Why is singing through the break so hard and how can I make it sound better?
Inside this video I’ll explain why it’s hard and give you 4 tips to make it sound
better.
Hi, I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing.
Singing through the break is easy once you’ve learned how to do it. Watch these episodes
to learn how to sing through the break.
But once you’ve learned to sing through the break, (also known as the bridge, middle,
or the passagio) why is it still hard especially at first? Why does it sound weaker, or different
from the rest of your voice? How can you make it sound better?
Even though you’ve learned how to get through without breaking often it sounds weaker especially
at first. It’s because it’s new, underdeveloped and underused. The special balance between
your vocal cords, air flow and the resonance shifting is a new coordination. If you persist
in “just doing it in chest”, it’ll never get stronger.
It takes a while to get used to this and to do it with maximum result. It’s like learning
to serve a tennis ball, you can hit it over the net, but can you keep it in bounds? Can
you serve it to your opponent’s backhand? Can you put topspin on the ball? Can you hit
it with power and velocity? Can you do it every time?
Why not? Because it takes time to balance, coordinate, develop strength, break old habits,
improve your mental game, gain confidence and many other things.
It’s no different with singing in the bridge or any other new skill. You can sing in and
through it, but that’s just the beginning. It takes time to get good. And just when you
start getting good, you start adding tension and then it’s not as good. You put it into
a song and it’s even worse. It’s a continual process of improvement, correction, practice
and more improvement.
It takes time. Work. Practice. Performing. Patience. More work. Patience. Faith. Some
talent. Persistence. Desire. Most of all, you can’t force it.
Here’s how to get better faster. First find vocal release without tension.
If you have tension or squeeze on the vocal cords even slightly, you’ll hamper the vocal
cords and air flow. It won’t be optimal. Your vocal balance, strength and power will
suffer. Release any tension or compression as much as possible without going into falsetto.
[Demo] Next, after release, but in the next instant
almost at the same moment, gently and gradually lean into that feeling of
letting go. [Demo] Instead of trying it in the bridge, E,F F#
above middle C for men and A (above middle C) Bb, B and high-C for women, start above
the highest bridge note and go up 3-4 half steps to encourage complete release. Then
descend ½ step at a time. Perform the release and lean down into the feeling of release
on each note, a note at a time, down through the bridge notes. [Demo]
Do the above with medium volume without forcing it. It might take a dozen times or a dozen
dozen times before you discover it. But it will come. Usually when you aren’t trying
to make it happen. [Demo]
Nurture your new ability patiently. Don’t push it too hard. That’s when it disappears.
A great first step is getting through the bridge successfully. To help you do this,
learn your vocal type at PowerToSing.com. Take the vocal test and quiz and discover
your vocal type.
Go to the Knowledge Center in PowerToSing.com and watch the videos about your vocal type.
Download the free exercises and start working on them today. They’ll help you get through
the bridge successfully which is the vital first step.
If you liked this video be sure to give it a “thumbs up” and subscribe and share
with a friend.
I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing. You can sing higher with beauty, confidence and
power.
I’ll see you inside my next video.