Singing Guide: Teddy Thompson
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Teddy Thompson is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his folk notes that reflect his English heritage. He is especially well-known for his soulful voice, heartfelt lyrics, and effortlessly catchy tunes.
Enhance your Vocal Range: To sing like Teddy Thompson, you should be aware of your vocal range in order to achieve a similar sound. Check your range by taking the Singing Carrots Vocal Range Test. The test will indicate whether your voice is in the same range as Teddy's and also provide a comparison of his range with that of other artists.
Emulate his Style: Teddy usually sings with incredibly clear enunciation and a focused, pure tone that showcases his melodic phrasing and his soulful sound. To emulate his style, try to sing with a similar tone and clarity of diction, and always try to make the melody sound as natural as possible.
Improve Breath Control and Support: Teddy has excellent breath control and support, allowing him to sustain notes for a long time without getting tired. To achieve this, you can practice taking the correct amount of breath before starting to sing, proper posture, and using your diaphragm to control your breath. A good resource for learning this technique is the Singing Carrots article on Breath Support.
Master the Twang Technique: Teddy often uses a slightly nasally twang technique that gives his voice a classic British folk sound. To get started with this technique, try the How to Twang Exercise video.
Practice Vibrato: Teddy includes vibrato in many of his songs, making the melodies sound more complex and heartfelt. To add vibrato, try the exercises in the Singing with Vibrato video or the Vibrato section of Singing Carrots' course on Vocal Warm-ups and Techniques.
Sing Some Teddy Thompson Songs: To get closer to the sound, listen closely to Teddy Thompson's songs, paying particular attention to his unique and nuanced phrasing, tone, and melody. A great place to start is "In My Arms," a soulful, ballad-highlighting Teddy's vocal technique that many aspiring singers have studied.
To keep track of your progress, use the Vocal Pitch Monitor tool on Singing Carrots and monitor your singing improvement statistics. Remember that mastering singing techniques takes time, but don't get discouraged if you don't see improvement quickly.
Good luck with your vocal journey, and have fun learning how to sing like Teddy Thompson!