Experienced singers singing "sss"?

axeman · 15th August 2006

Ok, a perhaps silly question, but I´m gonna ask it anyway:

When I´m listening to great experienced soulsingers (like Whitney Houston and Aretha) I´ve noticed they, when singing the word “feelings” for example, don´t sing “feelingsss”, but rather “feelingshhh”. This is great for getting rid of sharp “sss”-sounds. Now, I´m wondering is this just good microphone technique, engineer-deessing-skill or perhaps a little bit of both?

RichS · 15th August 2006

No... their teeth are too big.

tINY · 15th August 2006

I always though it was part way between ssss and shhh - a softer "ess".

It's a technique and a style. More classic stylings treat the "S" as a consonant and it is always short. With modern "intimate" recordings some people hold out the "S" a bit, but soften it because it sounds awful through a mic if you don't.

-tINY

15th August 2006	#1
axeman Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 83 Thread Starter	Experienced singers singing "sss"? Ok, a perhaps silly question, but I´m gonna ask it anyway: When I´m listening to great experienced soulsingers (like Whitney Houston and Aretha) I´ve noticed they, when singing the word “feelings” for example, don´t sing “feelingsss”, but rather “feelingshhh”. This is great for getting rid of sharp “sss”-sounds. Now, I´m wondering is this just good microphone technique, engineer-deessing-skill or perhaps a little bit of both?

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15th August 2006	#2
RichS Gear maniac Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 259	No... their teeth are too big.

15th August 2006	#3
tINY Gear Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 10,206	I always though it was part way between ssss and shhh - a softer "ess". It's a technique and a style. More classic stylings treat the "S" as a consonant and it is always short. With modern "intimate" recordings some people hold out the "S" a bit, but soften it because it sounds awful through a mic if you don't. -tINY