How to Sing Like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles are legendary Motown performers whose distinctive vocal stylings proved popular with audiences across the world. Smokey Robinson's silky-smooth tenor vocals and the Miracles' intricate harmonies have made them some of the most influential R&B musicians of the 20th century. In this article, we'll explore the specific techniques you'll need to know if you want to learn how to sing like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and how you can use Singing Carrots' suite of tools to hone your skills.

Master the Miracles' Four-Part Harmonies

If you want to learn how to sing like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, you'll need to work on creating intricate vocal harmonies with your singing group. The Miracles' four-part harmonies were one of their signature features, and they're essential for recreating that classic Motown sound.

Start by identifying your own voice type and figuring out which Miracles harmony part you're best suited to sing

Once you've found your voice part, start practicing the Miracles' full songs and learn how their harmonies fit together. You can use Singing Carrots' song search to find Miracles tracks that suit your vocal range and genre preference, and use the platform's Pitch Training game to practice identifying chord progressions and harmonies.

Master Smokey Robinson's Smooth Vocal Techniques

If you want to learn how to sing like Smokey Robinson himself, you'll need to focus on developing your own smooth, tenor vocal style. Start by developing your ability to breathe actively and steadily, using exercises like those outlined in Singing Carrots' Breathing Basics article and Farinelli Breathing exercise video.

Next, start practicing singing scales and arpeggios in your vocal range, using Singing Carrots' Pitch Training game and Vocal Pitch Monitor to help you refine and perfect your techniques. Alongside these foundational skillsets, pay close attention to how Smokey Robinson uses articulation and phrasing when he sings. Doing so will help you understand how he creates his signature sound and help you develop your own unique singing style.

Develop Your Stage Presence and Performance Skills

Finally, it's important to pay attention to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' stage presence, as it was a key part of their success. Watching their live performances and practicing singing live in front of other people will help you to build your own stage presence, as will Singing Carrots' tips for performing on stage, overcoming stage fright, and how posture affects your singing.

In addition, spend some time exploring Singing Carrots' Contemporary Vocal Techniques article and related exercise videos, particularly the Vibrate video, for more in-depth lessons on how to use contemporary techniques like heavy modal, twang, and belting to enhance your performances and create your own unique vocal stylings.

Conclusion

Singing like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles is a challenging but rewarding task. By focusing on complex harmonies, developing your smooth, tenor vocal style, and honing your stage presence and performance skills, you'll be well on your way to emulating the classic R&B sound that Smokey Robinson and his Miracles made famous. So, start exploring Singing Carrots' range of songs, tools, and educational resources and start practicing!