Singing With Texture: What, When, How & Why

Learn strategies from vocal coach Charmaine Brown for how to sing with breathy and edgy texture in your voice (safely and effectively!) so you can add more dynamics and beauty to your worship songs!

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Responses

Natalie Reyes November 4, 2022

Such a great lesson!
-Loved what you shared about the stuffies to help us visualize your point that our songs need contrast to bring dynamics and avoid sounding monotone.
-Use texture but always remember to come home – needed this reminder.
-The way you explained the 3 vocal onsets for using texture, Breathy, Balanced and Hard (edgy) and the state of the vocal cords during these onsets was so helpful!

Charmaine Brown November 10, 2022

Glad you enjoyed the lesson!

Sydneybosman September 30, 2022

I love all of the tips in here for different textures. I’d say this is one of my weaknesses still at this point love the VAH for when you want to be breathy. Cherie and I worked on different textures in our lesson this past week. She’s awesome at it!

When practicing, go over board and then pull back to what you want. I also love the reminder of coming back to your safe spot of a contemporary sound!

Charmaine Brown September 30, 2022

Nice! That’s awesome!

Debbie Holland September 15, 2022

I have sung with texture for so long, I didn’t realize there was a “practice” to learn how to do it. I used it a lot when I was singing country/western music. But still use it in P & W. I don’t use the vocal fry a lot but other ways like you showed. I think using the texture gives the song a little more “effect”, more grit.

Charmaine Brown September 15, 2022

Definitely! A little bit of texture here and there adds a nice effect!

Sarah Cross August 26, 2022

Takeaways:
Singing in a clear tone is the best and healthiest way to sing. It’s fine to use texture but always come back to the safe place.

It was helpful doing the 3 vocal onsets back to back to really feel the differences.
This was an interesting lesson. I’ve not ever sung or know how to sing with texture and this is something that will be fun to start playing with.

Charmaine Brown August 27, 2022

Yes it is super fun! I love incorporating some texture when I sing!

chesneyallen August 5, 2022

My lightbulbs!

• It’s okay (even good!) to use texture, as long as you’re frequently coming “home” to a normal, clear tone. “Go away, come back. Go away, come back.”
• Texture can include: breathiness, edge, and other things that add interest to how you sing a song. It’s a vital part of how we sing (example of food or stuffys with all the same texture, it would get boring after a while).
• When practicing texture, overdo it. Then go back and smooth it out.
• But- DON’T overdo texture when actually singing a song. You can damage your voice that way, and it’s too much when leading worship. Use it sparingly and tastefully.

Charmaine Brown August 13, 2022

Great takeaways!

Singing With Texture: What, When, How & Why

Amazing Grace by John Newton.

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