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Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
A 19th-century African-American spiritual, one of the roots of gospel and soul. Short phrases on the major pentatonic, each ending on a long note.
An African-American spiritual from the 19th century, first printed in 1872. Almost every note comes from the major pentatonic scale, spanning a major sixth above the root and a perfect fifth below it, 14 semitones in all. The opening “Swing low” is a major third falling to the root, and “coming for to carry me” is six quick eighth notes that settle on “home.”
How to do it
- Wait for the two count-in clicks. The piano plays the opening phrase alone, then plays along with you.
- Sing “Swing low” as a gentle fall from the third to the root, and hold the root.
- On “chariot,” let the voice fall a whole tone to the low fifth below the root.
- Keep the six eighth notes of “coming for to carry me” light and even, then hold “home” for its full length.
Coach's tip: Sing “Swing low” warmly and smoothly, without scooping into the notes. Hold the long “home” steady to the end of each phrase.
What to watch out for
The low fifth below the root is the bottom of the tune, and it tends to go breathy and flat. Sing it softly and in tune rather than pressing down. The six eighth notes often rush into “home,” so count them evenly. Take a full breath before each long note. The melisma on the second “Swing” is two notes in one vowel, so keep the vowel open.
Who it's for
Level 1, for beginners and for anyone who wants a relaxed pentatonic melody in a low-to-middle range. Use it after a hum as a main-block song, or as a cool-down. Try it next to Soul phrase on one breath when you want to stretch the phrasing. No program lists it. The daily training brings it up more often with the R&B / soul style.
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Related exercises
- Are You Sleeping (Frère Jacques) A simple, well-known melody. A warm-up with lyrics.
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star A fifth leap at the start, then walking down the scale.
- Ode to Joy (Beethoven) The theme of the 9th Symphony. Only seconds – a step-by-step intonation test.
- Happy Birthday An octave leap in the third phrase. A classic trap.
- 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.