How to Sing Like Procol Harum in Your Unique Voice

Procol Harum is a legendary English progressive rock band known for their poetic songwriting and symphonic arrangements. Gary Brooker, the band's lead vocalist, has a unique voice that blends classical, blues, and rock influences. To sing like Procol Harum yourself, you'll need to explore Brooker's vocal technique and find what works best for your own voice. In this article, we'll cover the essential steps to master Procol Harum's music.

Step 1: Know Your Voice Type and Range

Before you start singing Procol Harum's songs, it helps to know your vocal range. Take the Vocal Range Test on Singing Carrots to determine your vocal notes and compare your range with famous singers.

Step 2: Analyze Your Voice

To imitate Brooker's vocal style, you need to analyze your own voice and find your unique strengths and weaknesses. Our guide on how to analyze your voice provides detailed instructions on listening to your own singing and identifying areas for improvement.

Step 3: Learn Procol Harum's Unique Vocal Technique

Gary Brooker has a versatile voice that can switch between falsetto and chest voice effortlessly. He also uses a lot of vibrato, which is the wavering of the pitch that adds emotion and depth to the singing. You can learn more about vocal registers, breath support, and vibrato in the Singing Carrots' blog Resonance in Singing.

To master the unique vocal technique, check out the Singing Carrots' Pitch Training that includes exercises and warm-ups for range, breathing, and vibrato.

Step 4: Study Procol Harum's Best Songs

Procol Harum's music is full of soulful ballads, epic orchestrations, and poetic lyrics. To develop your own singing style like Brooker, try to study his best songs in detail and practice your own covers. Here are a few notable songs to start with:

• Whiter Shade of Pale: This song is a classic example of Procol Harum's style, with its haunting organ melody, baroque arrangement, and cryptic lyrics.
• Conquistador: This song showcases Brooker's dramatic vocal range, from low growls to high falsetto. Pay attention to the dynamics, phrasing, and emotion in his singing.
• A Salty Dog: This song features Brooker at his most soulful, with his bluesy voice gliding over the lush strings and piano.

Step 5: Use Singing Carrots' Resources

Finally, Singing Carrots offers a range of resources to help you improve your singing and enhance your enjoyment of music. Check out the Search Songs tool to find songs that match your vocal range and genre preferences. Browse the Vocal Ranges of Famous Singers to see how Brooker's voice compares to other legends. If you're serious about improving your singing, take the Educational Singing Course that covers singing theory and practical tips.

Conclusion

To sing like Procol Harum, you need to explore Brooker's unique vocal style and incorporate it into your own voice. Use Singing Carrots' resources and follow the steps above to master Procol Harum's music and develop your own singing technique. With practice and dedication, you can create a soulful and expressive singing style that reflects your personality and passion.