Ariana Grande Style Breakdown: How To Sing Dangerous Woman

Many singers love Ariana Grande and want to learn how to sing just like her - and I don’t blame them! She has a fantastic voice and a ton of success. But also, Ariana Grande already exists… copying her in hopes that you’ll also see success is most likely not going to work (unless you want to have a career as an Ariana Grande impersonator). Or maybe people have been telling you that you sound a lot like her and you don’t like that.

Wether you want to sound more like her, less like her or just understand what makes her unique and why she’s so great, let’s break down her technique and style by looking at the a cappella version of Dangerous Woman!

The Verse: Breathy + Bright

The verses are breathy, but not weak. Ariana adds just enough air to create intimacy, while keeping the tone bright and forward. This combination gives presence without push.

When I first sang it through, my natural tone leaned heavier and darker—more Cher than Ariana. That contrast highlighted something important: you don’t have to sound like her to apply her tools. You can adopt the stylistic choices without copying the voice. All I did to make my tone go from Cher to Ariana was add a smile and show my upper teeth. That made my tone more forward and therefore more bright - just like Ariana.

The Pre-Chorus

The function of a pre-chorus is to build the energy and keep the song moving forward. Ariana matched that energy with her voice. She added a lot more volume and the rhythmic verse turned into a more legato pre-chorus, adding a nice contrast. She was also a lot chestier and more powerful here.

Even though we’re getting more powerful here, make sure that you’re not getting too heavy. That will lead to a lot of strain in the chorus! Keep it lifted!

The Chorus

Here we’re back to a lot of rhythmic consonants - for example on the word “feel” she’s not sustaining the vowel, but rather the consonant “l”. She’s also completely changing her tone on the words “woman” and “shouldn’t”, making them a lot darker. I call this a more “hooded” tone. This gives it such a nice contrast and makes it so fun to listen to her!

The Crazy High Notes At The End

Contrary to the verse where she’s really using the consonants to create that rhythmic feel, she’s almost skipping over the consonants to get these high notes out more easily. While she’s not in a full chest belt up here, she’s in a very strong and chest dominant mix, giving her such a full and powerful sound.

Stylisms That Make It Pop

Here’s what I noticed in her delivery:

• Breathy onsets set the mood immediately.

• Forward resonance keeps the sound light instead of pressed.

• Vocal Fry in the verses

• Her typical Ariana riffs

• Rhythmic consonants almost act like percussion, shaping the groove.

• Big dynamic range throughout the whole song.

None of these require force—they’re choices. And that’s what makes them powerful.

Key Reminders for Singers

When you break down a singer like Ariana, remember:

• Breathiness can be controlled. It’s not about leaking air everywhere—it’s about balance.

• Brightness doesn’t mean volume. Forward resonance creates clarity without strain.

• Style is flexible. You don’t need to impersonate. You can use the techniques in your own way.

You don’t have to copy Ariana—you just have to understand the choices she’s making.

Takeaway

Dangerous Woman isn’t just about hitting notes. It’s about the artistry of how you deliver them.

If you want to grow as a singer, practice asking:

👉 Where is the breathiness intentional?

👉 How are vowels and consonants shaping the groove?

👉 What resonance keeps this tone bright but free?

That awareness is what turns a song from just notes into artistry.

🎧 Want to hear how I broke it down section by section? Watch the full breakdown here:

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