Mastering Seductive R&B Vocals
Earned It is a chamber pop and R&B ballad that demands a high level of vocal finesse. Written for the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) utilizes a smooth, controlled delivery that floats between a warm chest voice and his signature piercing falsetto.
Unlike power ballads that rely on sheer volume, this song requires restraint. The challenge is maintaining consistent breath support while navigating the waltz-time rhythm. Let's break down exactly how to tackle the vocal layers.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Airflow
A common mistake is pushing too much air on the high notes. The Weeknd's tone is bright and forward, not breathy. Focus on "twanging" your falsetto to get that sharp, clear resonance without straining.
Phase 1: The Verses (Chest Voice)
The song starts in D Minor. The verses ("You make it look like it's magic") sit comfortably in the mid-range (D3-A3) for most male singers. However, the tone must be smooth and legato.
The Trap: Because the verses are lower, singers often get lazy with pitch. Keep your soft palate raised to ensure the lower notes don't sound muddy or flat.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus Climb
As the tension builds toward the chorus, the melody climbs. You need to lighten your chest voice mechanism here. If you carry too much "heavy" chest weight up to the A3/B♭3 area, the transition to the chorus will feel clunky and abrupt.
Phase 3: The Falsetto Chorus
This is the signature moment. The line "Cause girl, you're perfect" jumps up to the D5 range. This must be sung in a reinforced falsetto or head voice.
- Placement: Imagine the sound resonating in your forehead or mask.
- Vowel Modification: On the word "Perfect," modify the vowel slightly towards "Purr-fict" to keep the throat open.
- Agility: The ad-libs in the final chorus require flexibility. Practice these runs slowly on a specific vowel (like "Noo" or "Mum") before adding the lyrics back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest note is a D5, found in the falsetto sections of the chorus. Some ad-libs may touch on surrounding notes depending on the live version.
You can transpose the song down using the Singing Coach AI app to sing the chorus in your chest voice, or use it as an exercise to develop your head voice strength.
The song is in a compound time signature, often felt as 6/8 or a slow waltz, which gives it that swaying, dramatic feel.
