The Basic Idea

To add more variety in your vocal jamming, it's always fun to experiment with different syllables and sounds. Louis Armstrong was a master at vocal scatting; his trumpet playing flowed right into his voice and his playfulness with many vocal sounds lifted the whole idea of scat out of any old stifling rutt of "doo-be-doo-be-doo." He and Ella Fitzgerald, and all the greats have played with many syllables, using those syllables and sounds to enhance the tunes, improvising and interpreting in the moment.

To get loose and more creative with your singing, try Scatting the Alphabet. I have learned all kinds of things just from singing certain letters over and over, playing with volume and texture, making them sound crisp or slurry, sounding angry or mournful. It allows me more freedom with my enunciation in songs with lyrics, and teaches me about softening or sharpening certain sounds and what kinds of effects I can make with them. The percussive qualities of "P", "G", and "K" are loads of fun; the buzziness of "M", "N", "V" can be quite useful... ya never know!

Be careful: this is not a game of "let's see how many words I can come up with that start with the letter D". Quite the opposite.

This is an exercise about the sound of that letter. Of course, you'll have to add a little vowel sound to some of the consonants in order to hear them at all. But put the emphasis on the initial sound of that consonant, rather than on the open vowel sound that follows it. For instance, if you're scatting around with "Dit", don't get involved with "Diiiiiiiiiiit" and noodle off somewhere for any length of time. Keep to the quality of "Dit." Also, if you increase the syllable, don't go too far with it. "Diddly" is quite useful for scatting, we've heard it a lot. Try something new, something you've never heard. If something is "too easy", move one quickly.

This is a good one for car rides, singing in the shower (just don't waste water!), housecleaning, jogging, etc. Play with volume and texture, put different emotions behind those letters and see what they tell you. When we've done this exercise in our workshops, I've always learned something new about these otherwise ordinary letters and vowels: bring your personality to it. Don't be shy. Exaggerate and then simplify. If you get lost or bored moving from A to Z, look around you and whatever words you see, use those letters. I sometimes scat our shopping list (it thoroughly amuses my 4 year old) though I do it rather softly so's not to disturb or confuse the other shoppers.

For Individual Singers

Step 1:  Just Scat the Alphabet

Tips:

• Have fun.
• Avoid singing lists of words that start with each letter.
• You can maintain a snapping beat or keep it completely tempo-free or alternate between the two.
• Think about the physical shape and textural quality of each sound.
• Avoid wandering around on open, easily slurrable vowels (such as "wooooaaaaaaahhhh"); think of it as a sound, not a word.
• Give it a few different emotions, make a list of opposite emotions or moods and refer to that list as you go.
• If you're stuck somewhere, move on. As soon as you stop having fun with a letter, move on. (see Tips for more on this)

Step 2:  Make a few observations

It's useful to notice what's happening, what felt new or different, what ease or difficulty you're having. Go ahead and take notes for yourself: "got stuck on H, kept laughing"... "tricky to get "k" to sound sweet without -iss" ... Teach yourself.

Let me know how it's going.

For Groups of Two or More Singers

Step 1:    Decide on a system and take turns.

You can sing the same letter, trying to make it sound different, or alternate letters, etc. You can maintain a snapping beat or keep it completely tempo-free or alternate between the two. Avoid singing lists of words that start with each letter. Avoid wandering around on open, easily slurrable vowels (such as "wooooaaaaaaahhhh"); think of it as a sound, not a word.

Step 2:    Create a list of emotions or textures

Have your partner or someone in the group select an item from that list for you to express. This forces you to adopt an attitude, temporarily, which can further encourage your playful approach. You might end up being told to sing "L" in a dreamy, romantic mood...

Step 3:    Respond to each other.

Share your impressions, tell each other what came to mind as each person was singing, be supportive and keep an open mind. I recall one session in particular where someone did so many things with the letter "R" that I was speechless (a rare moment). Now I'm much more careful when I sing r-words; and I'm not shy about using that R sound in my jamming work. It's FUN.

Let me know how it's going.

Tips

When I get stuck, something just has to shift a little. Either the tempo I'm using is no longer fun for me, or I'm in a pitch range that's getting tired. Notice what's going on for you, is it your pitch, tempo, breathing? You don't need a tape recorder or partner to notice that you're voice is tired, or that you're settling on the same basic formula letter after letter. Go ahead and be your own best friend, shake it up a little. Go faster, slower, higher, lower. Make whatever adjustments you need to, and keep the challenge fresh.

Let me know how it's going.

[originally published September 1999]