Every individual is born with a unique vocal range determined by the length of their vocal cords, akin to the strings of a musical instrument. Longer cords produce lower pitches, while shorter ones result in higher pitches.

But fear not! Your vocal range is not set in stone. With proper vocal technique, you can expand your range significantly. Through consistent training, your voice will naturally reach higher highs and lower lows.

Singers are akin to athletes, honing the strength and flexibility of their vocal muscles and breathing apparatus. By employing techniques like my Cole Vocal Method, you can develop the power and range of your voice organically.

Remember, vocal range isn’t solely about technique; it’s also influenced by your overall vocal health and physical vitality. Since your voice is housed within your body, its energy and strength are closely tied to your physical well-being.

Loosen up your jaw

The jaw plays a crucial role in unlocking your vocal range. Tension in the jaw can restrict your voice and limit your ability to reach your full vocal potential.

Many singers experience excess tension in their jaw muscles, hindering their range of motion. When the jaw is free of tension, it gains greater flexibility and can open up more, providing ample space to hit high notes and even affecting lower ones.

Releasing tension in the jaw can be challenging due to its compact, dense nature. Some singers may also encounter issues such as clicking in the jaw joint, known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which occurs when the jaw is misaligned or excessively contracted. If you’re dealing with TMJ, seeking physical therapy can help alleviate tensions and restore your voice’s health. TMJ not only causes discomfort but also imposes limitations on your vocal range and tone.

Here’s a simple exercise to try:

1. Close your mouth.
2. Gently grasp your jaw with your hand and open it to its natural position.
3. Gradually lower the jaw another half inch. If you experience TMJ, stop just before the joint clicks.
4. Inhale and exhale while holding this position, feeling the weight in your jaw muscles. Allowing the jaw to relax in this stretched position helps release tension deep within the muscle.

Raise the soft palate

The soft palate is a key player in unlocking your full vocal potential.

Here’s an exercise to help you engage it effectively:

1. Use your tongue to trace along the roof of your mouth, starting from behind the top teeth. Pay attention to where the hard palate transitions into the soft palate.
2. To access your entire vocal range, it’s essential for the soft palate to elevate. Practice this gentle lifting motion to gain control over it.
3. Use a mirror to observe the movement of your soft palate.
4. Take note of the uvula, the small piece of skin hanging down from the soft palate.
5. With your mouth open, initiate a yawn.
6. Did you observe the lift of your uvula (soft palate) at the beginning of the yawn?

Singers often incorporate this motion into their vocal exercises to prevent the throat from constricting and the palate from lowering during phonation, particularly crucial for hitting high notes.

Alleviate tension in your throat and vocal muscles to expand your vocal range.

Tension in various muscles surrounding the voice, including those in the throat, jaw, tongue, larynx, neck, and breathing apparatus, can restrict your vocal range, limiting access to your full potential. Muscles are most relaxed when in their longest position and tense when contracted and shortened. Vocal issues often coincide with tense muscles within and around the vocal instrument.

To alleviate muscle tension, consider incorporating activities such as stretching, yoga, massage, acupuncture, ball work, and baths with epsom salts and magnesium into your routine. Additionally, my Singers Gift Vocal Warmup series features specific vocal massages and stretches designed to reduce tension and enhance vocal freedom.

Here’s a simple stretch routine to try:

1. Neck Stretch: Allow your head to gently slump forward, take a deep breath, and relax further into the stretch. Repeat daily to release neck tension.
2. Neck Muscle Stretch 1: Extend your right arm upward and place your ear against it. With your raised hand, gently pull your head to the right. Repeat on the other side to release neck tension.
3. Forward Bend: Stand with your knees soft and slowly lower your head toward your knees, allowing your body to relax over your legs. Breathe deeply to release tension, then slowly return to a standing position. Perform daily to release neck and back tension.

Additionally, consider scheduling a monthly massage to address overall body tension and support vocal health. Regular massages are not just a luxury for singers but a vital tool for maintaining a tension-free voice and preventing premature fatigue.

Descending to reach high notes

Often, singers mistakenly believe they should lift their chin upward to reach high notes. However, this action actually closes the back of the neck and lowers the soft palate, hindering access to those high notes.

