As a singing student, one of the most effective ways to improve your vocal abilities is by practicing a diverse range of songs. Each song presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced vocalist, incorporating a variety of genres and vocal techniques into your practice routine can help you explore and expand your vocal capabilities. In this blog post, we’ll explore a handpicked selection of songs and the reasons why you should practice them.
Please note that most of these songs are sung by male artists, but if your voice doesn’t adapt to these keys, you can always transpose the song to fit it to your vocal range! If you want more info about this feel free to email me. Also if you’re looking for female song suggestions check this blog post.
- Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
Reason to Practice: Control of Chest Voice and Thyroid Cartilage Tilt
This Smiths’ melancholic and introspective track offers male singers an opportunity to explore mellow vocals and convey deep emotions practicing thyroid cartilage tilt and vibrato. The song’s moderate tempo, low range and gentle melody provide a platform for practicing breath control and phrasing in a safe and comfortable way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGcNW9OQ3g0
- Falling Slowly – The Swell Season
Reason to Practice: Speech Quality Singing and Passage to Falsetto
This soulful duet, with its intimate lyrics and delicate melody, allows male singers to develop their vocal control and expressiveness. The range of the song is quite wide, reaching low and high notes in different vocal qualities (chest, head, falsetto). The storytelling of the song also provides a setting for practicing dynamics and emotional connection, and it’s a good opportunity to practice harmonies in a duet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkFB8f8bzbY
- Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
Reason to Practice: Mastering Belt and Twang
The Kings of Leon’s energetic and blues-infused rock track “Use Somebody” challenges male singers to project vocal power and maintain vocal stamina. The high range of the song and its style require a good use of twang to project the high sustained notes in a convincing way. This also gives an opportunity to practice the belt quality, while paying attention to breathing and posture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhXHvRoUd0
- Chicago – Sufjan Stevens
Reason to Practice: Mix and Breathy Voice
This intricate and emotive folk song offers male singers a chance to practice vocal agility and storytelling abilities. The song requires a gentle and breathy quality, which gives an opportunity to practice mix voice, while exploring quieter vocal tones. The diverse musical sections of the song also give a chance to practice vocal versatility through dynamics and emotional expressiveness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_-cUdmdWgU
- Cotton – Valerio Lysander
Reason to Practice:
Expansion of Range, Head Voice, Vocal Dynamics
As awkward as it feels to suggest my own song, I think this is a great one to expand your vocal range and explore different dynamics. The song has a wide range and use of different registers (chest, head and mix voice + falsetto) and big dynamic changes, allowing the singer to explore different parts of their voice, from quieter breathy nuances to powerful high notes. It also gives a chance to practice vocal agility thanks to different melismas scattered throughout the song
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