Mastering Modern R&B Soul
Released as part of the soundtrack for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and included on her debut album Yours Truly, "Almost Is Never Enough" is a vocal masterclass in R&B styling. Unlike the high-energy pop belts of her later work, this track requires a warm, grounded lower register and impeccable agility.
It's a duet featuring Nathan Sykes, meaning you must be aware of blending and harmonization. The track starts simple but evolves into a playground of runs (melisma) that challenge even experienced singers. Let's look at the technical breakdown.
AI Coach Tip: Watch the "Breathiness"
Ariana often uses a "breathy" tone in her lower range (D3-A3). However, too much air can dry out your cords. The AI Coach monitors your "Signal-to-Noise" ratio to ensure you are adding texture without losing vocal cord closure.
Phase 1: The Verses (D3 - A4)
The song begins in D Major. The opening lines sit very low for a typical Soprano song, touching down to D3. This area needs to be sung with a "chest-dominant" mix. Don't push too hard; think of speaking the lyrics intimately.
The Trap: Losing volume on the low notes. Keep your diaphragm engaged even when singing quietly to maintain pitch stability on phrases like "I'd like to say we gave it a try."
Phase 2: The Chorus (F#4 - D5)
The melody lifts here. The emotional intensity increases, requiring a seamless bridge between your chest voice and your head voice. The phrasing is long and legato.
- Vowel Modification: On words like "Enough," modify the vowel towards "Uh-nuhf" rather than a wide "Ah" sound. This helps keep the larynx neutral as you ascend.
- Dynamics: Do not belt the chorus at 100% volume immediately. Save your power for the bridge.
Phase 3: The Outro Riffs (Agility)
This is the hardest part of the song. Ariana and Nathan trade vocal runs that move rapidly up and down the pentatonic scale. The key to nailing these is staccato practice.
Take the complex run on "We almost had it all" and sing every note distinct and short. Once your muscle memory learns the intervals, smooth it out and speed it up. The AI Coach can slow the track down to 50% to help you practice these intricate patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ariana hits a belted E5 in the climax, though there are background harmonies and ad-libs that float higher into the head voice.
Yes. The Singing Coach AI app has a "Solo Mode" where the AI fills in Nathan Sykes' harmonies, or you can switch to "Duet Mode" to sing alongside the virtual partner.
Focus on forward placement (mask resonance) mixed with a relaxed jaw. Avoid tension in the neck, especially during the quiet sections.
