how to sing high notes
DESCRIPTION
This presentation, made by Katarina from http://tips.how2improvesinging.com, reveals some important points when it comes to singing high notes. Some singers are known to be very good at singing high notes. Do you ever wonder what they had to do to achieve such skills? I have good news for you: everyone can learn to produce high notes! Your goal should be finding a healthy technique to produce high notes with ease and power. Inexperienced singers tend to push and squeeze resulting in a weak sound. To produce a high note in a healthy way, you need to learn to activate the deep muscles of the larynx without the help of the compensatory muscles that cause straining. Always reflect on your feelings when using a particular technique. Do I feel any pain? Is it working? Does it make sense? Set realistic goals. Our voices have limitations. Avoid disappointment by recognizing your limitations.TRANSCRIPT
How to Hit High Notes?
www.tips.how2improvesinging.-com
Some singers areknown to be very goodat singing high notes.
Michael Jackson, FreddieMercury, Mariah Carrie or
Christina Aguilera areonly a few examples.
Do you ever wonderwhat they had to do toachieve such skills?
Have you ever wantedto sing like them?
I have good news foryou: everyone can learn
to sing high notes!
Actually, singing highnotes is a learned skill.
Your goal is to finda healthy technique
to produce high noteswith ease and power.
Inexperienced singerstend to push and squeezeresulting in a weak sound.
To produce a high note ina healthy way, you need to
learn to activate
the deep muscles of the larynxwithout the help of the
compensatory muscles that cause straining.
There is a lot ofinformation about techniques to
sing high notes.
Unfortunately someinformation is not helpful and
can even diminish your range.
Trust your instinctsand do not blindly
follow anyone’s advice.
Always reflect on yourfeelings when singing using
a particular technique.
Do I feel any pain?Is it working for me?
Does it make sense to me?
#1Set realistic goals.
Our voices have limitations.
Not everyone is WhitneyHuston or Placido Domingo.
If you are a bass singer, do not try to singthe highest notesin the tenor range.
Avoid disappointmentby recognizing your
limitations.
Figure out the widestrange you can sing.
Then find the rangein which you are most
comfortable (called tessitura).
Finally, locate the noteor notes where your voice
quality changes from
one register to another (called passaggio).
#2Overall range varies
between singers.
#3Your most comfortable range
and passaggio may change as you develop your vocal
technique.
Find the upper limit ofyour vocal range, which is the highest note that you can sing
without straining.
To increase your range,start working on the nextnote (a semitone higher).
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENSWHEN WE SING HIGH
NOTES?
Many beginner singers donot take the time to learn
about the vocal mechanismwhen singing high notes.
If you know thephysiology of voice,
then you can make changes.
In order to change pitchyou need to change the length,
elasticity and thickness of vocal folds.
A low pitch tone isachieved with short, thick
and loose vocal cords,
which vibrateat a slow rate.
A high pitch tone isproduced by long, thin and
tense vocal cords, whichvibrate at a fast rate.
The change in length,elasticity and thicknessof vocal cords has to be
accomplished by deepmuscles of the larynx,
while
the superficial muscles have tostay relaxed.
Easily said, right?
The trick is to learnto isolate the action
of the deep muscles.
This can be a challengebecause the compensatory
muscles are used to working
all day long – evenwhen we swallow or yawn.
THE ROLE OF BREATHING
Good breathingtechnique allows a
singer to project sound.
A good tone requiresthe right amount of air.
Some programs promote moreair, some advice less air.
You need the sameamount of air for bothlow and high notes.
However, you need the rightamount of air pressure
underneath the vocal cords.
High pitches require biggerair pressure underneath the
vocal cords
(as compared to low pitches) because
the cords are tense,long and thin.
Only practice willteach you how muchis the right amount.
If there is not enough airpressure, the vocal cords
will not vibrate and yourvoice will crack or be weak.
If there is too muchair pressure, your
vocal cords may strain.
Do breathing exerciseswith the focus on
exhalation (breathing out).
A good exercise is to letair out in a controlled way(not too fast or too much).
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
There is no quick fix orinstant magic that will
extend your rangewithout work.
Singing high notesis a learned skill.
To build a new skill, it isalways better to practice
every day for a short
period of time thanonce in a while for along period of time.
ACCESSING YOUR HEAD VOICE
There are two mainregisters – chest
and head registers.
Registers are distincttone ranges that are
made in a specific way.
Your speaking voiceis produced in the
chest register.
When you produce low notesyour vocal cords are short,
thick and relaxed, which
permits more vibrationover the entire length
of the vocal cords.
The produced soundis heavy and strong.
Put a hand on your chestand sing a low note.
You should feelvibrations in your chest.
When you sing a high note,the vibrations in your
chest lessen and vibrations
at the back of your headincrease.
The head register is notas “comfortable” because we
don’t use it in oureveryday speech.
Sometimes, singers producehigh notes in their chest
register
which isnot a good technique.
The problem is that thiscauses muscle strain.
The vocal cords cannotmaintain this position for
a long time and the larynxrises and voice breaks.
Some schools teach“blending” of the
two registers (smooth transition from one
register to another).
Other schools teach theproduction of so called
“mixed” voice, which allows
a singer to gradually movefrom the chest vibrations
into the head register.
To develop your mixedvoice, practice the notesaround your vocal break.
Work through thenotes progressively.
Focus on using less ofthe chest voice and
more of the head voice.
Lip trills aregreat exercises.
Sing slides – notesgoing from low to
high and back to low.
Carry the soundon your breath.
Focus on being relaxed andnot lifting the larynx.
To learn more about voice types, voice registers, vocal
exercises or
if you want more tips and advice about singing, go to
tips.how2improvesinging.com
See you there!
www.tips.how2improvesinging.-com