Singing Guide: Spinal Tap
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Welcome to this article where we'll explore the unique vocal style of the comedic rock band, Spinal Tap. Known for their tongue-in-cheek lyrics and absurdly loud performances, Spinal Tap has cemented themselves as legends in the rock and metal genres. But there's more to their music than meets the eye (or ear). In this guide, we'll take a closer look at the band's vocal technique and how you can learn to sing like Spinal Tap.
First and foremost, Spinal Tap's music is characterized by its use of powerful, belted vocals that cut over the dense instrumentation. Lead vocalist David St. Hubbins is known for his ability to hit high notes with ease, while still maintaining a gritty, rough-around-the-edges tone. To emulate his vocal style, it's essential to practice proper breathing techniques and breath support.
Singing exercises that can help improve breath support include the Farinelli Breathing video provided by Singing Carrots.
Another critical aspect of singing like Spinal Tap is mastering the chest voice register. Chest voice is the lower, more resonant part of the vocal range, and it's essential to the band's signature sound. To practice singing in chest voice, you can use the Singing Comfort Zone video provided by Singing Carrots.
As you practice singing in chest voice, you can also experiment with adding a bit of vocal distortion to your sound. Vocal distortion is the intentional manipulation of the voice to create a rougher, grittier sound. To learn more about vocal distortion, check out the Vocal Distortion & Growling article on Singing Carrots.
Of course, singing like Spinal Tap wouldn't be complete without a healthy dose of humor. Part of what makes their music so enjoyable is their willingness to poke fun at the rock and metal genres. While humor may not be a vocal technique per se, it's an essential part of capturing the spirit of Spinal Tap's music. To learn more about how to perform with humor, check out the Tips for Performing on Stage article from Singing Carrots.
If you're looking for practical resources to help you learn to sing like Spinal Tap, Singing Carrots has got you covered. Start with the Vocal Range Test to determine your vocal range and compare it to famous singers like David St. Hubbins. Then, use the Search Songs by Vocal Range tool to find songs that match your range, difficulty, and genre preferences.
Overall, singing like Spinal Tap requires a combination of proper breathing techniques, belted vocals, chest voice register, and a healthy dose of humor. With the help of Singing Carrots and the resources provided above, you'll be on your way to rocking out like Spinal Tap in no time.