Imagine your voice as an elevator: as it ascends, a heavy chain pulls it down (representing high notes), and as it descends, the chain lifts. Similarly, think of your voice as a pulley: reaching downward for high notes and lifting for low notes. Notice how skilled singers typically maintain a level chin rather than lifting it for high notes.

Here’s an exercise to try:

1. Sing on the vowel “ah,” moving note by note up an octave (e.g., from A to A or C to C).
2. Keep your chin level or slightly tipped downward—avoid lifting it.
3. By maintaining a level or slightly downward-pointed chin, you’ll find it easier to access higher notes.

Cultivate the overtone series in your vocal performance

Developing the overtone series in your vocal performance can introduce richness, complexity, and depth to your singing. Here’s how you can enhance your ability to sing with overtones:

Understanding Overtone Singing:

Overtone singing, also referred to as harmonic or multiphonic singing, entails manipulating your vocal tract to produce specific overtones alongside your fundamental pitch. While these overtones naturally exist in your voice, overtone singing enables you to amplify and control them.

Training Techniques:

Vocal Straw Exercise:

Use a straw to hum at a comfortable pitch. Listen for subtle whistling sounds – these are your overtones.

Experiment with various lip and tongue positions to isolate and strengthen these overtones.

Sipping Technique:

Take a sip of water and hum a pitch while keeping the water in your mouth. The water can help you sense the vibrations in your mouth and throat, facilitating overtone control.

Humming on Different Vowels:

Explore humming on different vowels (e.g., ah, ee, oo) as the shapes of vowels can affect which overtones resonate.

Listening to Overtone Singers:

Immerse yourself in the world of overtone singing by listening to skilled practitioners such as Tanya Tagaq, David Hykes, or Mongolian throat singers.

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Let’s delve deeper into how music can boost concentration and performance at licensed iGaming sites, such as no KYC crypto casino and sports betting platforms.

Understanding the Use of Music in Crypto Casinos:

Firstly, what exactly is a crypto casino? In essence, it operates similarly to a traditional online casino but differs in accepting cryptocurrencies alongside conventional payment methods. Now, let’s explore the role of music in crypto casinos.

When utilized effectively, music can evoke a wide range of emotions and set the ambiance to heighten players’ experiences. Unlike their land-based counterparts, where live bands or speaker systems play diverse music 24/7, online casinos employ music differently.

The music, sound effects, and background audio featured on licensed casino sites like 10bet.com are predominantly found within the games themselves, rather than on the main website.

Quality music can influence players’ decisions and enhance their focus on the game at hand. Game developers and software providers meticulously select music and sound effects to ensure an engaging gaming experience.

For instance, irritating music or sound effects may deter players from returning to a game, particularly if they’ve incurred losses. Conversely, catchy and memorable music can entice players to revisit a game, irrespective of their outcome.

Music also serves as a means for players to escape everyday distractions, providing a brief respite. Without music or sound effects, online casino games might lack vibrancy, underscoring the significance of music in this context.

One of the advantages of online casinos is the ability for players to easily mute or adjust the volume of sounds—a feature unavailable at land-based casinos.

Do All Online Casino Games Include Music and Sound Effects?

Yes, virtually all online casino games incorporate background audio, in-game sound effects, or authentic casino sounds to enrich the gaming experience.

For instance, in blackjack games, players may hear soft background music coupled with realistic card-dealing sounds. Similarly, in roulette, the placement of chips and the spinning of the roulette ball are accompanied by lifelike sounds.

However, the use of music differs in slots games, where developers often feature original compositions or iconic themes from popular movies or TV shows. Renowned game developers such as Play’n GO, Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, and others have integrated captivating music into their slot titles.

Popular examples of online slots renowned for their exceptional music include :

• “Age of the Gods: Norse Legends,” 
• “Rise of Atlantis,” 
• “The Goonies: Hey You Guys,” 
• and many more.

Final Thoughts:

The next time you indulge in your favorite online casino games at platforms like 10bet, consider keeping the sound on. You may find that the immersive experience heightens your enjoyment and engagement with the game.

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Physical fitness methodology

Musical training often takes years and includes not only playing various instruments and singing arias, but also physical training. Some performers neglect this, and in vain. To be a successful soloist you need to be in good physical condition. During a concert, the performer must be both focused and relaxed at the same time.

