Singing Guide: The James Gang
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The James Gang, one of the most famous rock bands of the 1970s, features the distinct vocal range of Joe Walsh, guitarist, keyboardist, and rock star. Walsh's talent and technique are unmistakable—he uses nuanced vibrato and twang to produce a unique overall singing style. Walsh's voice is both delicate and aggressive, intimate and broad, which makes his music incredibly versatile.
If you want to learn how to sing like Joe Walsh, take some time to analyze your voice. Learn your voice type and understand how your breath and breath support operate. This active breathing blog piece can help you learn the basics of breath support needed to emulate Walsh's voice. Once you've understood breath control, work on opening up your throat and mouth while singing using this resource.
One crucial element of Joe Walsh's sound is the twang in his voice. Singers can use the twang characteristic in their voice to create intensity, brightness, and sensitivity. Watch this twang exercise video to get started. Another key element of Joe Walsh's style is vibrato, which adds depth to his unique sound. Check out these two vibrato exercises that can help you perform with control.
When rehearsing using pitch training and pitch monitor, remember that with a clear understanding of breathing and posture, Walsh's use of dynamics and nuance can be understood too. A good way to practice is by singing one of Walsh's signature songs, Life's Been Good, a classic with a few challenging notes. The song is perfect for understanding the use of high notes, vocal range, and breath control, among other concepts.
While Walsh leans towards rock and roll, his singing technique has pop and jazz influences. He knows, and can teach, when and how to switch between voice registers. Walsh's strong upper registers are among the many notable aspects of his style, which can be seen in the song "Funk #49." This Chest Voice Explained video gives a good idea of the diverse range of vocal registers you can explore.
Now that you've learned how to sing like Joe Walsh, hone your skills with the songbook tool. Find songs suitable for your voice range, difficulty level, and genre preference. Use this tool to explore the vocal ranges of over 5000 famous singers before you finalize your chosen song for practice. Finally, don't forget to check out the 21-lesson educational singing course offered by Singing Carrots to develop your singing skills.