Turns & trills
Lesson time: (1min 33sec)
Jono McNeil teaches turns and trills, vocal ornaments that add a flourish to the end of a phrase.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Licks, Riffs & Runs for Pop Singers
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Music Lesson: Turns and Trills
Introduction to Turns
All right, our second ornament is our turns. These are really great for adding a bit of flourish, typically at the end of a phrase.
How to Execute a Turn
- For a turn, we go above the original note,
- Creep down below it,
- Then originate back at the tone that we're on.
In slow motion, a turn looks like this:
O
In fast mode, we would go:
oh
This gives us a lovely flourish.
Historical Context
Now, Handel, back in the classical era, would have used these in pieces like Handel's Messiah. Interestingly, we use them in contemporary music all the time.
I'll give you a little exercise in a moment to practice these.
Introduction to Trills
Now, our third ornament is going to be our trill.
Understanding Trills
Trills are traditionally a series of notes that go:
- Up,
- Down,
- Up,
- Down.
In contemporary music, we use them to decorate phrases, sometimes with a bit of an air coming through the phrase.
Demonstration of a Trill
So, hear how I demonstrate it:
O, O, O ba da da da.
Can you hear that little trill?
Oh. Oh.
That little bit of air helps me give it some buoyancy.
Slow Motion Trill
In slow motion again, I'm going to demonstrate that for you:
O.
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