Perform the pentatonic lick
Lesson time: (1min 27sec)
Put it all together and sing the pentatonic lick up to tempo over the backing track, after breaking it down slowly section by section.
Free lesson
This lesson is part of the course Licks, Riffs & Runs for Pop Singers
Watch this lesson for free below.
Lesson transcript:
Music Lesson
Here's our first note.
You can try this up the octave or down. That's absolutely fine.
And I'm going to sing it to begin with.
Tempo Practice
Three and four.
And again.
Try it with me, Alicia.
Oh.
One, two, three.
Down, up, down, up.
O.
Try it by yourself.
Here we go.
One, two, three.
Down, up, down, up.
Good! Here we go.
Well Done!
We broke that pentatonic lick down and actually took it slowly, took it in sections, and then built it up with tempo.
And actually, once you're feeling ready on your own, putting that to the backing track just gives you:
- A little bit of tempo
- A bit of accountability
So you're really sticking to those notes and sticking to that tempo.
Key Points:
- Whatever you do, make sure that every note is right.
- If you can't get every note right at the speed you're on, slow it down.
- Start at a slow tempo and then gradually build yourself up.
But for those of you who feel ready to give it a go with the backing track, you can download that from the website as well.
About the instructor
Jono McNeil has provided vocal coaching for professional singers, contemporary artists and vocalists in a range of influential positions within the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He works as a vocal coach across a variety of TV shows including The Voice Kids, The Voice UK, Little Mix The Search, The Masked Singer, Wedding Day Winners and Change Your Tune, and coaches touring acts such as JLS, New Rules and July Jones to name a few. An artist and singer in his own right, Jono has also performed with Michael Buble, Paloma Faith, Josh Groban, Nelly, Jamie Cullum, Lemar, George Ezra and Jocelyn Brown, and has several original albums available on streaming platforms. He combines his experience on stage and in the recording studio with a deep understanding of vocal function to provide effective and inspirational coaching experiences. Previously he worked as the head of vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), lecturing and designing content for the degree vocal curriculum in popular music, and now continues to work as an external examiner for other academic institutions such as the Leeds Conservatoire. Passionate about the possibilities of popular music and artistry, he pursues innovative research and strategies to see this realised; his academic qualifications include a degree in Jazz and a masters in Vocal Pedagogy. In Licks, Riffs & Runs for Pop Singers, Jono shows you exactly how to add the agile runs, riffs and licks that define modern pop singing, so you can decorate a melody with confidence and make it your own. read more