Scat singing facts for kids

Ella Fitzgerald is generally considered to be one of the greatest scat singers in jazz history.

Scat singing is a special way of singing in jazz music. When a singer performs scat, they use their voice to make sounds and melodies, but they don't use any real words. It's like their voice becomes another musical instrument in the band!

Singers who scat often make up their solos on the spot. This is called improvising. They use nonsense sounds and syllables, almost like a musical conversation. It's similar to how a trumpet or saxophone player might play a solo in a song.

What is Scat Singing?

Scat singing is all about using your voice creatively. Imagine a trumpet playing a fast, exciting solo. A scat singer tries to make their voice sound just as musical and playful. They might use sounds like "doo-wop," "shoo-bee-doo," or "bop-bop-de-bop." The main idea is to create a melody with sounds, not words.

This type of singing lets the singer be very free and expressive. They can follow the rhythm of the music or create new, surprising sounds. It's a fun and energetic part of jazz.

History of Scat Singing

Many people believe that scat singing started when jazz musicians tried to copy the sounds of instruments with their voices. Two very famous jazz artists helped make scat singing popular:

Louis Armstrong's Influence

Louis Armstrong was a legendary trumpet player and singer. He is often credited with being one of the first to use scat singing. One story says he forgot the lyrics during a song and just started making up sounds. People loved it, and it became a part of his performances. Armstrong's scat was often playful and full of energy, just like his trumpet playing.

Ella Fitzgerald's Mastery

Ella Fitzgerald is known as one of the greatest scat singers of all time. She could improvise amazing solos that sounded like complex instrumentals. Her voice was incredibly flexible, allowing her to hit many different notes quickly. Ella's scat singing was smooth, clear, and very musical. She often imitated the sounds of different instruments, like a saxophone or a trumpet, with her voice. Her performances showed how beautiful and exciting scat singing could be.

Images for kids

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  Paul Berliner has suggested that scat singing arose from instrumental soloists like Louis Armstrong (pictured) formulating jazz riffs vocally.

See also

In Spanish: Scat (música) para niños