The Art of Indie Phrasing
"Crying Lightning" marked a significant shift for the Arctic Monkeys, moving from the garage rock of their debut to the darker, desert-rock influence of the Humbug era. For vocalists, this song is a masterclass in phrasing and baritone control.
Alex Turner’s performance here relies heavily on his lower register and a technique often called "talk-singing," where the rhythm of the syllables drives the melody more than sustained notes. However, don't be fooled—the chorus requires a sharp transition into falsetto that can catch beginners off guard.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
The lyrics in the second verse ("uninviting... twisted and deranged") are delivered very quickly. Our analysis shows users lose points here by slurring words. Keep your lips loose and consonants crisp.
Phase 1: The Verses (Low & Rhythmic)
The song starts in a comfortable speaking range (roughly E3 to G3). The goal is to sound effortless and slightly detached. Avoid pushing too much air; think of it as telling a story over the bassline.
The Trap: Because the notes are low, singers often drop their soft palate, making the voice sound "muddy." Keep a slight smile (the "inner smile" technique) to keep the tone bright enough to cut through the heavy guitar mix.
Phase 2: The Chorus (The Flip)
The chorus ("And your past times, consisted of the strange...") introduces the melodic hook. The jump on "strange," "deranged," and "change" often flips into a light mix or pure falsetto depending on your voice type.
- The "Crooked Teeth" Line: This requires a sudden jump in pitch. Aim for a lighter coordination here. If you try to drag your heavy chest voice up to these notes without thinning out, you will likely strain.
- Dynamic Contrast: The verses are mumbly and low; the chorus needs to open up. Increase your breath support but not necessarily your volume.
Phase 3: The Outro
As the song reaches its climax, Turner adds more "grit" or vocal fry to his voice. This is stylistic. To achieve this safely, ensure the distortion is coming from your false vocal cords and not by grinding your true vocal cords together. It requires a lot of breath support to do safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest notes hit around A4/Bb4, usually sung in a falsetto or very light head voice during the chorus harmonies and ad-libs.
It might feel a bit rumbly in the verses. You can try transposing the song up +2 semitones in the Singing Coach AI app to make the verses shine more in your comfortable range.
A lot of his sound comes from his Sheffield accent and specific vowel choices (rounding off words). Focus on ending your phrases abruptly rather than letting them ring out.
