Musician recreates Queen's epic vocal sound in 12 layers

Jon Smith didn't just cover Queen. He built their signature sound one vocal layer at a time, showing millions of fans exactly how the legendary rock band created their towering harmonies.

The Pennsylvania musician and leader of Jon Smith's Voyages posted a tutorial video on Instagram that quickly went viral. Using a memorable section from Queen's 1978 hit "Don't Stop Me Now," Smith recorded himself singing the same lines 12 different times at various pitches.

The process sounds simple but requires serious skill. Smith starts with three takes of the lead vocal to thicken the sound. Then he adds two harmony parts, each recorded three times. Finally, he layers in high octave versions of both harmonies plus a bass line for depth.

Each individual track sounds a bit silly on its own. But when Smith plays them all together, the result is pure Queen: rich, powerful, and impossibly grand.

"I have always been fascinated by Queen's bombastic harmonies," Smith wrote in his post. "Here's a little breakdown of how to achieve a similar harmony style!"

The video caught fire online, with fans marveling at both Smith's vocal range and his energy. "Dude how good is your range?? Fantastic!" one commenter wrote. Another joked, "Basically: record an entire choir."

Smith clarified that his demonstration oversimplifies Queen's actual process. The band took a more democratic approach in the studio, with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor joining frontman Freddie Mercury for those massive vocal stacks.

Why This Inspires

What makes this video special isn't just the technical breakdown. It's seeing someone geek out over what they love and share that passion with the world.

Smith's enthusiasm is contagious, reminding us that behind every seemingly effortless masterpiece lies dedication and craft. Queen didn't take shortcuts to create their massive sound. They built it layer by careful layer, blending their voices through repetition and patience.

In a 2002 documentary, Brian May explained their method: three band members would sing each line, then double it, then triple it. "It sounds like a lot of people singing really, and part of that's good construction, and part of it's luck because our voices blended very well," May said.

Smith's tribute does more than teach vocal technique. It helps a new generation appreciate the artistry behind the music, showing that even rock's most bombastic moments come from meticulous human effort.

Sometimes the best way to honor your heroes is to show others why they're worth celebrating.