Arts & Entertainment, Music

Mastering Vocal Techniques

Christina Aguilera

Lesson time 12:33 min

Harmony. Belting. Vibrato. Slides. Master these vocal techniques as Christina breaks them down for you step-by-step.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Belting • Vibrato • Slides • Ad-Libs • Harmony

Preview

Technique versus soul. So, technique versus truth. It's a weird balance. But you know, and that's why it's so important that you know yourself, and you know where you like to feel things from, because it's a balance. It's a balance that you have to find. I didn't have any technical training growing up. So I can't tell you all the technical terms that are used in relaying music, or talking music sheets and notes and things like that. You know, somebody told me the word "melisma" the other day-- I didn't even know what that was. I do my thing, and I feel my thing, and it becomes what it is. And those are the kind of singers that I love. So if everybody went to the same vocal teacher, and learned the same notes, and how to sing so proper-- you're losing the truth in there. And that's why sometimes I don't like to be too over-rehearsed and whatnot going into a live show, or watch myself back and critique myself too hard, is because it's so important for me to live in that moment, and to feel my truth, and to own it. People sometimes think that belting means being a great technical singer, and being able to hit certain notes, and all of that. But to me, being boisterous, and being able to belt, and be loud in that way, but in a controlled way if you want to sustain and hold out a note in the right key, on the right pitch, in the right tone that you're looking for, which are three different things that have to combine into one-- it's something that comes from your gut. And it's something that you have to start from here, with your breath, centering yourself, knowing how to stand firm in your two feet. There's a stance that happens when you're in the studio, even, and I'm prepping up, and I know this big note is coming. When Whitney Houston sings "I Will Always Love You"-- And I will always love you. And then she goes back into that belt, like that? That takes power. That takes focus, it really does, to stay on that note to keep your power going. And it's all a centering thing. It's mental, it's all connected. You can't just sing from your head, being in [? there, ?] like, oh, let me memorize the song and sing from there-- it has to come from down here. And it has to come from that place of feeling, to exude the power that you need, if belting is your thing, to be a belter. For anything that you sing, really, but belting is power. And it comes from the soul, and for me, it comes from my gut. Vibrato comes in all different shapes, sizes, and textures, and tones, and to each their own on this one. I'm not one to technically critique somebody's style of vibrato unless it's wavering and uneven. But stylistically, sometimes it's more of a quivery vibrato. And I'm saying-- like that, that's not always my form of vibrato. I think whenever you're using almost a quiet tone vibrato, it's setting a mood. You're setting an ...

About the Instructor

Christina Aguilera teaches you how to expand your range, find your voice, and master the techniques that have earned her five Grammy Awards. In her first-ever online singing class, you’ll learn warm-up exercises, breath control, vibrato, her signature growls, and hear Christina break down her biggest hits. You’ve never had vocal lessons like this before.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Christina Aguilera

Christina teaches you her unique vocal techniques in over 3.5 hours of voice lessons and exercises.

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