Sing Like Arnel Pineda – Learn His Singing Technique and Style

Singing is a passionate art. Having a pleasant voice is truly an asset. It can give you more confidence and self-esteem.

However, singing the songs you fancy about (those high-pitched songs) is very satisfying and elating, especially when you are cheered by your peers.

It appears high-pitched songs allow you to express your feelings in a very powerful way.

A singer’s voice usually shines as he or she approaches the high notes. Thus, it is really fascinating to hear and sing in the upper range of your voice.

If you’re a male singer, have you tried singing Victims of Love by Joe Lamont or Go the Distance by Michael Bolton? If high-pitched songs are not yet in your repertoire, don’t worry. You only have to learn the technique.

Arnel Pineda is a Filipino singer and songwriter and is currently the lead singer of the American rock band Journey.

He was picked up by Journey’s guitar “god” Neal Schon when his cover songs became a hit on YouTube.com.

Before his ascension to stardom, his life had been one full of hardships.

He had tried doing odd jobs, such as collecting iron and bottles, to earn money and had endured hunger on the streets after his parents had gone.

Now, he is among the few Filipino talents who rise to fame in the international arena, bringing pride and inspiration to their countrymen.

His first album with Journey is Revelation, which is available at Amazon (you can listen to free samples in Amazon). Revelation achieved platinum status by October 01, 2008.

Arnel Pineda’s voice exudes power and passion, and he is regarded as a soulful singer.

In the popular music realm, it is hard to classify one music style from the others according to the traditional choral or operatic conventions.

His vocal range is obviously not very different from the other pop singers. However, he has acquired a singing technique that characterizes the great singers of the '80s.

These include Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply, Steve Perry of Journey, Jimi Jamison of Survivor, Klaus Meine of Scorpions, Michael Bolton, to name just a few.

This style is actually beyond the “normal” vocal range of men. It is in fact an artificial voice akin to the falsetto of men or the head tone of women.

But they are not essentially the same. There is no exact term to name this style. However, it is still using the power of the diaphragm, without even knowing it, but mostly capitalizes on throat manipulation. As such, this technique is very exhausting.

What follows is a suggestion for those who want to learn the technique. This is based on my personal experience and understanding.

1. Assess your chances. Is your vocal tone light and bright? Then, you are a candidate. If your vocal tone is heavy and dark, however, you won’t probably develop this technique.

2. Sing regularly. Constant practice has the capacity to change the quality and range of your voice.

This is because the very act of singing on a regular basis within one style can literally develop your voice in amazing ways and thus your timbre in that particular style.

3. Challenge yourself. If you want to just stay within your comfort zone, you will not move nearer your goal.

On the other hand, if you constantly sing songs with high notes, your voice will gradually, but surely go higher over time. Don’t be afraid to approach your limit as long as humans can sing the songs.

4. Sing those songs in your upper range and avoid singing those in the lower range of your voice.

5. Ask somebody who knows the technique to teach you how it is done. This is the best way to learn the technique, as I learned in this manner before (although accidentally).

This happened when a friend of mine sang Someone Who Believes In You by Air Supply and I sang along with him.

• Avoid stress. Get a good night’s sleep if you have to sing the next day.

You won’t go far in your singing endeavors when you feel tired and you have to sing.

Your vocal cords will pass out too soon, and you won’t be able to reach the high notes.

• Start with a song or two in your middle range. This serves as a warm-up exercise for your throat, diaphragm, and vocal cords.

• Blend middle- and high-pitched songs. Don’t attempt singing high-pitched songs in a row, or you will have to rest too early.

• You can insert falsetto in some parts of a song, provided the quality is not compromised and the shift is not very obvious.

This is to conserve energy for those parts that cannot be sung otherwise. This stratagem is often used by Arnel Pineda himself in his performances, especially when he sang Ever Since The World Began by Survivor.

If you have successfully acquired the skill, you have to exercise extreme caution and listen to your own body. It cannot be abused or overworked, as there is a limit for its use.

A man’s limit is shorter compared to a woman’s. Female singers, such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston, are gifted with enduring vocal cords. They can sustain singing high-pitched songs in a row without exhausting their throats out easily.

Even my sister can maintain a number of songs without relaxing. This is not true for males, though. My limit was just five songs. I don’t take chances because I can sense the danger of doing so.

Clinical evidence shows that singing at a pitch level that is either too high or too low creates vocal pathology. This is because you will increase tension in your vocal cords each time you raise your pitch.

Singing above your best tessitura keeps your vocal cords under a great deal of unnecessary tension for extended periods of time, increasing the risk for vocal abuse.