How to Sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" | Vocal Lessons

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Hi I'm Cari Cole. I'm a celebrity vocal coach and artist development expert. And I help artist find their voice, craft their music, and create successful music careers. I've worked with Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, Courtney Love from Hole, I've worked with the band Journey. I'm going to teach you how to be a better singer and performer
So in teaching you a little bit about singing the National Anthem today, "The Star Spangled Banner", and this is a big song. So, the first thing that you want to have down is the key. The key is essential and here's why. Because you've got some big notes, and if you start singing just Acapella without even checking your key you're going to end up in trouble. Especially when it comes to "The rocket's red glare" because all of a sudden, you're up on that high note,[singing] "And the rocket's red glare", and you want to be able to nail that note instead of [screeching sound]. Right? You want to be able to really nail that. So, you've got to check your keys. So from the beginning, so from the key I'm singing in right now is an F key which is pretty standard for most female singers some people take it a little bit lower, to a half-step down to an E, and some people bring it up to a G, but an F is a pretty comfortable key. But again, you want to check out the scope of the entire song before you choose that key.
So another thing that is super important is where you put your breath marks in this song. There are three spots that are crucial. One is before "The rocket's red glare", the other is "The land of the free", where you have that big note. And then the last big note, "The home of the brave". So you want to mark where you take your breaths there, and make sure you get that extra breath and practice it like that. So here's a little example, [singing] "Oh say does that star spangled [takes breath] banner yet wave." That was a nice breath there, here is another one [singing] "O'er the land of the free" [takes breath] "And the home of the [takes breath] brave" So you can see how you have those nice elongated notes there and how important that is to get that extra breath

[@solahaze8948]

Because if your voice cracks even once during the anthem, you will never hear the end of it.

[@acoustisongs]

Most of the time this song is sung accapella, without a chance to check what key you're in. So the important thing is to sing to yourself the "say", as in "oh say", as LOW as you can comfortably sing it. That should set you up to be able to sing the higher notes later on. In other words, if you start the song too high, you are screwed.

[@tanyasewbiz5734]

BWHAHAHAHAAHAH IM LAUGHING SO HARD RIGHT NOW!

[@chloeholscher7027]

I'm singing this for a basketball game at my school and I'm frickin scared😂

[@genesis204]

Chloe Holscher did you sing it?

[@heatherescoe3589]

Chloe Holscher how did it go

[@patrickstar5115]

How was it?

[@dusting6944]

Yes baby

[@maya-os1hr]

how’d it go?

[@nariosaur5061]

I'm singing this to my 5th grade classmates. :) wish me luck

[@patrickstar5115]

How did it go?

[@shyiaturner7231]

Same

[@fhuuraliulfr5756]

Wut, are you sing for 12 year olds now.

[@himarkus1374]

Same

[@AnaTheKoala]

To be honest this is the best tip video I have seen for the Star Spangled Banner :)

[@BigDogCountry]

~ 1 minute start to finish. No embellishments/no "interpretations". Get the words right. Hit the Highnote at the end. Consider dropping it a few pitches if you can't hit it, or fake it by not going up the octave. The song isn't about _you_ . Sing it and shut up, take your bow and leave the field/court/whatever. That's how to sing it.

[@darrenkellett]

Well said my friend....... and I'm English. :-D

[@montexan1405]

Golden #likeapro #america

[@ghostmutt4265]

Just a song bro. Chill

[@miadupuis3914]

Yes, yes, and yes.

[@BigDogCountry]

@@darrenkellett Well, the melody is a British song.

[@judithangelina7459]

This was a great help!!! I'm gonna sing the National Anthem at my school in 4 weeks!!!

[@liv.k00l]

Same but in 1 day

[@JamesHaroulakis]

She is the only KZbin vocal coach that I can relate with... I am glad I found her instructional vids. :)

[@katik.4833]

Would love to hear Cari sing the whole song !

[@carissa5189]

thank god for all these national anthem lessons!! im singin' it for Lundahl middle schools boys basketball conference game tomorrow! twice!! i can try to post a video but never know!

[@IamRocque]

singing this solo without music at my 8th grade graduation

[@kaialayson782]

Aponte Anthony SAME

[@AngelMendoza-to4gd]

How did it go ?

