Singing Guide: Shirley Bassey

Singing Guide: Shirley Bassey

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Shirley Bassey - The Voice

Shirley Bassey has been called one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. She has a powerful voice, spanning three octaves, and is known for her dramatic performances full of emotion and energy. In this article, we will explore her unique vocal techniques and suggest some songs to showcase her talent. Additionally, we will provide some practical advice on how to learn to sing like Shirley Bassey along with Singing Carrots resources that can help in the learning process.

Vocal Technique:

Shirley Bassey's vocal technique is characterized by a wide range, strong vibrato, and impressive breath control. She has a unique ability to sustain and control her voice in the higher range, which can be heard in her signature song "Goldfinger." She also uses her chest voice to great effect, as heard on the hit "Big Spender."

Songs showcasing her talent:

  • Goldfinger: Her most famous song, this is an excellent showcase of her powerful, dramatic style, and her ability to sustain and control higher notes.
  • Big Spender: This song shows off her lower register and excellent phrasing ability.
  • Never, Never, Never: This is a beautiful ballad that demonstrates her emotional range and ability to convey deep feelings through her singing.
  • Diamonds Are Forever: This song highlights her breath control and strong vibrato.
  • History Repeating: A more contemporary song that showcases her versatility and adaptability to different styles.

Practical Advice:

  • Start by building up your breath control through exercises like the Farinelli breathing exercise.
  • Practice using your chest voice along with your head voice to extend your range.
  • Experiment with different vowel shapes to help with resonance and vocal control.
  • Focus on phrasing and dynamics to bring out the emotion in your performance.
  • Lastly, always practice good posture and body alignment to maximize your vocal output.

Singing Carrots Resources:

  • To determine your vocal range and compare it with other famous singers, you can use the vocal range test.
  • To improve your pitch accuracy, practice singing along to simple melodies with the pitch accuracy test.
  • The pitch monitor visualizes your sung notes on a virtual keyboard and helps with pitch accuracy.
  • The pitch training exercises include vocal warm-ups, pitch visualizers and practical exercises for range and agility development.
  • Use the song search feature to find songs that match your vocal range and difficulty level.
  • Explore the vocal ranges of famous singers including Shirley Bassey's vocal range.
  • To create your performance set and get linked lyrics, sheet music, chords, karaoke, and YouTube audio, check out the song-book.
  • The singing course is a comprehensive 21-lesson program covering singing theory and practical tips for beginners.

By following these practical tips and Singing Carrots resources, you can learn to sing like Shirley Bassey and let your voice shine with emotion and energy.

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