Singing Guide: Robert Palmer
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Robert Palmer, known for his distinctive voice, was an English singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning over 30 years. His unique vocal technique merges soul, rock, pop, and funk genres. Although his vocal range is not very wide, he used his voice expertly: to convey emotions, to create a groove, to hold a note, and to deliver powerful vocal phrases.
If you are interested in learning to sing like Robert Palmer, here are some tips on how to get started:
- Analyze your voice: Begin by taking Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your natural range, and then listen to one of Robert Palmer's songs in your range, such as "Johnny and Mary" or "Some Like it Hot." Pay attention to how he sings and compare it with your own voice; notice similarities and differences. Take notes of your observations, including the tonal qualities, pitch accuracy, phrasing, and dynamics.
- Breathing and breath support: In many Robert Palmer's songs, there are sustained notes that require good breath control. Practice your breathing technique by engaging in Singing Carrots' breathing exercises and focus on keeping your breath steady while sustaining a note. This will increase your lung capacity, ensuring you have enough air to deliver longer phrases in songs.
- Phrasing and articulation: Robert Palmer was well-known for his unique phrasing, breaking up words into smaller sounds to deliver a distinct sound. Practice your articulation with Singing Carrots' articulation exercises to help you improve your ability to enunciate clearly.
- Vocal placement: To sing like Robert Palmer, you will need to focus on your vocal placement, where the sound resonates in your body. Robert Palmer's singing style incorporates more nasal resonance, which adds to his unique sound. To achieve this resonant sound, try Singing Carrots' resonance exercises.
- Practice famous Robert Palmer songs: Once you have developed your vocal technique, start practicing some of Robert Palmer's most famous songs, such as "Simply Irresistible" or "Addicted to Love." These songs highlight his unique vocal style and will help you practice the techniques you've learned.
To recap, to sing like Robert Palmer, start by analyzing your voice and comparing it to his style while practicing breathing, articulation, resonance, and phrasing. Additionally, practice singing some of his most famous songs to incorporate his unique vocal style and techniques.
For additional resources, Singing Carrots offers various tools to help you improve your vocal technique. These include the vocal pitch monitor to track your vocal progress, pitch accuracy test to improve pitch precision, and vocal training exercises for pitch control practice. Furthermore, Singing Carrots' extensive vocal range database can help you better understand vocal ranges by genre, and song search function can help you find songs that fit your skills.
I hope this article has provided useful tips and resources to help you learn to sing like Robert Palmer!