Singing Guide: The Boswell Sisters
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Boswell Sisters: Learning to Sing Like a Legend
The Boswell Sisters were a group of three sisters - Martha, Connee, and Vet - who achieved significant success in the early 1930s. Their harmonies and arrangements showcased a unique blend of jazz, swing, and vocal harmonies that have become the gold standard for countless singers to follow. Learning to sing like the Boswell Sisters requires attention to detail and practice across a range of vocal techniques.
Unique Vocal Techniques
The Boswell Sisters are famous for their tight vocal harmonies and jazz-infused vocal style. Here are some of the techniques they showcased, along with links to relevant Singing Carrots resources:
Vocal Harmony
The Boswell Sisters were masters of vocal harmony. To learn how to create rich, complex harmonies, start with some fundamental concepts such as chords, intervals, and blending techniques. Learn more by exploring the following Singing Carrots resources:
Scat Singing
The Boswell Sisters were pioneers of scat singing, an improvisational jazz vocal technique. Their scatting is characterized by playful, melodic, and rhythmic explorations of melody and rhythm. To learn how to scat like the Boswell Sisters, check out the following Singing Carrots resources:
Vocal Agility
The Boswell Sisters' vocal performances were characterized by their agility, control, and expressiveness. To achieve this level of control, singers must practice their vocal techniques to achieve consistent and controlled results. Try the following Singing Carrots resources:
Songs to Practice
If you want to learn how to sing like the Boswell Sisters, start with their most famous songs. Here are some examples and links to Singing Carrots resources to help you practice:
“Heebie Jeebies”
This song features the Boswell Sisters' trademark scat singing and playful harmonies, with each sister taking turns leading the vocal melody. To practice, focus on the playful and rhythmic vocal patterns, and explore different ways of blending and harmonizing. Utilize the following resources for additional guidance:
“Everybody Loves My Baby”
This song puts the Boswell Sisters' vocal harmonies front and center, with playful and syncopated rhythms. To practice, focus on blending your vocals with others, and on making bold choices with your vocal phrasing and dynamics. For additional guidance, check out the following Singing Carrots resources:
“Shout, Sister, Shout”
This song is a great example of the Boswell Sisters' vocal agility, with fast-paced vocal phrasing and syncopated rhythms. To practice, focus on your breath support and controlling your pitch accuracy. For additional guidance, explore the following Singing Carrots resources: