The Modern Wedding Ballad Standard
"Say You Won’t Let Go" became an instant classic upon its release in 2016. Written by James Arthur, Neil Ormandy, and Steve Solomon, it showcases how a Baritone voice can deliver incredible emotional range without needing to hit operatic highs. The song is acoustic, raw, and intimate.
To sing this well, you need to master two contrasting textures: a warm, breathy chest voice for the storytelling verses, and a delicate, floating head voice for the hook. Let's break down the technical approach.
AI Coach Tip: Watch the Low Notes
The verses start around F2. Many singers lose volume here. Instead of pushing down with your chin to hit low notes (which strains the voice), keep your head neutral and think of the sound vibrating in your chest.
Phase 1: The Conversational Verse (0:00 - 0:52)
The song begins in Bb major with a simple guitar riff. The vocal entry "I met you in the dark" should be sung almost like spoken word. It requires a "speech-level" singing approach.
The Trap: Because it is quiet, singers often run out of breath. Ensure you are taking quick, low breaths between phrases. Keep the tone airy but supported.
Phase 2: The Falsetto Flip (Chorus Hook)
The title line "Say you won't let go" features a quick transition from chest voice to falsetto/head voice. This "flip" is stylistic and intentional.
- The Setup: Don't push too much weight on the word "Say."
- The Break: Allow your voice to break smoothly into the lighter register on "won't." If you try to belt this in full chest voice, it will sound too aggressive for the lyrics.
- Vowel Shape: Narrow the vowels in your head voice to keep the tone sweet rather than shrill.
Phase 3: The Raspy Bridge (2:15 - 2:40)
As the song builds, James Arthur introduces his signature grit. On lines like "I'm so in love with you," he engages a safe amount of vocal fry or false-chord distortion.
To achieve this, do not scream. Instead, find the "grumble" sound you make when clearing your throat gently, and layer that texture over your sung note. This adds emotional urgency without damaging your cords.
Frequently Asked Questions
The song spans from a low F2 to a belted Bb4, with falsetto notes reaching slightly higher. It is a wide range suited for Baritones and Tenors.
James uses a technique involving vocal fry compression. Do not just push air harder; focus on relaxing the false vocal cords while maintaining support. The Singing Coach app can monitor if you are straining.
It is rated Medium difficulty. While the melody is simple, the emotional dynamics and the transition between the low verses and the high falsetto hook require control.
