Singing Guide: The Coasters
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you want to learn how to sing like The Coasters, you need to understand their unique blend of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and doo-wop. Their harmonies, witty lyrics, and upbeat tempo helped them become one of the most influential groups of the 1950s.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of The Coasters was their use of storytelling in their songs. Their tracks are often narrative and contain humorous lyrics. They made use of spoken words and sound effects to create a theatrical experience.
To begin singing like The Coasters, you need to work on your storytelling skills. You can check some of the articles in Singing Carrots to learn about how to analyze your voice, using open mouth and throat, and how to learn the lyrics effectively.
The next step is to improve your harmony and rhythm proficiency. One of the best ways to do this is by practicing pitches and intervals in Pitch Training. You can try and test your pitch accuracy in our pitch accuracy test to see where you stand.
The last step is to improve your breath control and support since you need to be "with the beat" for The Coasters. You can use some of the breathing exercises in Breathing Basics. Aside from that, you need to work on your posture, as it affects your singing, and you can learn more about posture in a Singing Carrots article.
When it comes to songs, search within our Song-book for upbeat and rhythmic tracks. The Coasters repertoire includes hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Poison Ivy." It's essential to focus on the storytelling aspect and flow of the song.
Additionally, The Coasters' recipes often contain only bass, drums, piano, and saxophone tracks. It would be beneficial to try and vibe with these instruments and closely listen to their harmony, melody, and rhythm.
We have many recommended exercises and articles to help anyone become a better singer and performer. By using practical advice and relevant resources from Singing Carrots, you can start singing like The Coasters.