The "Fastest Song" in Broadway History
"Guns and Ships" is the vocal olympics of the musical Hamilton. Performed by Daveed Diggs as the Marquis de Lafayette, the song clocks in at an incredible 6.3 words per second at its fastest point. It's not just about speed—it's about rhythm, accent, and storytelling.
Unlike a traditional ballad, this track requires you to treat your voice like a percussion instrument. You need sharp transients (consonants) and absolute rhythmic lock with the beat. Here is how to break it down without running out of air.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Plosives
Because you are rapping fast, "P" and "B" sounds can cause microphone distortion or slow you down. Keep your lips loose and focus on the tongue movement for speed.
Phase 1: The French Accent (0:00 - 0:35)
Lafayette's character is defined by his French accent. To mimic Diggs, you need to soften your "Th" sounds into "Z" sounds (e.g., "The" becomes "Ze").
The Trap: Don't make the accent so thick that you lose diction. The line "I’m takin’ this horse by the reins makins’ redcoats redder with bloodstains" relies on the internal rhyme scheme. Hit the end consonants hard.
Phase 2: The Acceleration (0:45 - 1:15)
This is the famous double-time section: "And I’m never gonna stop until I make ‘em drop and burn ‘em up and scatter their remains..."
- Breath Control: You must take a massive breath before "Sir, he knows what to do..." There is no room to breathe until four bars later.
- Diction: Focus on the tip of your tongue and your teeth. If you use your jaw too much, you will drag behind the beat.
- Dynamics: Start the run slightly softer and get louder as you reach the climax of the phrase.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Rhythm Switch (1:20 - End)
The song shifts from triplets to a straighter 4/4 flow as Washington enters. However, Lafayette's re-entry ("I go to France for more funds") requires a sudden shift back to the bouncy, triplet feel.
To master this transition, practice clapping the beat while speaking the lyrics slowly. The Singing Coach AI app can slow this section down to 0.75x speed to help you lock in the groove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Daveed Diggs raps approximately 19 words in 3 seconds during the fastest section, averaging about 6.3 words per second.
Not necessarily. Since this is rap/spoken word, the pitch range is small (C3-F4). It is accessible to Baritones and Tenors alike. The challenge is agility, not range.
Listen to the vowels. French vowels are often more "closed" and forward in the mouth. In the app, you can toggle the "Accent Guide" to see phonetic spellings of the lyrics.
