The Fireman is the experimental music duo consisting of former Beatles producer George Martin and legendary guitarist Paul McCartney. McCartney’s signature smooth, melodic voice and ability to blend into a song’s arrangement are just some of the hallmarks of his unique vocal style. In this article, we’ll explore how to learn singing like McCartney while discussing some of his most famous songs.

Breathing Basics

Before we dive into McCartney's singing style, it's important to start with the basics. One technique McCartney excels at is breathing. Breathing exercises can help you develop proper breath support, which can help you achieve a fuller and more resonant sound. Check out this Singing Carrots breathing exercise here: Farinelli Breathing.

Bel Canto technique

McCartney’s smooth vocal style is often attributed to his use of the bel canto technique. This technique emphasizes vocal control and the beauty of sound. To learn more about this technique, read Singing Carrots’ article on vocal registers and the vocal break.

Singing Expressively

McCartney's vocal style also emphasizes expressive singing and performance. Singing Carrots’ article on singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking provides an in-depth look at how to use your emotions while singing, and how to perform with authenticity.

Pitch Accuracy

Pitch accuracy is another important part of McCartney's singing. Singing Carrots' Pitch accuracy test and Vocal Pitch Monitor can help you assess your pitch accuracy and see your sung notes on a virtual piano.

McCartney's Famous Songs

McCartney has sung on countless classic songs over the years. Let's look at a few examples of his signature vocal style:

Hey Jude

Hey Jude is a beautiful ballad with an instantly recognizable and memorable melody. McCartney's smooth voice complements the song's emotional lyrics and builds to an epic, singalong chorus. This song demonstrates his ability to blend into the song's arrangement and emphasize his emotional connection.

Band on the Run

Band on the Run showcases McCartney’s storytelling abilities as well as his energy and range. Notably, he uses a slightly nasal timbre to add character to the verses, before unleashing his full-throated power in the chorus.

Let it Be

Let it Be is a soulful ballad that allows McCartney's vocal range to shine through. The song's gospel-influenced arrangement features soaring vocals from McCartney, capped off by an epic, crowd-pleasing coda.

By implementing the techniques and exercises mentioned above, you can start to learn singing like McCartney and infuse his signature style into your own voice. Keep practicing and exploring, and don't forget to check out Singing Carrots' other educational resources, such as their educational singing course and song search tool.