There are musicians who simply wear themselves out with teachers, practising their vocals, violin, piano and other instruments day in and day out. Such an approach is not the right one. Sometimes you have to give yourself a break from the usual activities, switch to something else. For example, to check out the online casino without license https://onlinecasinopoint.nl/casino-zonder-vergunning/ from time to time. This is a good way to relax, a little distraction, the main thing – do not get carried away by the games in the virtual sites too much. A rested brain assimilates new information better.

Performers who do not neglect weekends and holidays, who participate in sports, who lead active lives, are in most cases in excellent health, so they can delight audiences with brilliant performances.

Conversely, musicians, exhausted by their work, often get confused, forget parts, and disappoint the audience and themselves.

Body-Instrument-Sound methodology

This technique is based on developing the performer’s awareness of how the body affects the sound produced on the instrument. The sounds that musicians hear and create have a certain emotional impact. Some act in a depressing way, while others, on the contrary, improve the mood and have a beneficial effect on general well-being.

The sounds of wind instruments, for example, help cleanse the lungs and bronchi, and have a positive effect on circulation and the entire respiratory system. Drums can restore the heart rhythm. The beneficial effects of string music help soothe and relax.

Music can be compared to magic, it affects people in different ways, the effect depending largely on the genre, the manner of performance, and, of course, the personality of the performer. The therapeutic effect is not only on the listeners, but also on the soloists themselves.

Ear Training methodology (Ear Training)

The technique focuses on developing the performer’s musical ear, which is important for the correct and precise performance of music. This is a prerequisite for success in professions such as singing and conducting.

Musical hearing refers to a set of abilities that help a person perceive music and appreciate its specific characteristics: pitch, timbre, presence of overtones.

Musical hearing can be absolute, relative, inner, rhythmic and melodic. It is useful in a wide range of activities that involve the perception, interpretation and reproduction of sounds. Its effective development is facilitated by auditory training and special techniques.

Musical Expression methodology (Musical Expression)

Performers who are successful in the music field have the ability to convey the emotion and mood of the music through their performance. Soloists express themselves through their professional activities. Through their singing, they convey a message to the audience. Listening to their favourite soloists, audiences can empathise or just rejoice, depending on the style of performance, the specifics of the song and the situation. The movements of such musicians are most expressive and their singing is captivating.

The Mental Preparation methodology

This technique is aimed at developing the performer’s psychological resilience and preparing them for performance. Beginning musicians often have doubts and fear before concerts, which can be overcome with Mental Preparation. Psychological resilience is important for all performers, as they regularly have to perform in public and make contact with the audience. This quality of personality can be developed if you want, it will be useful in everyday life and will help to resist difficulties, unfavorable pressure of circumstances. Without psychological stability it is difficult to talk about successful concert performances. A psychologically stable musician does not get upset because of criticism, negative statements of some fans, unflattering articles in newspapers published after concerts. He is always smiling and friendly, and behaves confidently in public. The stage is his home.

Stage Craft technique (Stage Craft)

A good musician should definitely receive training in stage management. It is about knowing how to behave with an audience. Some people are born with this skill, but that is a one-off, and most people have to train it. A performer must be able to interact with the audience and behave on stage. Audience contact is very important for anyone who performs regularly.

A musician has to be an actor to some extent; stage skills can be useful both professionally and in everyday life. Being able to make quick contact with the audience helps to win their love and appreciation. This means that the audience will not be distracted during the concert, fully concentrating on the performance of their favourite performer. Stage acting is an important part of a soloist’s training.

Most musicians, including soloists, speak positively about these techniques. They really work, helping you to develop your voice and to realise the talent you have.

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Beyoncé

The American R’n’B singer has been involved in various music competitions since a young age and was active in her school’s amateur music scene. Knowles received her first recognition as the lead singer of the female vocal group Destiny’s Child. After splitting up, she started a solo career, releasing several hit songs ‘Crazy in Love’ and ‘Baby Boy’. Her songs became popular in 2003, and in 2006, she began actively developing her solo career. To date, Beyoncé has successfully won 6 Grammy nominations with her songs and broke the record by becoming the youngest and most awarded contestant with 32 statuettes. In 2019, the girl became the highest paid musician according to Forbes magazine and now her musical compositions ‘Déjà Vu’, ‘Irreplaceable’ and ‘Beautiful Liar’ are popular all over the world.

