How to sing Wonderwall

The Anthem of Britpop

Released in 1995 on the album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Wonderwall is the quintessential Oasis track. Written by Noel Gallagher and sung by Liam, it requires a specific attitude more than a massive vocal range. The key to nailing this song lies in the "sneer"—a bright, forward vocal placement.

While the notes are accessible for most male voices, the challenge is maintaining pitch accuracy while holding the long, sustained notes in the chorus without losing that gritty texture. Let's break down the technique.

Phase 1: The Verse (0:00 - 1:08)

The song starts in F# Minor. The verses ("Today is gonna be the day...") sit in the lower end of the range (around E3-A3). The delivery here should be almost spoken, with very little vibrato.

The Trap: Many singers go too soft here. Keep a solid chest connection. If you sing it too breathy, you won't have the power required when the pre-chorus kicks in.

Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus (1:08 - 1:26)

This is where the energy builds. On the line "By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do," the melody climbs. You need to increase your volume slightly but keep the placement in the "mask" (the front of your face).

• Breath Control: The phrases are long. Make sure to take a quick, deep breath before "I don't believe that anybody..."
• Consonants: Hit the 'k' in "back" and 't' in "heart" clearly to keep the rhythm driving forward.

Phase 3: The Chorus (1:26 - 1:50)

The iconic hook. The notes on "Maybe" and "Save me" hang on an F#4. This is the top of the chest register for many untrained singers.

To hit this comfortably, do not push from your throat. Instead, engage your core (diaphragm) and think of sending the sound out through your nose. This "twang" removes the weight from your vocal cords and gives you that piercing rock sound that cuts through the acoustic guitars.

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