Tips for Singing Background Vocals

Performing background vocals is an essential part of any vocalist’s skill set. Whether performing live or recording in the studio, background vocalists can make or break a song. Many of today’s iconic singers (such as Phil Collins, Sheryl Crow, Luther Vandross and Cher) got their start as background singers.  Developing your skills as a background vocalist takes time and practice, but by following these four tips, you’ll be making progress in no time.
 
1) Create an effective background part
 
Find another singer or band you can collaborate with, and work together on writing a background part. Be creative! There are many different ways to craft an effective background part: try repeating lyrics, adding harmonies, doubling the melody, etc. Work together with the lead singer and the band to figure out what is most effective for the song. Every song is different—there is no “formula” to creating a great background part.
 
Just as every song is different, every musical setting is unique. When creating a background part, be sure to take the setting into account. Perhaps stronger backgrounds are more appropriate in a live setting, while lighter backgrounds may be more appropriate for a recording session. The number of background vocalists or parts is an important consideration as well—will you be singing together with other background vocalists, or by yourself? Will you be “overdubbing” multiple parts? When the setting involves multiple background vocalists or multiple parts, take care to craft individual parts that will cohere well with the other parts.
 
Sometimes the bandleader will have written out exactly what they would like you to sing, or will want you to learn by ear from a recording. In such cases, study the sheet music and/or the recording as closely as possible. The key to creating an effective background part is understanding what the song needs!
 
2) Practice your background part alone
 
Now that you’ve written your part, spend some time getting comfortable with it on your own. Working as a background vocalist does not mean you are left out of the picture; in fact, during live performances and recording sessions, the attention will often be focused on you! You must be able to sing your part confidently, without any mistakes.
 
If you are singing in harmony with other background singers, it’s not enough to know your own part; you need to know the other background parts as well, in order to avoid clashing with the other vocalists. It’s very tricky to sing harmonies with good intonation while also remembering the lyrics and the song form; this is why it is crucial to practice your part by yourself before the rehearsal or performance takes place. Many background vocalists memorize their parts before stepping on stage or into the vocal booth, so be sure to practice memorization as you go!
 
 
3) Practice your part with other singers
 
Now that you know your part and can perform it a capella, it’s time to practice it in context. Before you rehearse with the full band or lay down a vocal track in the studio, make sure your parts cohere with the parts sung by the lead singer and the other background vocalists. Work on blending, timing, diction, phrasing, and color as a section. If one singer is too loud or too soft, the section will sound unbalanced; similarly, slight differences in diction can have a jarring effect. Take the time to work out these details with the vocal section, and you will sound cohesive together. To get a sense of a well-balanced vocal section, listen to recordings by such artists as The Beatles, Celine Dion, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, etc.
 
4) Practice with the band or recording
 
Once you have solidified your background part with the other vocalists, it’s time to put it to the test! When you first perform your background part in a full-band rehearsal, performance, or recording session, don’t be alarmed if things sound a bit different. Just as you needed to make adjustments to your part to cohere with the vocal section, you may need to make further adjustments to mix well with the full band. When this scenario arises, remember that you’re not alone: the lead vocalist will likely need time to adjust to the full-band setting as well, and the other band members will need to make their own adjustments to better accommodate the vocal section. Be patient, but be prepared as well. You may need to tweak your background part to make it stronger or softer or to better fit the harmonic movement of the instrumental parts. Be Flexible! Don’t be the diva background singer, always making excuses or causing a nuisance.
 
Now, a quick recap. The four steps to performing background vocals are:
 
(1) Create an effective part
(2) Practice your part on your own
(3) Practice your part with other singers
(4) Practice with the band or recording
 
If you gear your practice routine around these four steps, your performances will sound much more professional, and you will start to build credibility as a background singer.
 
If you’re looking for further instruction in singing background vocals, book a voice lesson today on Lessonface.com.
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