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is a popular British singer, actor and sound artist who rose to success in 2011 with the single ‘The A Team’. This track reached the third place in the British chart and opened the listener to a new talented singer. In January 2017, Ed Sheeran released the song “Shape of You”, which reached number one in sales in the US. Ed’s talent has been noticed since childhood, the boy sang in a church choir from the age of 4 and by 11 he had already learned to play the guitar well. As a teenager he repeatedly appeared in the National Youth Theatre in London, where he successfully auditioned and joined their production of Frankenstein. Today Ed Sheeran is included in lists of famous musicians and occupies the honorable second place. His famous compositions include Songs I Wrote with Amy, Best Part of Me and Bam Bam.

Rihanna

Rihanna, aka Robin Rihanna Fenty, is considered not only a popular Barbadian singer but also a music producer. Already at the age of 16 the young singer decided to move to the USA to start her solo career. The girl grew up influenced by reggae music and started singing on her own when she was 7 years old. In December of 2003, the American producer Evan Rodgers moved in next door, to whom she came for an audition together with the other girls and outshone them with her incredible voice. Then the girl sang a cover of Destiny’s Child’s song “Emotion” and was offered a contract. The singer’s first single was the song “SOS”, after which Rihanna recorded a studio album including “Only Girl (In the World)”, “What’s My Name?” and “S&M”. To date, the girl has become the best-selling artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. At the end of 2018, Rihanna became the highest-paid singer in the world, thanks to the composition “Diamonds”.

Taylor Swift

American singer Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of celebrities attracting the public with her outspoken song lyrics. The girl became a 12-time Grammy winner of the most award-winning country and pop albums. The singer began her career by meeting Lil Rose, who helped Taylor with writing lyrics. Rose herself said that this was the easiest collaboration, as she was more of an editor. The first composition was the song “Tim McGraw”, thanks to which the International Songwriters Association of Nashville honored the girl as the best performer and author of the year. Taylor Swift became the youngest female singer in the Best New Artist category. She is one of the most in-demand female singers, whose 5 albums have sold over a million copies in the USA. Famous compositions of the singer include such singles as “Back to December”, “Mean”, “The Story of Us”, “Sparks Fly”.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande has been a popular singer and actress since her childhood. The girl began a professional career in show business in 2008, taking part in a Broadway musical called “13. Ariana starred in the TV series “Victoria the Victorious” and took part in the recording of the soundtrack. It was from this period of time that her music career began to develop. With the song ‘My Everything’ the girl made her debut and reached the top of the charts. Her album was acclaimed with many hits: “Problem”, “Break Free”, “Bang Bang” and “Love Me Harder”. Ariana Grande is currently recording tracks with Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and other popular artists. In April Grande recorded ‘Met Him Last Night’ with Demi Lovato and even launched her own cosmetics line.

Adele

British singer Adele is the winner of 15 Grammys, as well as an Oscar and a Golden Globe award. Back in 2011, Adele released her first debut album, which was positively received by the critics. The singer has successfully gained the love of the public and was voted BBC Sound of 2008’s New Artist of the Year. Adele’s success was influenced by her studies at the London School of Performing Arts and Technology. Two months after graduating, she published two of her songs, “Chasing Pavements” and “Hometown Glory,” in the fourth edition of the online art magazine PlatformsMagazine.com. In 2012, Set Fire to the Rain topped the US national charts and Billboard’s Hot 100. Today, the acclaimed artist sells more than a million digital copies of her album per week.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber rounds out a selection of the best music artists, who is not only a songwriter of his own, but also an actor. Originally, Bieber was Scooter Braun’s manager and helped him publish videos on the YouTube platform. Later, the guys came to a joint label, Raymond Braun Media Group. Their first studio track was ‘Under the Mistletoe’. In 2016, Bieber was able to pick up the annual Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. Justin has not only been seen performing, but has also been featured in many films. To date, he has posted a post on his social media where he shared with fans his illness – Ramsay Hunt type 2 syndrome. Half of his face is paralysed, so he no longer performs or gives concerts. Fans are very upset, but nothing is stopping them from listening to tracks already released – “Bad Day”, “All Bad”, “PYD”, “Roller Coaster”, “Change Me” and others.

