Was talking to another friend about a week ago, helping her write something for a song she wrote. Sometimes, she would be working out melod...
Was talking to another friend about a week ago, helping her write something for a song she wrote. Sometimes, she would be working out melodies and lyrics and I’d hear her ramble on… the vocals just didn’t really have a chance to “breathe”.
Tips I gave her (and believe me, these work wonders, and on a personal note, we finished the song… and it turned out awesome):
1. Sing the lyrics in the same way you’d speak a sentence… don’t put too many words in there, or pause in an awkward way before singing another line.
2. Let the singer BREATHE between lines. Fans of the song who sing along with it will greatly appreciate the pause, so they can catch their breath.
3. Pausing after sung lines doesn’t just help you not lose your breath (as the performer or person singing along), it also does two things, and well:
A. It lets the listener reflect on what they just heard, and think about the meaning behind what you just sang.
B. It lets the listener anticipate what they’re going to hear next… it creates a tiny bit of anticipation, which can make the listener like the song even more.
These three simple tips work WONDERS, believe me. And I struggle with writing vocal melodies for my songs CONSTANTLY. When I think about these simple tips… I actually make some mad progress on songs. And you will, too.
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