A Backup Singer Is a Star in Their Own Right

If singing behind the star is not enough for you, do not attempt to sing backup. The meaning of singing backup is to sing behind someone, not compete with them. You must be able to play a supporting position to the headliner and not feel left out if you want to sing backup.

This is a difficult skill to learn and is not much understood or appreciated. Similar to an instrumental accompanist, this style of singing requires that you listen very intently and be responsive . You have to begin and end the phrase exactly as the main singer does, you must breathe as they do. As a shadow is always there, so is the effective backup singer.

The best place on stage for a backup singer is wherever you can see the singers mouth at all times, this is the key. The job of backup singing is much harder if you can’t see the singers face. Watch the singer to learn where they are going. The singer will change course or make a mistake and only if you are aware can you react. Your eyes must be glued to the singer. The singer may use a hand gesture to indicate a repeat from the top or even a modulation so be aware.

As the singer goes, so must you. Blend to their phrasing. If you want to blend in the proper way, start your phrase just after the singer starts theirs. Sometimes you are not sure of how loud the singer will be so start quietly and gradually come up to the proper level after the phrase develops. Be very aware of consonants at the beginning of a phrase and try to not emphasize them. It may be advisable not to pronounce a hard consonant at all as it may produce a dissonant conflict with the main melody.

The same technique is to be applied to the ending of all phrases as well. If you gradually ease off your phrase as the singer does the same, you will not end after they do and cause much embarrassment to yourself and the band as a whole. Listen, watch, blend lines and you can be a professional backup singer every band would love to have.