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There are multiple reasons why the vocals might sound bad and many of them have nothing to do with the singer. It could be a bad mic or the wrong mic. It could be the sound engineer doing the mixing is having a bad day. It could be that you’re sitting in a dead spot in the arena. Of course, the singer could be the source of the problem, but if you follow the tips in this article, you can avoid being part of the problem.

Why good mic technique makes a difference

The purpose of a vocal microphone is to faithfully reproduce the sound of a voice so it can be amplified and projected at levels that complement the rest of the instruments. There are singers with naturally big enough voices such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and Justin Bieber, that they could be unmiked and still sound great alongside the band. If you’re not one of them, then using a mic properly will ensure you sound good, help you save your voice, and offer the opportunity to enhance your voice with reverb, delay, autotune or other effects.

Improper mic technique can ruin a great vocal performance. We’ve all heard singers who insist on shifting the mic from hand to hand, tapping on it with their fingers, or positioning it too far or too close to their mouth. The result can be anything from distracting to painful. If you don’t want to be the problem, consider the following tips carefully and be sure to practice.

Microphone Singing Tips & Tricks

School of Rock teachers have taught thousands of vocalists to become great singers. Whether you’re just starting out, looking to expand your range or repertoire, or changing genres, our professional vocal instructors can bring out your hidden talents, and using a mic correctly will ensure you’re heard. Our teachers have suggested these tips to get you started.

Know how to hold a microphone

1. Keep your hand on the microphone grip.

If you’re a popular vocalist who makes a million dollars a year, you can afford to do a “mic drop” or two. If not, you should always keep a firm hold on your expensive and fragile microphone. Find a comfortable grip and stick with it. Learn to do it with either hand — switch between numbers — so your hand doesn’t tire. The key is to not shift your fingers or hand around while you’re singing so you don’t inadvertently make noise, cause unwanted increases or decreases in volume, or accidentally hit the off switch. Besides finding a mic that suits your voice, be sure that it suits your hand — neither too thick or thin — so that you can hold it comfortably over the course of a 3+ minute song.

2. Don’t cup the mic!

It’s common to see pop singers cupping the mic with both hands. They do this to reduce external noise and to increase the mid-range and bass tone of the voice. The problem is that it only has a minimal effect of reducing other noises and it totally messes with the tone and volume. It’s also likely to make your sound engineer’s blood boil, and no one wants to have that happen during a gig. 

If you’re trying to produce a certain sound, you’ve rehearsed it, and your sound engineer and the band know what to expect, then anything goes, but if you’re looking for a clean reproduction of your voice, stick to a simple grip.

3. Hold the mic by your mouth at a 45-degree angle, slightly off center.

Shure, a leading manufacturer of microphones used by professionals for the past 70 years, and a School of Rock partner, says: “Today, 98 percent of pop singers DO NOT use the mic correctly. The proper position is off to one side of the mouth, but pointing at the center of the mouth. Look at any video recording with Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. These great singers knew how to use a microphone correctly.”

Holding the mic directly in front of your mouth increases the chances of picking up annoying popping P or T or breath sounds. Holding the mic at the correct angle, at the correct distance, and slightly off to the side limits extraneous sounds and lets the mic pick up the true sound of your voice.

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Improve your hearing with these simple ear training exercises 

Ear training is the formal practice of being able to identify what you’re listening to. Often referred to as aural skills, ear training is a universal musical skill. Whether it’s hearing melodies, genres, scales, or chord progressions – there are many ways to hone your ears. Ear training is easy to start and there are ways to train regardless of experience level. Whether you’re a parent who wants their child to start their musical journey or a seasoned shredder looking to make solos more tuneful, the path for ear training is similar. All you need is one of your favorite songs and a brief understanding of note direction.

Sing Along to Your Favorite Songs! 

What’s more fun than singing along to your favorite songs? It’s something that all fans like to do and can be the foundation of your ear training. When we sing along to songs, we are singing melodies. Melodies are made up of a collection of pitches. Pitches are sounds that are either low, in the middle or high up. Think of a monster’s growl as low, an average talking voice as in the middle and your voice after inhaling helium from a balloon as high. With these three categories in mind, think about one of your favorite songs and when you have to sing low, in the middle or high up. Songs that we like to sing mostly contain pitches in the middle with brief stretches in lower and higher ranges to provide contrast. Once you’ve identified the parts of the song that are low, in the middle, or high up the next step is to repeat that process on a more micro level. Within one lyrical phrase are the pitches getting lower, getting higher or staying the same? Pitches (or notes) go in different directions throughout a song. This is noticing note direction and is the first and most important step in your ear training.

