Singing Guide: Your Arms Too Short to Box With God
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Are you a fan of gospel music and theatrical performances?
If you haven't heard of the legendary gospel musical "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God," you're about to discover a real gem.
The musical was created in 1976 by Vinnette Carroll, and it tells the stories of Jesus' passion, the Book of Genesis, and the Black experience in an energetic and inspiring way. The score is one of the best of its genre, featuring soulful ballads, gospel choir numbers, and memorable call-and-response songs.
One of the standout aspects of the musical is the impressive vocal range of the performers. This is the area where you can learn a lot from the show, particularly by studying two specific singers who performed the role of the tempter in various productions: Al Green and Cissy Houston.
Al Green's high-pitched voice filled with soulful and emotional expressions is the reason why he became so influential in soul, R&B, and gospel music. His signature growls, cries, and falsettos made him one of the most unique voices in the music industry, and you can learn a lot from his singing style.
Cissy Houston, on the other hand, is known for her ability to perform complex vocal runs, using her voice as another instrument in the ensemble. Her agility, vocal range, and power impressed many music critics and fans, and you can learn how to execute vocal runs and use your voice flexibility from her.
Going deeper into their unique vocal techniques, Al Green uses a lot of distortion, both through growling and crying, which adds emotional depth and complexity to his singing. Meanwhile, Cissy Houston uses her twang to create a nasal character, tightening her voice to create a focused, belting sound that resonates powerfully with listeners.
To learn how to sing like Al Green and Cissy Houston, we recommend using the resources below:
Twang: How to Twang Exercise
Growling: How to Growl Exercise
Warm-up/Practice-starter: Farinelli Breathing
Chest Voice/Voice Registers: Singing Comfort Zone
Breath/Sustain: Sustain Vocal
Nasality: Soft Palate, Stop Sounding Nasal
We also suggest checking out our tools, which will help you practice specific skills, find songs, and improve your vocal range:
- Vocal range test
- Pitch accuracy test
- Vocal Pitch Monitor
- Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game
- Search songs by vocal range
- Vocal ranges of famous singers
- Educational singing course
Remember that mastering Al Green's and Cissy Houston's vocal techniques requires time, dedication, and practice, so don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Be patient, keep practicing, and always focus on improving your singing skills. Good luck!