Stackapella Open the app

Unit 3 · The band's turn

Lay back

Start each line just behind the beat, relaxed on the steady chords, then sing the whole verse of a blues about a train, after each of the band's turns. Free.

Sing this lesson

Free in the app: sing one lesson of each course with no account; a free account opens the course unit by unit.

More in The band's turn

Lay back

Blues singers often start a line a little after the beat, then settle onto it. Lay back, never rush.

A little late. Each line's first word, then on the beat

Never rush. Let the band keep time; stop if anything tightens or hurts

What you sing

  1. The verse, each line's first word laid back.
  2. Sing it once more, then hear yours beside the guide's.

Challenge: The Fives

The whole verse with the band's turns: leave room, come in on time, and let a line end fall if you like.

Your line, then theirs. Three times

Tell it, in your own clear voice. At a speaking volume; stop if anything tightens or hurts

What you sing

  1. The verse, over the chords, with the band answering.

Singing safely

Tell it at a speaking volume, in your own clear voice, never forced or pressed down to sound deeper. Stop if anything tightens or hurts.

Free tools by Stackapella

All of these are free, and so is every course.

Stackapella teaches you to sing harmony one part at a time, right in your browser.

Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
Start the beginner course Open the app How Stackapella works

More free tools

No account, no ads. Each one keeps working offline once you've opened it.

See all 17 tools