Note Direction in Popular Songs

When learning ear training we get to reconsider songs we’ve heard our whole life. Songs like Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Star Spangled Banner all have unique melodies that help us with ear training. Starting with Happy Birthday, key into the phrase towards the end of the song that goes “happy birthday dear (insert name here).” What you want to notice is the large jump in pitch from “Happy” to the first syllable of “Birthday.” It’s quite a jump! When you sing a song, see if you can notice the highest note you’re singing. You might surprise yourself at how high a given song will take you. Now, try singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Afterwards, give the Alphabet Song a try. Notice anything? They have the same exact tune! This is noticing melody using ear training. Nursery rhymes often have simplistic melodies that are repetitive and limited in range and are a great learning resource at the beginning of your ear training journey. Lastly, the Star Spangled Banner is a good example of a song with a large melodic range. There are low parts, parts in the middle, and parts that are high up. Noticing the range of pitches in songs like the Star Spangled Banner compared to Twinkle Twinkle is listening critically and actively. Keep your ears open for other popular songs and see if you notice anything different with the benefit of ear training.

Identifying Genre 

A great way to organize your thoughts when it comes to music is to think about what you’re listening to. Understanding the differences of musical genres and having historical context for a particular composition will help you greatly while training your ears. British Heavy Metal from the 80s will have different tones and harmonies than early Chicago Blues. Knowing what to expect from the music you listen to is a great way to limit the playing field of possible sounds and help identify the different parts. Every subgenre has particular traits and sonic trademarks that you can listen for. Understanding these traits is an awesome way to open your ears and evolve your appreciation of music.

The School of Rock Method App

School of Rock has a comprehensive, state-of-the-art App that can facilitate ear training across instruments. When taking music lessons at one of many School of Rock locations, you are assigned specific exercises tailored to your skill level. You are also granted access to learning modules across all instruments. This is a great opportunity to keep your ears open! One of the best ways to train your ears is reading sheet music as you listen to a composition. Try opening up a learning module from the Voice Method Book 1 in the App regardless of your experience level reading music. The only knowledge you need to be aware of when beginning to read music is when the notes (the dots with stems) go up and when the notes go down. This movement corresponds with the differences of pitch you’ll hear. Note direction becomes quickly apparent with a visual accompaniment. Things you may have noticed about music before become much clearer when we follow along and give them labels. The School of Rock Method App is a great way to formalize your ear training and explore past your chosen instrument.

Record Yourself Singing!

 A way to increase your sense of pitch is by recording yourself singing. This might be scary or a little embarrassing, but that’s OK! Everyone can sing and there are many ways to get started singing. Hearing yourself is a great way to make your understanding of pitch more tangible. Even if you think you have bad pitch, recording yourself singing is a great way to remedy that. When we sing, we either sing flat (too low), sharp (too high), or in the center of the pitch. We almost always want to sing notes right in their center. If we’re singing and we oscillate between flat and sharp, this can be described as “pitchy,” creating an overall effect that doesn’t sound quite right. Singing in the center of the pitch means making a note sound exactly like what’s in your head.

Understanding aural skills and why do they matter?

Why do aural skills matter if you’ve taken lessons your whole life and you’re getting by fine without them? Well, they matter because all musicians use them. Hearing music to understand it is something everyone does, and aural skills are simply enhancements of that understanding. Whether remembering familiar material or exposing ourselves to more adventurous concepts, ear training takes something we already do to the next level.

How instrumentalists can benefit from ear training

All musicians practice and benefit from ear training. A common misconception is that singers are the only musicians who need to practice pitch. Here are concrete ways that ear training will help musicians in their everyday playing:

• To be able to improvise your music. One of the best utilities of ear training is being the superstar of your next jam session. Having your ears open to a few tricks will improve your ability to fit-in during a jam or create more tuneful solos. Identifying key through ear training is the most useful tactic and requires an Intermediate to advanced understanding of ear training.
• To play what you like. Being able to play what you want without relying on a measly tab from the internet makes music much more accessible. Being able to grasp what your teacher is presenting you quickly makes music more engaging. Better ears means learning songs faster and getting to the fun rock star stuff sooner.
• To identify notes just by listening. Identifying key notes like C F and G will give a musician an anchor within the scale. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t identify each note of the chromatic scale by ear, few people can. But having examples of notes you’re confident about can be a great advantage.

