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R&B verse
An original R&B-style verse: syncopated rhythm, minor pentatonic and a short run at the end.
An original R&B-style verse, not a song you know. It uses only the minor pentatonic: the first line moves between root, minor third and fourth, the second climbs to the fifth, and a short descending run closes it: minor seventh, fifth, fourth, minor third, root. Rests mark the breaths. It trains phrasing: syncopated rhythm, a light, conversational delivery and a clean run at the end. “Oh” keeps the vowel simple, so you can think about rhythm.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play the verse alone once, then sing it with the piano playing along on “oh”.
- Sing it like speech: relaxed, close to talking, with no big push on any note.
- Use the rests to breathe. Don't stretch the notes before or after them.
- Save the closing run for last. Keep it lighter than the rest and land the final root calmly.
- You sing it twice, the second time a semitone higher.
Coach's tip: Sing conversationally, close to speech. Keep the syncopation relaxed but precise, and the final run lighter than the rest.
What to watch out for
Two things tend to go wrong. First, rhythm: the long fifth in the second line starts between beats, and it's easy to move it onto the beat, so listen for where the piano places it. Second, the closing run: singers get louder as it gets faster. Do the opposite. Keep it light and give each of the five notes its own green block. If you lose the thread, lower the tempo. Stop if your voice feels strained.
Who it's for
A level 2 exercise for singers ready to join pentatonic pieces into a real phrase. Use it late in the main block, after Syncopated groove and Minor pentatonic have loosened up your rhythm and your voice. It also works as a short finishing piece at the end of a session. The R&B / soul style gives it priority in the daily training.
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Related exercises
- Silent Night A wide range (1.5 octaves) and long notes. A ballad in its purest form.
- Amazing Grace Pentatonic in practice. Melismas on “zing”, “a”, “was”, “but”.
- When the Saints Go Marching In Energetic, with long notes at the end of phrases.
- Pop phrase: acoustic verse An original phrase in the style of acoustic verses: low register, minor pentatonic, speech rhythm.
- Hum with a blue third Root, second, a minor third that slides smoothly up to the major third, second and root – with lips closed. That slide from the minor to the major third is the “blue third”, a signature sound of soul and R&B.
- Major pentatonic Five notes that almost all pop runs are built from.