[@nataliemidura2823]

Same 😂

[@leachuk4190]

SAMEEE

[@jaymalivesay2369]

I’m singing it for my best friend’s 8th grade graduation

[@neilframpton2843]

Thanks for the help on that last note. By taking a breath before the word "brave" I finally got the convincing ending I wanted.

[@karaoketaylorxsingsfan232]

I'm an alto how do I sing the national anthem the full song alto

[@thais2367]

Kimberly Ann Clark Studio there's a harmony at the high paeta just look it up and you can find a choir singing it

[@SeatherineJent]

Just sing it in the right key.

[@stevensweet5118]

Here because the fergie version

[@emilya130]

I want to audition to sing this for my 5th grade graduation, pray for me and wish me luck :)

[@fhuuraliulfr5756]

Waaaaatttt

[@harmonizing8627]

I am singing this song for my 8th grade grauduation !!! I really hope my vocal teacher is impressied

[@Miak_luvs]

I had to sing this with other kids in my music class and my teacher said that I sing really good

[@mariagrace1704]

I will be singing this for a celebration on Memorial Day and even thought that’s far away, I’m still scared!

[@sandygkaylab9617]

Thanks sooo much

[@Ihdc1]

This is wrong. "O say does that star spangled banner...". O is one note, not 2 and banner is "ban-ne-er" and not "ba-an-ne-er". This is according to the sheet music. Take a listen to Renee Fleming's rendition.

[@saltysaaber6447]

How'd I get here?

[@leslielopez4060]

I’m singing this for my schools football team I’m terrified

[@Nina-Patriot]

Wow her voice is beaaaaauuuutiful

[@heatherescoe3589]

My daughter is singing this for her high school choir audition

[@lilym3915]

I’m auditioning for the hockey games wish me luck

[@sandikhader1801]

wow, I wish you could teach me the whole song!!

[@alfonsolealcala7851]

It's only a quarter note on the "ban" of banner. Way too many "singers" break it down to two eighth notes- each different in tone(?). Do you call that a slide? Maybe they get confused with the "ner-er, yeh-et, waaaayy-ave. Just a peeve of mine, sorry

[@josephrandazzo7923]

Huge peeve of mine. It drives me ba-a-nan-a-ahs. Thank You !!!

[@pollymars3776]

@:59 beautiful

[@JLFToronto]

Wow. Amazing voice you have. 👏 👏 👏 more more

[@DocRock1007]

Here's the solfege and guitar tabs for it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3KTemmKf9yUa9U

[@k.k.d.9201]

Very helpful. Thank you. And you have a lovely voice

[@0liverxoxo]

I have to sing this at graduation 💀

[@montexan1405]

Great video thank you for sharing!

[@samuelol]

I have to sing this in choir and I am a soprano. I have to sing the really high notes but whenever i sing with my head voice, I sound very breathy and thin. I've tried to do pre-yawn stretches and focus on my throat but I still sound breathy.

[@windywoot]

I’m singing at the schools first football game 🥹🥹

[@paytonphelps3055]

What is this lady's name I thought I followed her channel

[@kokosaunders2615]

hi

[@roninamoon]

Thx and good vocals mam

[@yellow468]

Can you make a singing tutorial on how to sing like Sarah Brightman?

[@bellabeanunknown]

I’m singing this infront of hundreds of people on a really popular team and I’m so so nervous!

[@4mydearlady]

Her tips are fine for pop singers, but most of this advice will not fly at an audition for a classical choral group/chamber singers. Where she has the singer taking breaths would be counted as sort of "cheating."

[@adrianabarrios6211]

Y'all I got picked to sing this I am frickin out because idk the song

[@macieporterfield316]

I’m singing this before a run at a festival wish me luck!

[@fedemarra]

Hi,I love you're videos, can you explain me how to sing Love on top by beyoncè? please becouse I dont understand if is head or chest voice, becouse there so much power and I don't understand, thank u

[@wokkawicca]

It's lame to breathe in the spots you mention. Breaths go with syntax: you breathe where you'd pause when speaking, at commas and periods, or at least logical phrase breaks--NOT between adjectives/articles and the nouns they modify. You aren't just singing notes; you're telling a story. Part of singing at a high artistic level is managing your air supply and finessing the points where this kind of rhetorical continuity isn't physically convenient. Inserting big gaps before "banner" and "brave" in the final phrase may be unfortunately common, but it sounds awkward & wrong to many listeners.

