The Anthem of Vulnerability
"In My Blood" is a vocal stamina test wrapped in a rock ballad. Shawn Mendes starts the track intimately and builds to an explosive, desperate plea in the chorus. The song stays primarily in B Major, demanding excellent control over your mix voice to handle the transitions between the soft verses and the powerful rock belts.
To sing this authentically, you must balance fragility with power. If you push too hard in the verses, you lose the storytelling; if you don't support the chorus, you risk vocal strain. Let's break down the technique.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Neck Tension
During the "Help me!" chorus, users often jut their chin forward to reach the notes. This constricts the larynx. Keep your chin parallel to the floor and use your diaphragm to power the belt, not your throat muscles.
Phase 1: The Verse (Low & Breathy)
The song begins low in the range (around E3/F#3). The tone should be breathy and conversational, almost like you are whispering a secret. Mendes uses a "cry" in his voice here.
The Trap: Don't lose pitch accuracy just because you are singing quietly. Maintain a steady stream of air support even at low volumes to keep the intonation sharp.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus Build
As the lyrics move to "Sometimes I feel like giving up," the instrumentation swells. You need to match this intensity. Begin to reduce the breathiness and bring the sound more forward into the "mask" of your face. This prepares your vocal cords for the heavy lifting coming next.
Phase 3: The "Help Me" Belt
This is the defining moment of the song. The chorus relies on a repeated, sustained belt on G#4 and A4, peaking at B4 on ad-libs. This is right in the passaggio (bridge) for many male singers.
- Vowel Modification: On "Help me," modify the 'E' vowel slightly towards an 'A' (as in 'cat') or 'Eh'. A pure 'EE' vowel tightens the throat on high notes.
- Compression: You need vocal compression (holding back the air slightly) to get that rock grit without shouting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main melody hits a belted A4 multiple times. There are ad-libbed background vocals and climatic moments that hit a B4.
This is an advanced technique involving the false vocal cords. Start by learning to sing the notes cleanly first. Once you have the support, you can safely add "grit" by relaxing the upper throat. Do not force it.
Use the Singing Coach AI app to transpose the song down -2 or -3 semitones. Practice there until you build strength, then gradually move the key back up.
