Singing Guide: Shoestring Revue
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Shoestring Revue was a popular folk group in the 1960s and 1970s that featured theatrical performances of a unique blend of folk, bluegrass, and novelty songs. The group’s strong harmonies and tight instrumentation make them an excellent model for aspiring singers and musicians.
Here are a few tips for learning to sing like Shoestring Revue:
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Practice good breathing. Shoestring Revue's music requires strong breath control and effective use of both passive and active breathing techniques. Refer to Singing Carrots' articles Breathing Basics, Breath Support, and Resonance in Singing for more in-depth guidance on how to breathe properly during singing and exercises.
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Focus on Harmony and Blend. The group's tight harmonies are one of their defining features. To make sure you are singing in tune, use Singing Carrot's Pitch Training module and Pitch Accuracy Test. You may also use Vocal Pitch Monitor to check if you are singing to the correct notes.
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Develop unique vocal style. The Shoestring Revue's lead singers often shifted between traditional folksy ballads, blues, and novelty songs, you may explore Singing Carrot's article on Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy modal, Twang, Belting to learn more modern techniques.
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Choose the right material. Shoestring Revue used a combination of traditional folk songs and original tunes with engaging lyrics that tell stories. They also included comedy and showmanship in their performances, which you can learn from Singing Carrot's article on How to learn a song effectively. Using the Songbook tool, you can find a wide variety of songs, lyrics, sheet music, chords, and YouTube audio to help you select the perfect songs and the right background music.
By following these tips and incorporating the use of Singing Carrot's various tools and resources, you'll be one step closer to singing like Shoestring Revue.