Singing Guide: Tex Ritter
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Tex Ritter was an American country musician who became a legend with his baritone voice and country style. One of Tex Ritter's most important contributions to country music was the skill with which he made each song his own. The songs become soundscapes and bring together his storytelling talent and his deep voice to capture the essence of every event.
Tex was a natural vocal storyteller, and he could put listeners in the song's scenario and convey the story's true feelings. He made a lasting impact on country music and influenced generations of country, pop, and rock musicians that came after him.
Tex's Vocal Technique
Tex Ritter was noted for his rich baritone voice with an accent on the lower register. He could sing for hours without losing the clarity of his smooth voice, and his style mixed both the deep-throated rhythms of cowboy music and the melodious stylings of popular music. His vocal range was a steady tenor, which allowed him to sing a variety of songs.
One attribute of Tex's voice that stands out is his use of vibrato. Vibrato is the slight oscillation of the pitch of a note and is used to add expressiveness to the voice. Tex's vibrato added an extra dimension to his singing, and it's one of the reasons his voice is so distinctive.
He also had excellent breath support, which is one of the crucial elements of singing. To achieve breath support, he utilized breathing exercises such as those mentioned in Singing Carrots' breath support article. Good breath support meant he could hold notes for a long time without risk of losing his voice or sounding strained.
Songs to Showcase Tex's Style
There are many songs that showcase Tex Ritter's style. One song that stands out is "High Noon," which he sang for the 1952 western film of the same name. "High Noon" is an example of Tex's storytelling abilities, and his balance of high and low notes is beautifully demonstrated. You can find songs like "High Noon" and others on the Singing Carrots song search feature, which allows singers to filter through songs based on their vocal range and difficulty level.
Practical Advice for Singing Like Tex
To learn to sing like Tex Ritter, you should start by analyzing your voice with the assistance of Singing Carrots' voice analysis feature. Next, learn about voice registers and vocal breaks as outlined in this Singing Carrots' article on the subject, which will help you hit the right range of notes while singing.
To achieve the breath support required for Tex Ritter's style, practice breathing exercises like Farinelli Breathing on Singing Carrots' skill-related videos.
Make sure to check out Singing Carrots' extensive library of articles and videos for more relevant subjects such as:
- How to find your own authentic voice
- How posture affects your singing
- How to overcome stage fright
- Tips for performing on stage
Finally, using the Singing Carrots Pitch Monitor tool to check your pitch will help you identify if you are hitting the right notes and making use of vibrato like Tex Ritter.
With consistent practice and the right guidance, anyone can learn to sing like Tex Ritter and master the art of storytelling through song.