The Ultimate Modern Ballad
"All of Me" by John Legend is dedicated to his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and has become a staple for vocal students worldwide. It stripped away production to focus entirely on the piano and the voice. Because the instrumentation is so sparse, there is nowhere to hide. Pitch accuracy and tone quality are paramount.
The song builds gradually from a tender, intimate verse to a soaring chorus. To master this track, you need to navigate the bridge between your chest voice and your upper mix without cracking.
AI Coach Tip: Conserve Your Breath
The lines in the chorus ("'Cause all of me / Loves all of you") are long sustained phrases. Many singers run out of air before the end of the phrase, causing the pitch to go flat. Take a deep, low breath before the chorus hits.
Phase 1: The Intimate Verse (0:00 - 0:58)
The song begins in F minor before moving to the relative major. The verses ("What would I do without your smart mouth") sit in a comfortable F3 to Db4 range. This should be sung with a warm chest resonance.
The Trap: Do not over-sing here. Keep the volume around a 3 or 4 out of 10. Think of it as speaking to someone in a quiet room.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus (0:58 - 1:15)
On the line "My head's under water but I'm breathing fine," the tension builds. The melody climbs, and you need to start engaging your diaphragm more. The word "fine" is a crucial pivot point into the chorus—ensure you have enough breath support to carry it smoothly.
Phase 3: The Soaring Chorus (1:15 - 2:00)
This is the emotional peak. The melody jumps to Ab4 and eventually Bb4. You need to drop your jaw and keep your tongue flat to create space in the back of the throat. This allows the high notes to ring out with power rather than sounding squeezed.
On "curves and all your edges," focus on legato singing—connecting the words smoothly rather than chopping them up. The AI Coach monitors the sustain on "you" and "do" to ensure you are holding the note for the full duration.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted note in the main melody is a Bb4 (on "Risk it all"). However, John Legend uses falsetto and ad-libs that may go higher depending on the live version.
Yes. It has a manageable range and a slow tempo, making it excellent for practicing pitch accuracy and breath control. If the chorus is too high, you can transpose it down -2 semitones in the app.
That rasp is a natural part of his vocal texture, but you can emulate the emotion by adding a slight "cry" into your voice. Be careful not to grind your vocal cords to force a rasp, as this can cause damage.
