Description:
A 3-note ending riff is so common in pop and pop-inspired genres like country and r&b, that it can be easy to miss! In a way you can think of it as an extended fall off from your melody into not one, but two extra notes.
Let’s learn an exercise with plenty of 3-note riff examples! This one has 4 parts, so we’ll learn it listen & repeat style. Here’s the full exercise [ 5–43, 3–21, 2–16, 1–65]. For each part, we’ll first sing on DAH, then on a vowel. (In E)
Let’s learn an exercise with plenty of 3-note riff examples! This one has 4 parts, so we’ll learn it listen & repeat style. Here’s the full exercise [ 5–43, 3–21, 2–16, 1–65]. For each part, we’ll first sing on DAH, then on a vowel. (In E)
Listen & repeat 5–43
Listen & repeat 3–21
Listen & repeat 2–16
Listen & repeat 1–65
Ready to put it together? Let’s try it, slowly.
You’re welcome to sing on any word, syllable or vowel you find easy! And if your pitches are blending together, please keep a consonant in there.
Exercise 1: 5–43, 3–21, 2–16, 1–65
Think we can speed it up? Let’s try a few for a challenge!
Exercise 2: Above, faster tempo
I’m sure we can find a few spots to add an ending riff within “This Is The Time”. Let’s see what sounds good! It's okay to be creative and alter the melody a bit to make whatever you are riffing work better, but just be mindful not to alter anything too much in a way that detracts from the flow or vibe of the song. This can be a careful balance so trust your intuitions as you try out different options.
Song work: Add 3-note ending riffs within “This Is The Time” (verse)
F#m A
Trapped inside, my own mind
E B
Set it free, it’s all I strive for
F#m A
Breaking out, gonna shout
E
Blow it up and rise
Great job! See you in the next lesson for our last lesson on agility!
Lessons:
- Day 1: Welcome & What To Expect
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Day 2:
Establishing A Chest-dominant Mix
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Day 3:
Breathiness To Belting: Vowel Modification
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Day 4:
Tongue Position And Twang
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Day 5:
“Pressing In” (Body Engagement)
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Day 6:
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:
Falsetto Dominant Mix
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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: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.