A beginner-friendly guide to vocal improvisation for singers of all levels.
Introduction
Yes, just like guitarists and pianists, singers can improvise too!
Whether you’re creating new music with your band, sketching out new ideas while driving home from work, or having fun at a jam session, you can use your singing skills to improvise vocal melodies on the go.
It’s not just a great way to have fun, but also the perfect exercise to create a distinctive sound signature as a singer.
So here are our favorite singing improvisation techniques that anyone can use!
Why Is Improvisation Important?
Improvisation helps you connect with the music you’re playing. To be able to come up with a melody on the fly means that you have a deep understanding of the genre and the music you’re playing. This is not something you learn by studying: it requires countless hours of actual practice!
Vocal improvisation is also an opportunity to expand your sonic palette, add subtle embellishments, and keep your audience engaged with unexpected changes. Just like with guitar and piano improvisations, it’s a demonstration that you’re totally in control of your instrument, and that you’re confident and versatile enough to perform professionally in every situation.
How to Improvise Vocals
Train Your Ear and Know Harmony
Unless you’re a natural, you can’t improvise if you haven’t developed strong listening skills. The good news is that anyone, no matter how innate their gifts are, can learn how to improvise by simply delving deep into the music they love.
Train your ear to recognize intervals, chord changes, and common progressions: the more music you listen to, the more naturally you’ll internalize melodies and structures.
Practice recognizing scales and root notes as quickly as possible: when your ear is sharp, you can predict where the harmony is heading, and sing vocal lines that sound good with the rest of the music. It’ll take some trial and error, but that’s the beauty of improvisation!
Start By Singing Chord Tones, then Expand Gradually
It’s also good to play it safe, at least at first.
Start by sticking to the chord tones: the root, third, and fifth. Once you feel comfortable enough, try to add passing tones, extensions and rhythmic variations to make your improvisation more personal and engaging.
A great trick is using familiar melodies: try mixing your own lyrics with a tune you already know, or blending snippets from songs that work well with the key and tempo of the piece you’re improvising. In this way you can expand your palette following a predetermined path.
Learning Licks
Just like guitarists develop their signature riffs, singers can have their own licks. You can “pull out” these short melodic phrases whenever you improvise, and over time, they’ll become part of your style.
Don’t be afraid to borrow inspiration from artists you like. Chances are, they did exactly the same with singers they admired.
Having a collection of go-to licks will help you improvise more freely and ensure you won’t run out of ideas mid-session.
Practice the Art of Scat Singing
Mostly common in jazz but adaptable to any genre, “scat singing” is what singers do when they replace lyrics with syllables, so they can focus purely on melody and rhythm.
Usually the result is vocals that behave like a musical instrument:
Aside from live performance, this is a great technique to use when the “instrumentalists” are sketching out ideas and you want to sing along, in the rehearsal room or studio. It’s a spontaneous and effective approach to performing and composing.
Although it might seem like a casual approach to singing, scatting requires a deep understanding of harmony, scales, and the signature sound of the genre you’re performing.
The first step is listening to the chords and bass, so your phrases lock in with the rest of the music. Once the melody is established, you go ahead and…improvise!
Learn from (and copy) the Masters
All the great improvisers learnt by practicing relentlessly, and by copying those who came before them. You should do the same.
Check out how Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Prince, or Bob Dylan improvised on stage: their confidence and charisma were the result of countless hours of practice, and the knowledge that they mastered their craft to the best of their abilities.
Remember that improvisation is about expressing yourself through your art, and not about perfection.
The beauty of improvising live, of letting yourself go and allowing the music to guide your performance, is a feeling unlike any other. It’s truly magic when it happens.
Although improvisation is a skill that grows with practice, guidance can speed up your progress. If you want personalized coaching, the first step you can take is to book a free consultation with us today. Together, we’ll find the best way to enhance your vocal skills, and turn you into a professional improviser!