Sunday, August 29, 2010

Things You Must Do To Sing Higher

By Razile Flagg

There are plenty of reasons why a vocalist might need to learn to sing higher. High notes are easier to hear over loud music, plus they really seize the audience's attention and showcase the vocalist's skill.

If you want to sing notes well, there are a few things you must do. Here is some advice to help you expand your upper vocal range:

1. Sing Past Your Range

Once you've found the top of your natural vocal range, you can begin singing a little bit higher every day until you grasp the notes just above your convenience zone. Never force your voice; sing softly when you're first beginning.

How high is too high? Currently, stick with notes near the top of your range. You will ultimately stop at the highest note you can strike without switching to falsetto. You will know you've switched to falsetto when you generate notes that do not vibrate your vocal chords. Keep a hand on your throat as you sing to feel the difference.

2. Warm Up - Always

It's essential to warm up your vocal chords beforehand. Sing scales, and commit some time singing the lowest possible notes. This will relax your vocal chords and prepare them to sing high notes.

Try singing the high notes with different vowel sounds. Some singers set a course by singing short words like 'no,' or 'gug'. You will soon discover which vowel sounds sound best in higher pitches.

3. Identify Your Head Voice

When you sing up a range, there is a point where your vice normally shifts from the chest voice to the head voice. Your head voice is lighter and airier than your chest voice, and it resonates in the top of your throat or the back of your mouth.

The point where your chest voice shifts to your head voice is referred to as your 'break'. The key to making this a smooth sudden change is developing a mixed voice, or 'middle voice', that brings together your chest and head voice.

4. Develop Your Middle Voice

The coveted 'mixed' or 'middle' voice is the sign of an experienced vocalist, and it takes time and effort to improve it properly. A strong middle voice helps you flow easily from your chest voice to your head voice.

This is often known as bridging, or singing through your break. To improve your middle voice, practice singing notes that take you back and forth across your break. Differ your vocal chord stress and breath pressure until the transition starts to smooth out.

5. Use Your Breath

Some singers belt out high notes with apparent ease. Those singers have realized the truth about breathing and how it influences high notes.

While it might seem counter intuitive, you actually need to use less breath tension in order to produce a high note. If you exhale too briskly when you produce the note, the sound quality will suffer.

Pay attention to your breath and vocal chord tension when you sing higher notes. After several days, you will have an idea of how much breath is necessary to sing high notes well.

6. Practice Singing in a Higher Key

If you have a favorite song that you usually sing in a low or middle key, exercise singing it in a higher key. It's okay if you don't sound perfect at first; high notes take practice!

Take the song up an octave and sing it completely through. You will find out which notes are reasonable for your voice, and which ones are simply too high.

The highest notes will need time and practice. If you cannot attain them without exhausting your voice, transpose them to a lower key when you perform.

7. Just Keep Singing

The importance of practice cannot be overstated. Even if you think you sound terrible at first, keep practicing those high notes. Quality and control will return in time. - 40727

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