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Slide up into a strong note
Three short slides from below into higher and higher notes, each ending in a long, strong hold. A deliberate rock way into the note, not accidental pulling up.
Three slides, each a whole tone from below into the target note: the root, the fourth, then the fifth. Every slide ends in a long hold of two and a half beats, then three. Rock singers use a short slide into a note as a deliberate effect, which is quite different from drifting up by accident. On “yeah” the “y” starts the slide and the open vowel carries the held note.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play the whole pattern, then sing it back alone.
- Start a whole tone below the target and slide up on “yeah”, quickly, in about half a beat.
- Stop the slide on the target note, then hold it straight. Slides get a wider tolerance, so settle fast.
- Make each held note a little stronger than the last while your throat stays loose.
- Watch the roll: the line should rise cleanly, then flatten. Repetitions climb in whole tones, then come back down.
Coach's tip: Keep the slide short and land exactly on the target – then hold straight. Each note a little stronger, without squeezing your larynx.
What to watch out for
Common mistakes: sliding so slowly that the note sounds scooped, overshooting the target and sinking back, or stopping short and landing flat. Keep the slide short and aim at the target. As the notes climb, it's tempting to squeeze. If your larynx feels pushed up, your throat scratches or your voice turns hoarse, stop and rest, then try again softer and lower. Never push the slide for extra effect.
Who it's for
Level 2. It's a style exercise more than a drill, so place it in the main block after a warm-up. Pop scoop (slide into the note) is the lighter version to try first, and Climb into a long strong note is a good next step for long holds. In Daily training it comes up a little more often when you've chosen the Rock style.
Opens the app in your browser. Free to start, no account needed. Put on headphones first.
Related exercises
- Pentatonic run down 8-6-5-3-2-1 The most common run in pop – from the octave quickly down the pentatonic.
- Pentatonic run up A run-up ending on a long octave.
- Turn 5-6-5-3-1 The classic pop “ornament” at the end of a phrase.
- Pop scoop (slide into the note) A short, deliberate slide from below into the target note. It should be an effect, not a habit.
- Twang on “nyah” A bright, narrow “nyah” on the first five scale degrees, holding the fifth. Twang is the safe base of rock edge – the voice sounds sharp while the throat stays loose.
- Minor pentatonic The minor pentatonic up to the octave and back, the basic scale of R&B and soul runs. The minor third and the seventh give it a darker color than the major pentatonic.