Mastering the Indie-Pop Groove
"Tell Me How to Live" by Capital Cities showcases the duo's signature blend of trumpet lines, deep synth bass, and catchy, singalong choruses. Unlike powerful rock ballads, this song relies heavily on attitude, rhythmic placement, and distinct phrasing. It’s less about how high you can sing, and more about how "cool" you can sound while staying in the pocket.
The vocals are delivered primarily in a comfortable chest voice, making it an excellent song for Baritones and lower Tenors. However, the challenge lies in the rapid-fire lyrics and maintaining energy without sounding breathless.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
Because the instrumentation is dense with synths and horns, your consonants need to be crisp. Our analysis detects muddy pronunciation on lines like "You say you're right, I say you're wrong." Articulate firmly.
Phase 1: The Verses (Conversational Tone)
The verses sit low in the range (A2 to C#3). The goal here is a "spoken-sung" quality. You don't want to use too much vibrato.
The Trap: Singers often drag the tempo here. The bassline is driving and funky; your vocals need to be slightly staccato to match it. Think of your voice as a percussion instrument during the verses.
Phase 2: The Chorus (The Hook)
When the line "Tell me how to live" drops, the melody jumps up. This requires a shift in resonance. You want to move the sound "forward" into the mask of your face to get that bright, indie-pop tone.
- Energy Shift: The volume shouldn't explode, but the intensity should. Keep the airflow steady.
- harmonies: Capital Cities is famous for layering vocals. In the app, try singing the third above the melody to practice your harmony skills.
- Sustain: Hold the word "Live" and "Die" without wavering in pitch.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Ad-libs
Towards the end of the song, the structure loosens up. There are vocal ad-libs woven between the trumpet solos. This is your chance to experiment with falsetto flips or adding a bit of grit to your voice to match the increasing energy of the track.
Keep your throat relaxed. If you try to push too hard to compete with the loud backing track, you risk strain. Let the microphone do the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
The core melody reaches up to an F#4 in chest/mix voice. There are falsetto background layers that go higher, but the lead vocal stays in a manageable range.
Yes. The limited vocal range makes it pitch-accessible. It is a fantastic song for practicing rhythm and breath control without worrying about high notes.
Focus on a "straight tone" (no vibrato) for most of the song, adding vibrato only at the very end of long phrases. Keep the tone bright and optimistic.
