How to Beatbox
Posted on August 12th, 2009 by Marck
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The human voice is capable of a very wide range of sounds that can be used for anything from conversation to music. Beatboxing is very popular in hip-hop and improvisational music, because beatboxers have the ability to mimic an entire collection of instruments played all at the same time. Here are some tips to help you become a very good beatboxer.
What Is Beatboxing?
Beatboxing is the use of the human voice and organs of speech to imitate musical instruments, in particular percussion instruments. The sounds produced by a beatboxer are very close imitations of the original instruments, or may be tweaked to produce a whole new beat and sound to accompany the lines delivered by a vocalist or other musical instruments like guitars or turntables.
Beatboxing is a common feature of many rap acts and hip-hop performances, although it is steadily finding a following in other genres of music like rap metal, jazz, funk, pop, and electronica. Beatboxing can sometimes be used in a capella routines to completely eliminate the need for artificial instruments. (Just like these Top ten hip hop artists of all time who uses beatbox in their repertoire)
Beatboxing Techniques
There are many techniques used in beatboxing, all of which are used seamlessly together to provide a solo performance or an accompaniment to voices and musical instruments:
- Microphone. Most beatboxers rely on only one instrument - the microphone - to help create sounds. The microphone helps amplify the sounds created by the beatboxer. Some palming and distancing techniques can also help the beatboxer create a variety of sounds.
- Breath control. Breath control is one of the most important skills a beatboxer should learn. Beatboxing relies on timing and rhythm, so a beatboxer should learn to time and pace his or her breaths depending on the speed and scale of the performance expected of him or her. Most beatbox routines go through at a rapid pace,
- Kick imitations. Most “instruments” used in beatboxing are imitations and improvisations of percussion instruments. The sound of a drum kick is duplicated and imitated with a crisp thud made with the mouth.
- Brush imitations. Hissing sounds are often used to emulate the sounds of snares and cymbals. Techniques like these are called “brushes” by beatboxers.
- Humming. Beatboxing is not limited to percussion instruments. You can also imitate the sounds of string instruments and synthesizers by humming, although it requires a lot of practice and talent to incorporate it with your beatbox routine.
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