Description:
When you sing country music, it doesn’t sound completely authentic without a little bit of a southern accent. Now, there are many different southern accents, and I am not an expert in them. However, I was raised on country music, and the rules I’m going to share with you are just an analysis of what I hear most country singers doing. Some of the biggest names in country weren’t native to the South, like Keith Urban and Shania Twain. So no matter where you’re coming from, these rules can help you sound a bit more country.
Rule #1: Flattened vowel shape & relaxed jaw
In general, country singers flatten their vowels by maintaining a wider embouchure, or mouth position. Here’s an example: “get” becomes “git”. Instead of a taller EH vowel, I close into a wider IH vowel. [Demonstrate morphing of EH to IH] So think: wider mouth, but keep that jaw relaxed. For example, “love” becomes “luhv”. Try it: [luhv].
Let’s practice! For each word that follows, we’ll first say the word like we normally would, then flatten the vowel and relax the jaw.
Get = git When = whin Love = luhv Can’t = cain’t Truck = truhck Ride = rahd
Getting the hang of it?
Rule #2: Eliminated diphthongs
A diphthong is a single vowel that contains 2 vowel sounds within it. For example, the “y” in “my” is actually “ah+ee”. Country singers sometimes eliminate the second vowel sound; especially when there’s a long I or Y sound. So “I” becomes “ah”. Try it with me, same as before.
I = ah My = mah Drive = drahv And here’s a fun one I learned on a choir tour of the South in college: “It’s a nice night for ice cream”
Fun stuff!
Rule #3: Lilt
Sometimes Southern speakers will do the opposite: they’ll create two vowel sounds out of one. A lilt is essentially drawing out a singular vowel sound to create a diphthong. For example, “bill” could become “bee-ull”. Try that with me: [bill-beeull] Or with the word “van”: [van-vayan]. This happens more in speech than in song, but be sure to listen for it!
Rule #4: Dominant “r” sound
Country singers do not shy away from the “r” sound. This is pretty unique, because the inherent tone of an “r” isn’t the most beautiful on its own. Hold out an “r” with me and you’ll hear what I mean: [RRRR]. But in the context of a country song, it fits. Try a few words with me, overexaggerating that “r” sound.
Heart More Around Car Rain
Last, Rule #5: Drop the final “g”
In words that end with “ing”, you can often drop that final “g” sound. For example, “fixing” becomes “fixen”. Let’s try that with some listen and repeat.
Fixin Gittin Livin Singin
Alright! Time to get singin’ in part 2!
Rule #1: Flattened vowel shape & relaxed jaw
In general, country singers flatten their vowels by maintaining a wider embouchure, or mouth position. Here’s an example: “get” becomes “git”. Instead of a taller EH vowel, I close into a wider IH vowel. [Demonstrate morphing of EH to IH] So think: wider mouth, but keep that jaw relaxed. For example, “love” becomes “luhv”. Try it: [luhv].
Let’s practice! For each word that follows, we’ll first say the word like we normally would, then flatten the vowel and relax the jaw.
Get = git When = whin Love = luhv Can’t = cain’t Truck = truhck Ride = rahd
Getting the hang of it?
Rule #2: Eliminated diphthongs
A diphthong is a single vowel that contains 2 vowel sounds within it. For example, the “y” in “my” is actually “ah+ee”. Country singers sometimes eliminate the second vowel sound; especially when there’s a long I or Y sound. So “I” becomes “ah”. Try it with me, same as before.
I = ah My = mah Drive = drahv And here’s a fun one I learned on a choir tour of the South in college: “It’s a nice night for ice cream”
Fun stuff!
Rule #3: Lilt
Sometimes Southern speakers will do the opposite: they’ll create two vowel sounds out of one. A lilt is essentially drawing out a singular vowel sound to create a diphthong. For example, “bill” could become “bee-ull”. Try that with me: [bill-beeull] Or with the word “van”: [van-vayan]. This happens more in speech than in song, but be sure to listen for it!
Rule #4: Dominant “r” sound
Country singers do not shy away from the “r” sound. This is pretty unique, because the inherent tone of an “r” isn’t the most beautiful on its own. Hold out an “r” with me and you’ll hear what I mean: [RRRR]. But in the context of a country song, it fits. Try a few words with me, overexaggerating that “r” sound.
Heart More Around Car Rain
Last, Rule #5: Drop the final “g”
In words that end with “ing”, you can often drop that final “g” sound. For example, “fixing” becomes “fixen”. Let’s try that with some listen and repeat.
Fixin Gittin Livin Singin
Alright! Time to get singin’ in part 2!
Lessons:
- 1: Welcome
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2:
Vowels & Accent
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3:
Tone & Resonance
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4:
Country Style
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5:
Conclusion
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.