Description:
These are the two riff patterns we’re learning today, and I guarantee you’ve heard them before!
We call these pentatonic riffs because they use the pentatonic scale. Penta meaning 5, and tonic meaning tones. Pentatonic riffs are so popular in contemporary music because they rarely “clash” with the chord or melody. In other words, they’re likely to fit with the instrumentation and sound good!
Get familiar with this scale by first singing up and down the major scale with me, counting from 1 to 8.
Sing up & down major scale
Now skip scale degrees 4 and 7, like this.
Sing up & down pentatonic scale
That’s our pentatonic scale!
Our first pattern starts on scale degree 6 and descends: [sing 65321]. Let’s learn and practice slowly.
Listen & repeat: 65321 pattern
65, then 321; put together
Sing on #s, syllable, then vowel
Great job!
Our exercise will take this pattern slowly, then as fast as you like. Listen once more. If the pitches are blending together too much, you can keep them distinct with a consonant or by singing staccato (short and detached)
Exercise 1: 65321 (slow), 65321 (riff)
Let’s learn our second pattern [demonstrate]. Listen and repeat!
Listen & repeat: 32165 pattern
321, then 65; put together
Sing on #s, syllable, then vowel
Nice job. We’ll sing the pattern slowly, then riff. Remember you have the option of staying on a syllable or singing staccato, short and detached!
Exercise 2: 32165 (slow), 32165 (riff)
In looking for a place to use one of these riffs, we’ll look for sustained pitches or the ends of phrases. We need a little bit of time to fit in these extra notes!
Song work: add pentatonic riff to “Never leave you”
Gm
You’re in my head (m-rdl)
Eb
You’re in my dreams (mrdls)
Dm
The words you said (rdls)
Eb
Comfort me
In the next lesson, we’ll begin our section on distinct registration with light head voice or falsetto. See you there!
Lessons:
- Day 1: Welcome & What To Expect
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Day 2:
Establishing A Chest-dominant Mix
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Day 3:
Widening Your Vowels
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Day 4:
Twang, Ring & Tongue Position
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Day 5:
Pressing in
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Day 6:
Ending Falls & Scoops
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Day 7:
Turnarounds
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Day 8:
3-Note Ending Riff
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Day 9:
5-note Pentatonic Riffs
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Day 10:
Light Head Voice (Falsetto)
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Day 11:
Onsets
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Day 12:
Abrupt Register Shifts & The Pop Flip
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Day 13:
Stylizing A Song
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Day 14:
Performance & Congratulations
Instructor: Camille van Niekerk
Camille van Niekerk is a singer, writer and vocal instructor in Southern California. Camille began studying voice and performing in musicals at age seven. In 2010, Camille began working towards her BA in Music Education at Azusa Pacific University. She then earned her teaching credential from San Diego State University and taught classroom choral and instrumental music. Shortly after moving to LA county, Camille began her private vocal studio, providing vocal coaching, ear training, and recording for students of all ages. She is constantly refining her skills and methods for greater versatility and effectiveness. When she is not teaching, Camille enjoys singing with the L.A. Choral Lab and Ensoma Creative. She lives in San Diego with her husband and loves going to the beach, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking.