Vocal Points: What Makes A Great Rock Voice?

posted in: Features • Rock

There are plenty of components that make up an outstanding rock band. From a great guitar sound, to a killer bass line, there is so much rock greatness out there to grab your attention. But what makes a great rock vocalist? What kind of singer can produce a sound that shapes a generation and even other singers to come? And most of all, what does it to take to have a voice that flat-out ROCKS? Well, lets look at a few of the most well-known, respected voices in rock history.

Freddie Mercury, Queen‘s phenomenal frontman, is one of the rock voices that has always impressed me. The texture of his voice, his low growl, and the ease that he would glide from one vocal register to another are all truly remarkable. Unlike many rock singers, Freddie Mercury had an incredibly versatile voice which was raw and ferocious, while still being incredibly melodic and listenable to a wide array of music fans. His voice was  huge part of what made Queen such a huge success, as well as the reason why they’ll continue to be an important piece of rock history.

And even more influential and impressive is Robert Plant‘s voice, which influenced Freddie Mercury’s style (as well as many other vocalists today) in many ways. Despite his lack of true vocal training, Plant is highly respected for his dynamic voice and its capacity to hit both impressively strong highs and full, deep lows. The vocal sound he created with Led Zeppelin was very distinct”his wailing, distortion and volume made for an intense sound that conveyed a great deal of emotion. This sound, and the way that he used his voice as an instrument that could be intertwined with all the other instruments, really shaped many of the best rock bands to this day.

Steven Tyler is another example of an outstanding rock voice who was influenced greatly by Plant. Tyler pushes his voice extremely hard during performances, going farther than any classically-trained singer would ever try. This sound is unique and over-the-top, but meshes really well with the band”the slight friction between Tyler’s voice and the distorted guitar is especially authentic and helps make Aerosmith‘s sound a stand out among rock bands. Like both Plant and Mercury, Tyler’s voice can go fairly easily from intense and rough to soft sound, which suits ballads well.

Though very different from the aforementioned examples, Janis Joplin used her voice to rock just as hard as any of the guys. Her rough-around-the-edges voice perfectly portrayed the vulnerability and power of her music, which deeply connected with her audience. While her voice was harsh, it paved the way for female singers in a male-dominated rock scene, and made it clear that a female voice can hold its own.

While there is not an exact formula to what makes up a great rock voice, there are certainly components which work, and those that don’t. It takes a big voice with fantastic natural vocal ability to hold its own next to a full band, but when done right, it makes the difference.

Do you have a favorite rock vocalist? Share your ideas here.