Singing Guide: Rick James

Singing Guide: Rick James

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Rick James was an icon of funk and soul music in the late 70s and early 80s. He was known for his unique style and powerful, soulful voice. If you want to learn to sing like Rick James, there are a few things you can do to improve your technique and capture his signature sound.

One of the keys to Rick James's sound was his use of vibrato. Vibrato is a technique where you vary the pitch of your voice slightly up and down to create a more expressive sound. Rick James used vibrato to great effect in his singing, and it's an essential technique to master if you want to emulate his style.

Another important aspect of Rick James's singing was his use of different registers. Singers typically use different parts of their vocal range for different types of singing, and Rick James was no exception. He frequently blended his chest voice and falsetto to create a smooth, powerful sound that was uniquely his own.

If you want to learn to sing like Rick James, it's also important to work on your breath control. Proper breathing technique is essential for creating a powerful, resonant sound, and it's something that Rick James clearly mastered. Focus on taking deep, controlled breaths and exhaling slowly to maximize your breath capacity.

To showcase your new Rick James-inspired singing abilities, check out Singing Carrots, an educational company for singers offering a range of helpful tools and resources. Use the Vocal range test to determine your range, the Pitch accuracy test to assess your accuracy, and the Vocal Pitch Monitor to see your melodic progress in real time. The Pitch Training tool offers interactive vocal warm-ups and exercises for a range of singing skills. And don't forget to explore the Song search tool to discover new songs that showcase your unique style.

With practice and dedication, you too can learn to sing like Rick James and create your own unique sound.

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.