Singing Guide: Ten Years After

Singing Guide: Ten Years After

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Ten Years After was a British blues-rock band with a distinct sound, known for its intricate guitar solos and driving rhythm section. The band's guitarist and vocalist, Alvin Lee, was an extraordinary musician who pioneered a style of playing known as "lightning-fast" fingerpicking. If you want to learn how to sing like Ten Years After, there are a few things you can do to emulate their sound.

  1. Make use of Alvin Lee's unique vocal style

    Alvin Lee's distinctive vocal style features a lot of vibrato and a focus on clear enunciation. Listen closely to his singing, and try to mimic his phrasing, pitch, and tone.

  2. Focus on breathing

    Breathing is an essential part of singing, and it's especially important for emulating the bluesy Ten Years After sound. Practice breathing from your diaphragm and taking full, deep breaths before starting your phrases.

  3. Work on incorporating improvisation

    Like many blues-rock bands, Ten Years After was heavily improvisational, with each member contributing their own unique twist to the music. Practice improvising within the confines of the song you're working on, and see what you can come up with. You may be surprised by the results!

  4. Learn Ten Years After's signature songs

    Ten Years After had several hits that showcased their unique sound, such as "Love Like a Man," "I'd Love to Change the World," and "Good Morning Little School Girl." Listen closely to these tracks and note the different vocal techniques Alvin Lee employs, such as his use of vibrato and his improvisational approach.

  5. Use Singing Carrots resources

    Singing Carrots provides a lot of great resources that can help you hone your singing skills and develop your unique sound. Check out the site's vocal range test, pitch accuracy test, Vocal Pitch Monitor, Pitch Training, Song search, and Artist vocal ranges pages. You can also study Singing Carrots's singing course, which covers singing theory and practical tips for singers.

With these tips and resources, you'll be well on your way to singing like Ten Years After. Emulate Alvin Lee's unique vocal style, focus on breathing, work on improvisation and practice singing their signature songs while utilizing Singing Carrots resources to really bring it to the next level. Good luck and keep singing!

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