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What is a Guitar Lick?

A guitar lick is a musical idea, often used in improvisation, that is ultimately incomplete on its own. It’s usually not repeated or used multiple times throughout a song. The best way to really get a feel for what a guitar lick sounds like is to hear an example. In Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” Kirk Hammett plays a perfect example of a guitar lick based on the E minor pentatonic scale at the 1:58 mark. On the School of Rock Method app, this is bar 61. You’ll notice how only a few short notes are used and the lick is over pretty quickly. On their own, these notes and rhythms don’t form their own musical idea. This is a short musical phrase that isn’t repeated or used as a motif but is instead used to add some flair, energy, and color during the transition to the second verse. This short but effective guitar lick really helps the lead guitar stand out and adds a great effect to the song!

Why You Should Play Guitar Licks

Not only are guitar licks a ton of fun, but they can add so much color, energy, and emotion to your music! A well-played lick in the right place can be very versatile and complement your music however you need. They can add some stylistic expression, highlight your guitar-playing personality, help you convey the mood of your music, and can even be used to help you transition between parts. B.B. King was masterful at expressing himself and conveying the mood of the song with his guitar licks. Listen to the licks during the verses in “The Thrill is Gone” to get a sense of this. King’s use of bends and short bursts of notes not only fill the silence at the end of each line but also add emotion and soul. Contrast this with the lick in “Enter Sandman” we looked at earlier, and you can see just how diverse you can get with guitar licks. The sky really is the limit, and it’s up to you to get creative with your licks and find what you love!

Guitar Licks vs. Riffs: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to get confused by the difference between a guitar lick and a guitar riff. A guitar riff is often used as the main motif or musical idea of a song. Think of the opening guitar part in the legendary “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. This riff is repeated throughout the song and is used as its main idea. The band plays with and around this riff throughout the song. It’s used as the driving theme and we hear it played repeatedly to drive home this idea. Not every riff is used as the main idea though. You’ll often hear guitar riffs behind guitar solos or transitions between parts in the song! Compare what you now know about riffs to the licks we looked at in “The Thrill is Gone” and you can see how one is used as the main idea (“Smoke on the Water”) and the other is used sparingly to add color and emotion (“The Thrill is Gone”). 

Phrasing Guitar Licks Like a Pro

Where guitar licks are the actual notes and rhythms being played, phrasing is how you present these licks within the context of the music. Phrasing can be thought of as a small sentence or statement within a song. Great phrasing utilizes space to separate these sentences so that we don’t get the musical equivalent of a run-on sentence. Space can be between individual notes or entire licks, and using both to your advantage is how the pros do it! Looking at “The Thrill is Gone” again, we can see a masterful example of phrasing by B.B. King. Starting at bar 25 on the School of Rock Method app, you can see the short stabs of notes King uses, followed by a bar of space. Following this, the next lick starts with a series of eighth notes followed by four quarter notes. This is a great example of space between rhythms! Here, King uses the space between eighth notes and quarter notes to phrase this lick. Try to incorporate some of these ideas into your own licks, and see how it sounds. Using space to your advantage will help you phrase your guitar licks to sound like the pros.

Writing Great Guitar Licks

Now that we know what guitar licks are and how to phrase them, let’s learn how to write great guitar licks. First, start by identifying notes that will work in the context of the music. The easiest way to do this is by finding what key the song or riff you’re playing over is in. Let’s say we’re in the key of E minor. In this case, the E minor pentatonic scale would work great. The notes in the minor pentatonic scale are A, B, G, E, and D. Experiment on the fretboard to find a register that you like. Next, find a group of notes and a pattern you like. If you’ve found a four-note grouping you like, start trying to put them into a rhythm that compliments the song. Once you have an idea of the notes and rhythms you want to use, play around with it in the context of the music you’re playing along to. Don’t forget about using phrasing and space to really take your lick up a notch! Add space between bursts of notes and experiment with different rhythms. Drawing on inspiration from some of your favorite guitar player’s licks can be a great way to start writing your own as well!

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