We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Genres

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Melisma?

H. Bliss
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 18,527
Share

Melisma is a style of singing that involves singing more than one note to a single syllable of text. A singer using this technique is said to be using melismatic singing. In contrast to melisma, the style of singing that uses one note to each syllable of a word is called syllabic singing. This technique appears in many different types of songs, from American patriotic hymns like “My Country 'Tis of Thee" and holiday carols to popular radio hits spanning many different genres and decades. Melisma can be written in notation or improvised by the singer during performance.

Though most people recognize melisma as the lengthy vocal acrobatics many singers improvise when singing standard songs, it can be a simple composition technique used to form the basic melody within a song. In music composition, it is often used to convey strong emotion or to put focus on a word in the lyrics. It appears in anything from vocal classical music to soul, rock, and pop. Popular female singers well-known for their skilled use of melisma include Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. Male singers include Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, and Maynard James Keenan.

When melisma is used carefully, it can be easy to overlook. One way to recognize subtle, simple melisma is to speak a word in the lyric that is being sung without singing the notes, then count the notes that are sung during that word. If the spoken word has fewer syllables than notes to be sung, the sung word contains melisma. Sometimes, the note change can seem to natural within the word that identifying it requires listening with a keen ear. When melisma is written, it often appears with dashes dividing the word so the spoken sound coincides with the written notes. The number of notes that can be used in a single syllable is unlimited and up to the discretion of the composer or performer.

Though it appears in popular music, melisma is a historical composition and singing technique that has been in use for hundreds of years. This style of singing is theorized to have developed in liturgical hymns and Gregorian chant around the 1500s, but it was mostly popularized in the United States by singers at African-American churches. It has been used in many types of music all over the world, and is highly pronounced in a type of Indian classical music called raga, which influences melodic technique used in Indian popular music at large.

Share
Musical Expert is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
H. Bliss
By H. Bliss
Heather Bliss, a passionate writer with a background in communication, brings her love for connecting with others to her work. With a relevant degree, she crafts compelling content that informs and inspires, showcasing her unique perspective and her commitment to making a difference.
Discussion Comments
By anon1006511 — On Mar 27, 2022

So cool that Maynard James Keenan was included. He's one of the best vocalists of our generation. And really underrated, as far as mainstream popularity goes. Mer de Noms is my favorite album, in terms of Maynard's vocals. He was untouchable in his prime.

H. Bliss
H. Bliss
Heather Bliss, a passionate writer with a background in communication, brings her love for connecting with others to her...
Learn more
Share
https://www.musicalexpert.org/what-is-melisma.htm
Copy this link
Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Musical Expert, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.