How To Sing Like Bruno Mars (5 Brilliant Tips)
With his funky uptown beats and melodies, Hawaii born singer and songwriter Bruno Mars has wowed and won the arts of many audiences.
Starting out his career in 2004 as a songwriter, he didn’t get a musical breakthrough until 2009.
Bruno Mars had a rich musical upbringing and this helped him to develop his distinctive style of music which he has mastered and cultivated over time.
A lot of singers have been influenced by Bruno’s style of singing and many more want to sing like him.
In this article, we will discuss how to sing like Bruno Mars, his voice type and vocal range, what makes his voice so unique and some of his songs to practice.
What Are The Steps Needed To Sing Like Bruno Mars?
- Invest Richly in Your Voice
If you intend to have a performers’ voice like Bruno Mars or any other great artist, you definitely need to work on your voice. Learn the proper techniques for you and practice.
Take regular voice lessons and if possible employ a voice coach to work with you and finetune your voice to its best range.
- Learn Your Voice Type and How To Master It
Various singers are blessed with different voice types and vocal ranges. If your voice type is not similar to that of Bruno Mars then it might be difficult to sound like him.
Take for example a baritone trying to sound like a light lyric tenor.
- Perfect the Art of Pitch Control
One major technique used by Bruno Mars in his performances is pitch control.
When singing, you can’t hear or feel any form of tension or strain which helps to make his tunes sound clear and fine.
- Watch Regular Performances of Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is also unique for being able to pair his pitch control with dramatic and emotive stage performances.
If you haven’t tried it; trying to maintain your singing while dancing around is not exactly the easiest thing to do.
You can take a cue from watching Bruno Mars’ performance to see how he does his thing on stage.
- Practice Constantly
Consistency is the key to learning any important lifelong skill.
Luckily for you, voice practice is something you can do while being involved in other activities, so even when you are busy you can still work on it.
Here is an article I wrote on how to sing like Mariah Carey
What Voice Type Does Bruno Mars Have?
Bruno Mars is a Light Lyric Tenor with the ability to sing well into the 5th octave.
Anyone who has heard Bruno Mars’s voice will classify it as a youthful and bright voice which is typical of light lyric tenors.
Although, he is sometimes either classified as a full lyric tenor or a spinto tenor, his voice is not mature and dark enough to be placed as either one of them.
What Makes Bruno Mars’s Voice So Unique?
Bruno Mars uses a voice technique that helps him to sound more grounded in his voice and not exactly like a light lyric tenor.
Bruno Mars has the habit of alternating between chest voice and throaty vocal placement which gives his voice a youthful quality that distinguishes him from most other singers out there.
He is also able to make his live performances sound very similar to the studio recorded song, this itself is quite distinctive as most singers either lip sync to their songs or have a different sound when performing live.
Can Bruno Mars Actually Sing?
Bruno Mars was at one time my favorite singer with his hit songs ‘It’s a Beautiful Night’ and ‘Just The Way You Are’ not to mention ‘Grenade’.
His early songs totally won over the youth and teenage audience and it was definitely a good time when his songs came on radio.
In recent times, he has not disappointed his audience and I even have a new respect for him with his collaborations with Silk Sonic; “Leave The Door Open’ and ‘Smokin Out The Window’.
We see his growth between his first ever album and the most recent ‘24k Magic’.
Bruno Mars came in with a high mix of pop, R&b and soul and personally for me, his music has only gotten better with time.
Bruno Mars’s ability to sing in live performances without sounding dissimilar from his studio-recorded version is one of his most notable vocal qualities.
He also possesses stage presence and musical abilities, which he readily employs in his performances.
How Did Bruno Mars Start Singing?
Bruno Mars born Peter Hernández in 1988 was involved in singing and acting at an early age as his father was a Latin percussionist and his mother was a vocalist.
He was involved with them in their band and also got his nickname around that period.
As a child, he learnt to teach himself musical instruments like the guitar and piano and was an impersonator in his parents’ band till he became a teenager.
He also added Michael Jackson to his repertoire.
After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles to start a music career.
Bruno didn’t have an early breakthrough in music and was only a songwriter for years. He wrote songs for other pop singers like Kelly Rowland and Flo Rida.
He finally got signed on to Elektra records in 2009 and his first first album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ was released the following year.
Bruno Mars has since then enjoyed massive success and critical acclaim with his 2016 album ‘That’s What I Like’, winning several Grammy awards.
Also check out this article I wrote on how to sing like Christina Aguilera
What Is Bruno Mars’s Vocal Range?
Bruno Mars range is between C3-D5-C6 and has a wide range which can reach high up to the 5th octave belt.
Bruno Mars’ vocal technique is distinguished by his chest crooning.
However, he does not entirely belt from the chest, but also combines it with throat position and head tone, as he did in ‘Gorilla’.
Nonetheless, his most recent renditions of his songs appear darker and less youthful than when they were originally produced.
What Is The Highest Note Bruno Mars Can Sing?
Bruno Mars’ full chest voice is capable of belting up to C5-D5. His lowest note could be somewhere between F#2-G#2. He can as well belt higher than Bb4.
Bruno Mars frequently employs his upper register while blending it with his chest voice. He uses this technique to avoid sounding light and airy, as a falsetto would.
Since his voice is naturally high and light, he lowers his voice box on purpose to sound more balanced.
What Are Some Classic Bruno Mars Songs To Practice?
- Grenade: Bruno Mars’ 2nd solo single, ‘Grenade’ not only reached No. 1 on the charts but also demonstrated his raw emotional intensity as an entertainer and singer.
In this theatrical ballad, Bruno Mars expresses how much he was willing to go for the one he loves, even if it is not reciprocated.
- Just The Way You Are: ‘Just The Way You Are’ is especially a favorite of mine and most of Bruno Mars’ audience and it’s still a radio special till today. Not only did the single reach Number 1, but it also earned Bruno Mars a Grammy and extended his success as a featured artist on Travie McCoy’s big hit ‘Billionaire’.
- Locked Out of Heaven: The exhilarating single ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ sees Bruno Mars celebrating the feelings he has while being intimate with his lover.
The upbeat and descriptive song served as becoming the first taste of his comeback album, but also a complete reinstatement of Mars who had quickly become a force to be reckoned with in pop music.
Conclusion
Bruno Mars brought in a new wave of pop into the music industry and with his first album established himself as being here to stay.
Since his first album production, he has reinvented his style giving us a variety of songs in the funky, reggae, soulful and even blues form.
He didn’t have it easy breaking into the industry but since his major production, he has over time proved himself capable of flexibility while still delivering.
Bruno Mars is always graceful on stage and not only is he a great singer, he is an amazing songwriter as well.
