Singing Guide: Tom Tom Club

Singing Guide: Tom Tom Club

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

If you want to learn how to sing like the Tom Tom Club

This iconic band from the 1980s was led by husband-and-wife team Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, both members of the Talking Heads.

The first step is to understand the Tom Tom Club's unique style. They were known for their funky, danceable beats, catchy synth hooks, and Tina's distinctive sing-talk vocal style. She effortlessly mixed singing, rapping, and spoken-word poetry in a way that nobody else did at the time.

To get started, it's crucial to recognize the importance of rhythm in Tom Tom Club songs. They have a heavy emphasis on the downbeat and plenty of syncopation on the upbeats. This is a challenging balance to get right, but with practice and patience, you can nail it.

Tina Weymouth's vocal style is more spoken than sung, so it's essential to get a grasp of the song's rhythm before focusing on the melody. Tom Tom Club's music had a fun, playful attitude, so it's essential to capture that playfulness in your voice. Don't be afraid to experiment with your delivery and incorporate some personality into your vocals.

One of the most advantageous resources that Singing Carrots offers for learning Tom Tom Club's music is the pitch accuracy test. The test lets you sing along with a simple melody and assesses how accurately you hit each note.

Another helpful tool is the pitch monitor, which shows the notes you're singing on a virtual piano and offers a visual representation of your pitch accuracy. By using these tools, you'll be able to see how well you're hitting notes in real-time and adjust your pitch accordingly.

As far as particular Tom Tom Club songs to study, "Genius of Love" is a must-learn track. It features a playful, catchy bassline, funky synths, and Tina's unique vocal style. "Wordy Rappinghood" is another classic and showcases Tina's poetic spoken-word style. Both of these tracks are perfect for practicing your rhythm and getting a feel for the Tom Tom Club's sound.

To nurture your voice and improve your technique, you can utilize Singing Carrots' singing course. The course covers numerous topics like breathing, voice registers, and warming up, which will be helpful for improving your technique and vocal ability.

Overall, the key to learning how to sing like the Tom Tom Club is to pay close attention to their unique sound and style. Practice rhythm, experiment with your vocal delivery, and have some fun with your singing. With the help of Singing Carrots' resources and a bit of practice, you'll be sounding like Tina Weymouth in no time.

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.