Singing Guide: Otis Redding
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Otis Redding, the undisputed King of Soul, was an icon of the 60s who still lingers in our collective memory with his rich, unmistakable voice and bluesy, passionate style. To sing like Otis Redding, you must have a deep understanding of his unique talent, his soulful voice, and his singing technique.
For starters, Otis Redding was a master of vocal storytelling, and many of his songs are built on his ability to create a narrative with his voice. He had a powerful, raw, and raspy voice that was perfect for his soulful style, but he was also incredibly adept at putting meaning into every word he sang. To capture his unique style, try to evoke the emotions that Otis Redding conveyed with his lyrics.
One of the key elements to singing like Otis Redding is to adopt his gospel-infused singing technique. Redding's signature technique involved a mix of powerful vocals, raw emotion, and improvisation. Listening to songs like "Try a Little Tenderness" or "These Arms of Mine," you can feel the energy and passion that he poured into his music.
To get started, begin with the basics, including paying attention to your breathing, posture, and vocal range. You can use Singing Carrots' resources like the "Breathing basics" article, the "How posture affects your singing" guide, and the "Vocal range test" tool to improve your skills.
In addition to adopting his singing style and technique, focus on the repertoire. To get the full essence of Otis Redding's style, you need to study some of his most famous songs, such as "Respect," "That's How Strong My Love Is," and "Try a Little Tenderness." These songs showcase the range of his voice and his unique ability to convey emotion through lyrics. To help you find Otis Redding's songs in your vocal range, you can check out Singing Carrots' "Song search" tool.
Finally, it's essential to practice regularly and listen to yourself sing. By using Singing Carrots' "Pitch accuracy test" and "Vocal Pitch Monitor" resources, you can assess your pitch accuracy and monitor your singing improvement throughout your practice sessions.
In conclusion, to sing like Otis Redding, you need to understand and embody his signature soulful style, improve your vocal technique, and practice regularly while listening and assessing your progress. By using Singing Carrots' specialized courses for beginners, educational singing game, and rich article collection, you can further your journey to become a singer like the King of Soul.