How To Sing Like Elvis: An Insight Into How The Mississippi Boy Turned Into The King Of Rock ā€˜nā€™ Roll

The history of rock ‘n’ roll would be left incomplete without mentioning the king of rock ‘n’ roll  —Elvis Presley. 

Elvis did not choose the title for himself, No! Rather, it was the famous Rolling Stone publication that ranked him at number one of their “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list.

So, it makes sense if you are interested in learning to sing like this iconic figure and that’s just what I am going to reveal to you in this article titled “how to sing like Elvis”.

But that’s not all, you will also discover other things, such as:

  • Answers to frequently asked questions on how to sing like Elvis.
  • The highlights of Elvis’s singing career.
  • Pro tips on how to harness your 

Does this sound interesting to you?

Let’s get this show on the road.

A Simplified Guide On How To Sing Like Elvis

Even after death, Elvis’s legacy continues to inspire millions of people who desire to leave a mark in the music industry the same way Elvis did. 

So, how can you sing and please the crowd the same way Elvis did? 

First of all…

Ability to cross genres

What Elvis is popularly worshipped for is his ethereal voice but you see this may not be the most outstanding trait of The King. The differentiating element between Elvis and others is not just his voice but how he was able to use this voice to conquer a diverse range of music.

His career can be separated into phases based on the genre of music he dished out various points during his career. He dazzled the audience with rock’n’roll, country, and gospel music at the early phase of his career. Then he transitioned into pop in 1960.

While his genre of sound varied, his rendition never seemed to disappoint. There goes one of the cores to singing like Elvis; you can’t afford to box yourself in one particular genre of music. 

The old adage: a jack of many trades but master of none must not be applicable to you.

Got that? 

Otherworldly voice

This is the exact term Rolling Stone used to describe the quality of Elvis’s voice when he was crowned The King. 

Both his vocal range and vocal colour are considered very rich. He is naturally a tenor and a high baritone. He sings between the 2nd and 3rd octave. His vocal range spans from the baritone low G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D-flat. 

If you are not already singing in this vocal range, you may need to develop your vocal range so you can sing in this range. Of course, it would take lots of practice but in the end, it’ll be worth it.

Practice

If you desire to belt out notes the same way Elvis did during his career, you’ll need to practice as much as you can. There are a number of things you’ll need to practice if you desire to sing like Elvis. 

Go to YouTube find his videos and try as much as possible to imitate how he speaks. He has a signature type of southern drawl he does which makes the ladies fawn over him.

Listen to his discography and try to follow his style in singing his songs. Watch his live performances and see how he carries himself during performances. He also has a signature lip curl you may want to practice as well.

Clarity

Regardless of what genre he is singing, one this certain you can hear what he is singing about clearly. The lyrics of the song would stand out as he enunciates each vowel and consonant making it super easier for his audience to resonate with him. 

To nail clarity of the message the same way Elvis did you should try and practise Elvis’s songs singing each word correctly and maintaining clarity as you sing each letter that makes up the lyrics.

Vibrato

The trembling effect that permeates through Elvis’s song is not magic. LOL! That is the effect of his well-developed vibrato. You also need to learn how to use this sound to add more colour to your vocal timbre.

Vibrato has many uses but at the core, it adds vitality to the voice and improves the song by adding to its acoustical style.

The Presley Attitude

Is it enough to learn how to sing like Elvis without incorporating the famous Presley Attitude into your own style?

Now here is a disclaimer;

You are not copying his unhealthy life choices here. Rather, we are taking cues from the things he did that made him a fan favourite. They are;

  • Learn how to do Elvis’s hip gyrations, his famous move during live performances.
  • Learn how to play the guitar.
  • Wear fitted dresses. Wear blue a lot with touches of black, pink, or other bright colours. You may also add jewellery to your wardrobe.
  • Style your hair beautifully. Elvis’s choice was pompadour and none did it like him during his time.

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions On How To Sing Like Elvis Presley

What type of voice does Elvis Presley have?

Elvis Presley was a baritone whose voice had an extraordinary compass — the so-called register — and a very wide range of vocal colours. It covered two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat.

How can I be Elvis? 

It is lame to desire to become the next Elvis. And it is an almost impossible goal to achieve due to myriad factors but the most plausible thing to do is take inspiration from his technique, style and add it to yours.

Did Elvis take music lessons?

Presley did not take singing lessons but he started practising how to sing from a very young age Elvis while growing up as a member of his Assembly of God Church in Tupelo, Mississippi. This explains why he started out as a gospel musician and you can notice the influence of gospel music in many of his records over the years.

Who sounds the most like Elvis?

Jimmy ‘Orion’ Ellis was the artist who shared an uncanny resemblance with Elvis both in appearance and vocal technique. 

What is Elvis’s vocal range?

His vocal range is quite wide, he can flow from the baritone low-G to tenor high B, and extend into falsetto to at least a D flat.

Revealing The Highlights Of Elvis Presley’s Career

  • According to  Guinness World Records, Elvis Presley remains the best-selling solo music artist with an estimated 500 million record sales.
  • With 115 records charting in Billboard’s top 40, he holds the record for the most records on this chart.
  • He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump in 2018.
  • The spider Paradonea Presley was named as a tribute to Elvis in 2012.
  • Elvis’s music career began in 1954.
  •  Presley won three Grammy Awards, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36.
  • He is a member of multiple Halls of Fame.

Pro Tips On Singing Like Elvis

Although Elvis died more than 4 decades ago, his legacy still lives and he would continue to remain a force to be reckoned with in the history of music passed from generation to generation.

Now that you know how to sing like Elvis Presley. Here is a word of advice, Elvis approached every of his performance as if it were to be his last, you need to adopt this mentality to bring you closer towards The King and well, to add vitality to your performances.

This is another informative read on how you can conduct yourself like M Shadows