Take the Stage

To sing backup, you must learn to serve the music, not yourself. The meaning of singing backup is to sing behind someone, not compete with them. Backup singing is for those who can becomfortable playing a support role to the headliner of the show.

To sing backup is much harder than it looks. The ability to listen and be sensitive  is paramount is this type of singing. Listening and reacting to the main singers phrasing, you must begin and end as they do. You must, in effect be the singers shadow.

Hopefully you have some input or control over where you sit or stand on stage. See to it that you can see the singer at all times. To sing backup effectively, this is very, very critical to your job. You must watch the main singer always. The singer will change course or make a mistake and only if you are aware can you react. Watch the singer intently and always. Often a singer may use a gesture such as a nod of the head to indicate where they are going. Learn their motions and watch out.

You must blend your phrase to the singers melody. If you want to blend in the proper way, start your phrase just after the singer starts theirs. If you are watching the singer as you should, you can start your phrase quietly if you are not sure how loud they will be at any particular time. Be very aware of consonants at the beginning of a phrase and try to not emphasize them. If you pronounce a consonant too hard and it is slightly off from the main singers melody, it will be very noticeable and unpleasant.

The end of lines are just as important as the beginning. As the singer approaches the end of a line, gradually decrease your volume so you can avoid the embarrassment of ending after they do. If you follow these singing tips, watch, listen and blend in; you can be a professional backup singer in very short order.