Backing vocals - the basis of success

What is backing vocals? This is what singing is called, which accompanies the main party. Literally the concept is translated as "singing in the background". Without a second party, not a single soloist, no singing superstar. Ideal is such a musical accompaniment in a voice that is almost impossible to hear. It harmoniously supports the main part, creating a unique melody picture, emphasizing the main theme and making the soloist's voice more expressive. It is generally accepted that songs with backing vocals are divided into two types. In some compositions they support the basic melody, while in others they contrast with it. Most often, backing vocals are played on short segments of a song, for example in choruses. At the concerts, the members of the group or specially hired singers act as singers. When recording albums, when there is an opportunity to use technical means, the second parts are performed by the soloist himself. Everyone was faced with the songs, and not only at the concerts. Minuses with backing vocals are very popular in karaoke clubs.

What is the difficulty?

Many pop singers began their career, speaking in the cries of the stars. All of them claim: singing the second part is many times more difficult than soloing. Why? Because the soloist is the main one on stage. Musicians, vocalists are adjusted to it. If the soloist starts singing from the wrong note, the backing vocals should start with it. If the soloist makes a mistake, then the rest should work so that it is not audible. The second task of the vocalists is to carefully monitor everything that is happening on the stage and sing so that the flaws of the soloist are not noticeable. Not everyone can do this. It happens that the solo vocalist rearranges the verses in places, forgets the text, starts not on time. All this should be able to react back, while remaining absolutely calm, but ready to instantly rebuild. That's why the groups of singers are arranged so that the lips of the singer can be seen. A slightly different situation in rock compositions. There are their own techniques (for example, growling and screaming), which differ from the techniques of variety vocal accompaniment.

Backing vocal. How to learn?

The ideal backing vocalist is one whose party has remained unnoticed. This does not mean that he should remain in the shadows: the absence of a song can deplete the composition. But he should not stick to the forefront. The task of backing vocals is accompaniment and decoration of the composition, and not a demonstration of one's own voice. If you want to learn how to sing along at home, use karaoke or backing vocals. Try to start your party calmly, ideally falling into the tonality. Begin and finish singing at the right time. Believe me, this is much more complicated than it seems. When you learn how to perfectly repeat a batch of backing vocals, start singing along with a solo vocalist, trying to get the most accurate way into his tonality and style of performance. Of course, you can learn to sing along on your own, but the best way to master backing vocals and solo vocals is to graduate from a music school or at least a course.