath control, you can sing with more power and control.
- Practice with nasal consonants - Singers like Levine use their nasal cavity to produce nasal consonants like "m," "n," and "ng." These consonants add texture and clarity to your voice and help you sing with more breadth and volume.
Ohio Express Famous Songs
If you want to learn how to sing like Ohio Express, you need to study some of their best songs. Here are some of Ohio Express's best songs that showcase their unique singing style:
- "Yummy Yummy Yummy" - This song features all the Ohio Express signature elements - high-pitched vocals, catchy rhythms, and whimsical lyrics.
- "Chewy Chewy" - Another upbeat, fun-filled song that emphasizes the band's signature vocal harmonies.
- "Mercy" - A slower, ballad-style song that showcases Levine's vocal depth and range.
Practical Resources
Singing Carrots provides a wide array of singing resources to help you learn how to sing better. As you aspire to sing like the Ohio Express, you can use these resources to perfect your skills:
- The Vocal Range Test - This singing tool helps you determine your vocal range and work towards expanding it.
- Pitch accuracy test - This tool helps you assess your pitch accuracy and work towards singing in tune.
- Pitch Training - This training program provides interactive vocal warm-ups, pitch visualizer, and exercises for range and agility.
- Search songs by vocal range - This singing tool allows you to search for songs that match your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
- Vocal ranges of famous singers - This database contains vocal ranges of over 5000 famous singers, including some Ohio Express band members.
Learning to sing like Ohio Express takes time and practice, but with the right vocal techniques, famous songs, and practical resources, you can achieve your dream. Keep practicing, sing with passion, and never give up on your singing journey!