- Mar282012
Way Back Wednesday: Whistle Register Masters
Chante Moore, Minnie Riperton and Mariah Carey.
Ever wondered what the high notes that Mariah Carey uses to shock you half way through a song were called? Well, those octave warbling wails are part of the whistle register and as today’s Way Back Wednesday will demonstrate, Carey isn’t the only vocalist who knows how to sing that high!
The use of the whistle register long predates recorded music and was first made popular among US acts during the 1970s by Minnie Riperton. Since she ushered in a new era of singing, we’ve seen artists such as Betty Wright and Chante Moore base their careers on soaring above the reach of the competition.
Yet, using the whistle register isn’t about squealing random notes. Rather, it is a skill that very few artists have properly mastered.
Watch some of the best whistle register users in action below:
Adam Lopez – ‘Till the End of Time’
Betty Wright – ‘No Pain, No Gain’
Chante Moore – ‘It’s All Right’
Debelah Morgan – ‘Close to You’ (Starts at 1:25)
Mariah Carey – ‘Vision of Love’
Minnie Riperton – ‘Can You Feel What I’m Saying’
So, what exactly is the whistle register? Quite simply, it is not a part of the falsetto. Instead, it is part of an extension of the human head voice and those notes that are classed as part of the whistle register are generally regarded as those above Eb6 on the grand piano. Now that we’ve gotten all of that technical talk out of the way, let’s celebrate these singers.
What truly set Riperton, Carey and these other vocalists aside from their peers is their control. Having the ability to sing at that altitude while remaining on-key and utilising skills that other acts could barely use in their regular vocal registers is not easy yet all of the artists above do it with ease.
Several inexperienced singers attempt to mimic the whistle register with their falsetto and that is a dangerous activity because of the strain that it places on the vocal cords. For instance, did you know that Christina Aguilera rarely sings in the whistle register? She mainly uses her falsetto and that is probably why she avoids singing that high anymore – she can’t control the pitch of the notes.
Finally, it is important to note that singing in the whistle register does not damage the voice. Some people associate Carey use of the whistle register with the changes in her voice but Betty Wright is 58 years of age and her voice is still in solid shape. Really, each singer is different and there are other factors – nodules, illness, age and stress – that affect the vocal cords.
Besides, Carey’s whistle singing is even better now that it was when she was younger – the notes are stronger, she has better pitch control and her voice is more flexible. Her main issues are with her stamina and her belting, not her upper range.
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KING Bey outshines all of those bitches, they aint nobody you better bow down
No Lisa Fischer? She is quite a master herself. If you have Debelah Morgan on there you gotta have Lisa Fischer as well.
Beyfan your talking pure fart am sorry your comment have no use never dis the foundation
You had to mention Christina didn’t you… But beside that great article as always.
Great piece Trent as always. Chante is exceptional especially live such class and effortless voice range. Miss her and her beautiful music. I also think Marsha A. from Floetry has it. The ranges the young ladies have a “heavenly” bless.
Trent I think you should do an article on song writers. A lot of these Stans think their fav writes music well we all know the truth..
This was a GREAT article Trint… I’d never heard of Debelah and Chante and Mariah were AMAZING… I think you should add Rachelle Ferrell to this list… She is UNBELIEVABLE!!!
All very skilled & talented but that Mariah Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!1
Chante just KILLED everybody up there singing an entire song in Whistle, her Whistle control is UNMATCHED
@TheMan4U both Minnie & Mariah have done entire songs in whistle so…? NOBODY is on Minnie’s level. GET THAT STRAIGHT!
Explain how Mariah’s voice is more flexible, the notes are stronger and the pitch control thing.
what songs have they done completely in Whistle anywhere near what Chante did in that video?
and LIVE not in the studio?
Minnie is the Queen of whistle register! I hope Mariah’s has repaired hers though….
Bayfan it’s me again can you please do your research for your info king bey or what u call her sample one of these ladies song in upgrade you…so stop bloging if you don’t know shit.
In the song Be With You, she hit the whistle register, and shattered every nothing bitch listed aboves entire career, stop trying to discredit the best entertainer to ever enter the bisness, you know it and the world knows it. So go end your life you fucking ho
@TheMan4u Minnie’s version of Silent Night was done LIVE and completely in whistle & Mariah sang Can’t Let Go acapella on the Mimi tour and added a bunch of whistle runs. You REALLY need to check your facts before you make ignorant comments.
