Technique to sing SOUL, RNB and BLUES?

I can't really sing in this genre, unlike Pop and Soft Rock.

Why most of the singer of RNB and SOUL genre are black people? What's they're technique, and what part should a singer work on?

This is something kinda interesting...

There's a certain SOUND or FEEL to this type of music, and singing...a HEAP of attitude...and not just in an obvious "black" way...I don't even really know what I'm talking about actually!!

A good thing for a potential blues singer to do is work with different scales. You need to develop an ear for the three "blue notes"--the flatted third, the flatted fifth, and the flatted seventh. Almost all vocal practice scales are in regular major keys, but the bluesy sound comes from three notes, which don't fall into those scales. The flatted fifth (often called the devil's interval) is particularly hard to master, but you'll certainly need it. Regular practice on a blues scale will develop your ear to recognize and land these crucial notes. Regular listening to great blues singers will teach you how and when to use these notes.

The second characteristic of blues singing is rasp. It is common (but not at all mandatory) for blues singers to sport a dirty voice. There have been several threads here about developing grit, and I'm not an expert on this topic. But it requires some experimentation and an articulation that feels slightly like crying. Imagine yourself about to cry, but taking care not to tense up the throat and jaw, and then singing something--see what happens. Getting a good rasp requires a lot of trial and error.

Most important: Blues is about emotional power--if you try to find the blues through technique, you're lost. There's a certain amount of what I'd call method acting in blues singing--you need to put yourself emotionally into the character of the blues singer/storyteller.

R'n'B is, IMO, a different kettle of fish, though it rises from the same roots. Old-time R'n'B singing (Otis Redding, for example) was free-form and bluesy in tone; newer, post-Jackson R'n'B requires solid technical vocals, a highly produced rhythm track and vocals compressed and auto-tuned to the hilt. While there is still really great R'n'B out there (John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Bettye Lavette, Amy Winehouse, etc.), it can easily devolve into Disney-style pop.

A good thing for a potential blues singer to do is work with different scales. You need to develop an ear for the three "blue notes"--the flatted third, the flatted fifth, and the flatted seventh. Almost all vocal practice scales are in regular major keys, but the bluesy sound comes from three notes, which don't fall into those scales. The flatted fifth (often called the devil's interval ) is particularly hard to master, but you'll certainly need it. Regular practice on a blues scale will develop your ear to recognize and land these crucial notes. Regular listening to great blues singers will teach you how and when to use these notes. The second characteristic of blues singing is rasp. It is common (but not at all mandatory) for blues singers to sport a dirty voice. There have been several threads here about developing grit, and I'm not an expert on this topic. But it requires some experimentation and an articulation that feels slightly like crying . Imagine yourself about to cry, but taking care not to tense up the throat and jaw, and then singing something--see what happens. Getting a good rasp requires a lot of trial and error. Most important: Blues is about emotional power--if you try to find the blues through technique, you're lost. There's a certain amount of what I'd call method acting in blues singing--you need to put yourself emotionally into the character of the blues singer/storyteller. R'n'B is, IMO, a different kettle of fish, though it rises from the same roots. Old-time R'n'B singing (Otis Redding, for example) was free-form and bluesy in tone; newer, post-Jackson R'n'B requires solid technical vocals, a highly produced rhythm track and vocals compressed and auto-tuned to the hilt. While there is still really great R'n'B out there (John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Bettye Lavette, Amy Winehouse, etc.), it can easily devolve into Disney-style pop.

thanks for the effort

lmao, i thought that RNB and Blues are the same(Rhymth and Blues)..

what about Jazz?

maybe they have that sound naturally

i agree with jersey jack, you need to get use to Blues music first. R&B (rhythm and BLUES) is derived from and has its roots from Blues.

You should learn/get used to the blues major and minor scales.

You can 'grit' up your tone with some slight vocal fry. And another factor in the blues vocal sound is the accent, and the way how they pronounce some words.

You can also listen more to blues too. After listening to a good amount of blues musicians, I noticed that some my vocal style has a bit of blues style in it. lol

I have a hint now. I'll practice blues scales XD

I remember reading that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil and it helped him become a better blues player. I dunno, might work.

Yeah, and it was a lot harder back then--Robert had to go out to the crossroads in the middle of the night and wait. Nowadays, it's too easy....You live anywhere near lower Manhattan? There's a place with big shiny buildings and lots of people in suits walking around staring into Backberrys. Set up and play anywhere down there and you'll be able to peddle your soul in a few minutes--and under bright sunshine at that!

how can I sold my soul? XD

One of the things you need for a soul band is a tenor. So much of that stuff has vocals that require a guy with a high voice. Back up vocals are required too. So a tenor , a baritone and utility voice to pick up any third part. We did a ton of that stuff ,, with a tenor , a baritone and a guy that could nail the really high stuff. our lead vocal was the tenor. Its pretty much vocal and rhythm section driven. Horns put the final touch on it. Its not hard music to play but you do need solid musicans and vocals. Lead guitar not so much so.

yeah, and something about going to a graveyard at night to play guitar. But the truth is he went there because there was it was quiet and there was no one to *ahem* disturb him playing. lol

I think if you feel the music you are singing it will work!

How do you know when you have a soul note because I want to find it in a really good song but I can't find the right note, thanks😇

You're either born to sing the blues or you're not.

If every one could do it well, it would be nothing special.

Work at it.