How to Sing Better: Expanding Your Vocal Range

I have decided to label all of my singing articles under the "how to sing better" label. Why? Because I truly want you to learn how to sing better! Singing is one of my passions, so why in the world would I keep that from you?

Today in my "How To Sing Better" series, we will discuss part two of the vocal range discussion: expanding your vocal range. If you have not read part one of this topic, I encourage you to read it before you delve into this discussion by clicking here: How To Sing Better: Your Vocal Range and Ability.

The vocal range that the average human being boasts is far from his potential. As Brett Manning so poignantly asserts, "The range you have now is the range you were corrupted with". Think of little children as they wail and scream and cry at the top of their lungs. Are they struggling to belt out those high pitched squeals? Are they thinking, "I sure hope that I can produce this cry so someone will know that I am not happy!" Of course they are not thinking that way! They just do it naturally - you see that, naturally. While our voices change as we grow up, the co-ordinations do not. It takes the same co-ordination to sing those high notes as it does to belt out that squeal, but for some reason we forget how to make that co-ordination as we grow older. Therefore I am here to tell you that you can for a fact expand your vocal range and learn how to sing better - you just have to re-learn the correct co-ordinations to do so!

In order to expand your vocal range safely and in a healthy fashion, you must learn the proper co-ordinations and techniques. Learning how to sing better takes time! I would like to discuss a few singing tips that will help you increase your vocal range.

How To Sing Better: Expanding Your Vocal Range Tip #1: Learn Vocal Cord Closure!

I cannot stress this to you enough! Proper technique and co-ordination revolves around identifying and producing proper amounts of vocal cord closure (if you like to read an article on this, please click here). You cannot increase your vocal range in a safe and healthy fashion without learning vocal cord closure. Your vocal cords are small folds of tissue and muscle located in the larynx.¹ When your vocal cords come together, they regulate the amount of air that blows through them, producing sound via speech, humming, singing, etc. Expanding the vocal range involves teaching these tissues and muscles to come together and regulate air correctly. The best exercise to practice in order to produce vocal cord closure is the lip roll (please click on this link and view the demonstrations). The lip roll acts as a catalyst to vocal cord closure. When you are engaging in the lip roll exercise, your vocal cords automatically begin to close correctly as you ascend into your upper range. Your voice does not "break" when doing the lip roll; it naturally shapes itself and co-ordinates to produce the sound you desire. Many people find their head voice for the first time when doing this exercise. Why? Because it helps you sing with the proper technique! It automatically closes up the vocal cords, raises the soft palate and stabilizes the larynx (keep an eye on your larynx, it can rise if you are not careful!).

How To Sing Better: Expanding Your Vocal Range Tip #2: Learn Breath Support!

Some schools of vocal thought place high emphasis on breath support; others place little to no emphasis on breath support. I just want to put breath support in its proper place. The fact is - you need breath support! Breathing correctly involves breathing from your diaphragm (sometimes called diaphragmatic support) to sustain notes. Please note that it is not so much learning how to produce more breath support as it is learning how to control your breath support! Learning how to sing better and expanding your vocal range go hand in hand with controlling the amount of air you use when you are singing. When you are practicing breath support, be sure to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Do not let your shoulders rise or your chest poke out! It may make you look like you have a big gut, but you must expand your diaphragm (stomach area) in order to make full use of your breath support. As you ascend in your range, you actually need less air to produce the notes because your vocal cords "zip up", thus you need more control than actual support. Please note that I am not minimizing breath support - I'm just placing greater emphasis on controlling it rather than providing it. A great exercise I have found to increase my breath support is to breathe in through your nose for five seconds and then release for 10 seconds. Gradually increase your release time to 15 seconds, 20 seconds, and so forth. You will find this increase in breath support vital to help control the higher notes you will be singing in your expanded vocal range!

How To Sing Better: Expanding Your Vocal Range Tip #3: Learn How To Keep Your Larynx Neutral!

Because your vocal cords are located in your larynx, it is important to keep your larynx neutral as you continue to learn how to sing better. A neutral larynx is defined as the resting position of the larynx. Relaxing your larynx and keeping it stable enables you to ascend through your vocal range without tension or constriction. I will go ahead and warn you that this is tough to do at first. You will tend to raise your larynx as you ascend because you feel like it will help you hit those high notes. In reality, raising your larynx only hinders your voice and restricts the freedom of singing those high notes. A couple of the best exercises that teach you how to maintain a neutral larynx are "mum mum mum" and "buh buh buh" on octave or arpeggio scales. Place your finger on top of your Adam's apple when it is in the resting position and attempt those exercises. Be sure to keep your larynx from rising above your finger as you ascend in your vocal range! These exercises teach your larynx to stay neutral while singing to your heart's desire!

If you ever have any specific questions about singing, be sure to contact me via private message! Otherwise, be sure to keep on watch for part three of this series: "How To Sing Better: Making Your Entire Range Usable!"

Be sure to check out other articles in my "How To Sing Better" series today!

1. "Vocal Folds". Wikipedia