Portamento
Creating a sense of flow and emotion in your music.
Have you ever been captivated by the expressive, fluid musical transitions between notes in your favorite songs? That seamless gliding effect is called portamento, a powerful songwriting tool that can breathe life into your music and evoke deep emotional responses in your listeners.
As a songwriter, I've seen firsthand how portamento can elevate a song's impact, creating a sense of movement and energy that keeps your audience really engaged.
Here’s what it looks like in a score:
Let’s explore this more, specifically -
What is Portamento?
Portamento Versus Melisma: What’s the Difference?
10 Examples of Portamento in Various Genres
Let’s go!
What is Portamento?
Portamento is a musical technique where a singer or instrumentalist transitions from one note to another smoothly and continuously, creating a sliding effect. You can see this technique in all sorts of genres, adding depth and expression to melodies and vocal performances. By incorporating portamento into your songwriting, you can create a sense of flow and emotion in your music, drawing listeners in with a rich, dynamic soundscape, especially if that’s what your lyric is needing.
Create a sense of flow and emotion in your music
Portamento Versus Melisma: What’s the Difference?
It’s possible that when you hear a singer moving through the scales on one word or syllable, you’d be hearing melisma as this technique. Or it could be Portamento. So what’s the difference?
Both portamento and melisma involve transitions between notes; however, there are distinct differences between the two:
Portamento: Portamento is the seamless glide or slide from one note to another without interruption. It involves a continuous movement in pitch, usually with a legato (smooth and connected) style. Portamento can be produced by vocalists and instrumentalists, contributing to a song's expressiveness and fluidity.
Melisma: Melisma is a vocal technique where a single syllable of text is sung through a series of rapidly changing notes in a fluid, melodic manner (see more here). Melisma focuses on singing multiple pitches within a short period, creating an ornamental effect that showcases a singer's agility and range. It's often commonly found in genres like R&B, gospel, and pop, where vocal embellishments are essential to the style.
In summary, portamento is a smooth glide between notes, while melisma involves singing multiple notes on a single syllable, often rapidly and intricately. Both techniques add expression and depth to vocal performances and can be used separately or together to create a rich, dynamic sound.
10 Great Examples of Portamento
Here are ten examples of songs from various genres that showcase portamento:
Classical: "Ave Maria" by Schubert (vocal)
Jazz: "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane (saxophone)
Blues: "The Thrill Is Gone" by B.B. King (guitar and vocal)
Rock: "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (vocal)
Pop: "Hello" by Adele (vocal)
R&B: "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé (vocal)
Musicals: "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (vocal)
Hip-Hop: "Stronger" by Kanye West (vocal and vocoder)
World Music: "Kina Time" by Pandit Jasraj (vocal)
Worship: “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman (vocal)
These are great examples of how diverse portamento can work really well, highlighting its versatility and impact across different genres.
In Summary
Portamento is an excellent tool in your songwriting arsenal, offering creative possibilities to transform your music and captivate your audience. By exploring examples across genres and understanding the benefits of this technique, you're well-equipped to create memorable songs that resonate with listeners.
If you're eager to dive deeper into the art of songwriting, check out my books "Song Maps" and "The Organized Songwriter." These resources will provide you with a wealth of insights, strategies, and inspiration to elevate your craft.
Questions
Here are some questions you might want to think through:
How can you use portamento to enhance the emotional impact of your music?
What are some ways to incorporate portamento into different instruments or vocal performances?
How can you combine portamento with other songwriting techniques to create a dynamic, engaging listening experience?
Hope this helps!
Simon