King Bey? REALLY? Bey sings well but will NEVER come for Mariah & Minnie, VOCALLY.
The King Bey will always come for Mooriah and Vinnie cause her voice outshines theres, and has more veratillity than both of theres combined, she effertlessly shits on them, like diarea shit on them
You forgot Lisa Fisher, Shanice and even Tamar Braxton (Crazy I know lol but she actually can get up there too.)
Beyonce will never come for Mariah the Magnificent. Mariah has 5 octaves and what does BEYAWNCE have?
Also you need to check out Bliss by Mariah, her control of the whistle register is amazing in this song!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRnbB3cgL1s.
Also dont forget Rachelle Ferrell.
Well Mariah have 5 Octaves while Christina have 4 Octaves. Trent check youtube.. Christina uses whistle notes if she wants and she needs too. Try to be more intelligient while writing next time.
@Small_angel you completely missed Trent’s point. Try to be more “intelligient” while writing next time.
Yall stupid, My King Bey’s 6 octives is the best
Bey does not have 6 octaves at all ha! mariah has the most in popular music, christina 4 whitney had 4, Bey has about 3.5…
adam lopez at the the top has 6, georgia brown has 8, but ariah is the only one who can skilfully use at least 4.5 of hers and sing in every key.. just cos you can hit them doesnt mean you can use em!!!
*but Mariah is the only one who can skilfully use at least 4.5 of hers and sing in every key.. just cos you can hit them doesnt mean you can use em!!!
Unfunny you dont even know what you talkin bout you sound like a derranged lamb ready to be slaughtered
i take that back about Minnie, she did sing Silent night in full whistle but mariah adding whistle runs to a song is not singing the entire song in whistle
It’s clear @Beyfan came on here JUST to get you all worked up and they did just that.lol
please ignore beyfan from now on i really think that thing need attention
FUCK YOU ASSHOLE, you just mad cause you know I’m write, so you can eat ma booty pussy and go sit down somewhere
@Funny Whitney does not have 4 octaves her rant is the same as Beyonce you better do your research! @Tim Beyonce has 3.5, I highly doubt Mariah has 5 now her voice has weakened. @Kevin at the end of your statement you should’ve put IN MY OPINION. Because Minnie isn’t that great of a vocalist, Mariah is only know for whistles and melsmas. Beyonce is attest vocalist. I feel she is better than most legends technique wise.
*range
@beyfan obviously this is not a category for beyonce because compared to these artist, well lets just say they shitted on her
@naldo Wait just because they could use there whistle register doesn’t make them great vocalist, it makes them someone who has mastered that technique. Beyonce is a very technical singer she is far better than them on this list. I guess you need to go and watch this ====>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaN2TbWMvuw maybe this will educate you on her voice, Mariah has one as well she is my second fav Female vocalist behind Beyonce.
Trent I love you but damn, that Christina comment wasnt even needed. Check youtube, she’s used the whistle register (the actual whistle register and not falsetto) and it sounded just as strong as Mariah’s. Is she the queen of the whistle register? No. Does her voice sound the same as when she jumped on the scene? No. But we could go on all day on Mariah’s deteriorated vocals as well. Like I said, I love you and your honesty but your starting to sound like Perez Hilton when you talk about Christina.
@Ms. Boss You completely didn’t get my point. GO BACK to KINDERGARTEN.
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I doubt Beyonce having atleast 3.5 Octaves. I think she is in 2 octaves level.
FINALLY SOMEONE WITH SENSE, thats right KillBill9, King Bey has more range and power and technice than all these nobodys, she is the best this planet has ever produced, nobody could do it like Bey
Anyone who thinks that overrated mediocre at best singer Beyondfake is even halfway as good as Minnie Ripperton, Mariah Carey at her worst (which she isnt), is point blank retarded. Minnie had more control and range in her voice than anyone, hello she was trained by Oprah and classical instructors, Bey is way too messy to even be considered 25% as good as her, or Mariah, so both Bey fans are complete failures.