[@JustAnotherBoyce]

The parts where she said to breath seem like standard parts for this song though. I always hear people stop (and obviously take a breath) at those particular parts.

[@montexan1405]

Sounds wrong to listeners who could never sing the song themselves? These breath breaks were a new perspective, although I usually breath between home / of the brave, one breath only in that line. I don’t think it’s an interpretation but rather a modification for those who need to breath there. Lung capacity varies from human to human.

[@chantreachum557]

Singing this in front of like the entire school at every home basketball game

[@esterling191]

Singing it for graduation and I am so scared

[@lizzamahoney8298]

Me too and I’m sick

[@tabithawilder7922]

I’m sing this for hoco

[@NAVIAHHHH]

I am here because I am worried I might make the part to high, I am singing this for the opening of Gupot Chamorro (celebration) and I am kind of worried

[@johnnybrew1]

Trained or not, still sounds good.

[@markgarry5469]

Would it be possible for me to send you a video of me singing the star spangled banner? I am trying to get the opportunity to sing it at a huge venue and would love for you to take a peek at my version. Thank you !

[@carlitos3000ful]

Hi can yo teach to me how to sing like cristina aguilera

[@chinouyamale]

I would be very interested in working with a Artist Development expert. Im in NYC. All recommendations welcomed.

[@iampracticingpiano]

Not "scope"--range.

[@youdontknowme4773]

Im singing this for promotion but first I have to audition I hope I make it

[@Pierrelorry]

Hello, Thats amazing... Beautifull, I like it. Share this , and I will share yours... Thanks !!!

[@jjfreight-trains]

Thank you Dear Dear Lady, wow. Can you sing it for us so we can sing along as best we can?

[@kalirz7123]

I a singing this for graduation at school and I am so scared!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck😫😤😖

[@lilymcnaughton2932]

How did it go?

[@kalirz7123]

@@lilymcnaughton2932 Actually it went pretty good. This video helped me alot!!

[@taylormehl434]

What key is this in?

[@MrsShaunaK23]

She did say F

[@Jart988]

The key is the key lmao

[@endlessnameless174]

@fergie

[@thecalamitygod3975]

Wow ur great better then me

[@evakate101]

i have to sing this at next weeks football game 😃😃

[@ashleyyadira9764]

0:55

[@ashleyyadira9764]

2:15

[@ashleyyadira9764]

1:57

[@Nia_luvsArt17]

I'm singing this for senior night and I'm s freshman I'm so scared🤡😭💀why did I want to do this😭😭😭

[@gicchigichhiyaya2825]

Im singing this for 8th grade promotion 🙏

[@MrFrankenBeans519]

I'm singing this from Canada and I only know half of the dam lyrics lol

[@louisekidd5141]

I'm singing this at the school district

[@florinivan6907]

Ingrid Andress should have watched this.🤣

[@mycroft16]

There are not 3 notes to the word banner in banner yet wave. Only 2. EVERYONE screws this up. Want to throw a waver in on the end of a phrase, fine... but don't make up notes. Thank you though for keeping free to a single solitary note without doing the jump up. Do that and your performance of this song is unforgivable in my book.

[@angelafan1106]

here in 2021 hahahha.

[@saltysaaber6447]

I literally don't know

[@tanyasewbiz5734]

$500.00 and hour folks

[@kenzomami5890]

n

[@wazzupbabee]

first :)

[@orchidswan]

I have a feeling this woman has plenty of training...

[@sophia17853]

Lol Beyonce pre recorded hers

[@montexan1405]

Sophia D Damn I didn’t know that. Beyoncé’s mom once said that was when she knew her daughter had MADE it, When Beyoncé Sang the anthem at the Super bowl. Let that sink in. Long time ago. Times have changed.

[@stephaniegalicia899]

She just trying to help

[@muckman5509]

more like how to sing the star spangled banner like a hack

[@christmaself209]

😭 this didn't help me at all

[@orchidswan]

Sing really off pitch, lol.

[@josephrandazzo7923]

... A huge faux pas by a supposed vocal coach. Banner It's NOT ba-a-neh-er It ba-ner

[@SeatherineJent]

Flat as hell

[@kawelaanahiwa4318]

Beautiful

[@kawelaanahiwa4318]

@:59