Ep.47: Singing Higher is Easier than You Think - Tip# 4 of 5
When you are singing higher notes do you find that some words are a lot harder to sing than
other words? There’s a simple reason for this. Inside this video I’m going to show
you why this happens and how to fix it. This is really going to help you!
Hi! I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing.
Singing higher is easier than you think if you know how to modify vowels in words that
cause you problems.
For example, let’s say you are singing “I will Always Love You” written by Dolly Parton
and made famous by Whitney Houston. And right when you sing “I” your voice cracks. And
then when you sing the word ‘love” it splats wide. If you will modify the word “I”
to “Uh” and “love” to L“oo”v it will be easier to sing, your voice won’t
crack and the word love won’t splat. [Demo]
If I narrow the word...if I narrow the vowel, it sounds like this: [Demo]
Here’s why this happens with some words. The pitch of this word lands in the First
Bridge of the voice. (See Episode #41 to learn where your first bridge is located) When this
happens the resonance wants to split so there’s both chest and head vibrations. Often we panic
and the larynx rises which causes the vocal cords to break apart.
The vowel in the word is an open or wide vowel. The wider the vowel, the more likely the larynx
rises and the vowel spreads open even wider. This causes the word to distort and splat.
Usually when this happens we push harder and pull chest voice higher. [Demo]
Here’s tip # 4. Modify the vowel to the next more narrow vowel. It’s simpler than
you think.
Here’s a list of vowels and the next more narrow vowel (This is also available in Ep.25)
If the word sounds like “a” (Bach) narrow it towards “uh” (buck)
If the word sounds like “uh” (buck) narrow it towards “oo” (book)
If the word sounds like “oo” (book) narrow it towards “ou” (no)
If the word sounds like “ou” (no) narrow it towards “u” (too)
If the word sounds like “ae” (add) narrow it towards “ε” (Ed)
If the word sounds like “ε” (Ed) narrow it towards “I” (pit)
If the word sounds like “I” (pit) narrow it towards “i” (bee)
You might also find these words helpful:
“My” modify to M “uh” y [Demo]
“Now” modify to N “uh” oo [Demo]
“Rocket’s Red Glare”, do you recognize that? “Ruckets Rid Glib” [Demo] Of course
on the “rid glib” you use the “r” instead of the “b”.
Singing higher becomes easier when these open vowels are slightly closed or narrowed.
Several good things happen once the vowel is narrowed.
It’s better for your voice It allows the resonance to shift into your
head The larynx stays resting at the level where
you speak The word sounds like the way you pronounce
it when you speak The vocal cords stay connected
It sounds better
These things combined help you sing higher in the First Bridge of your voice in a Mix
Voice.
Mix is vocal type. Do you know your vocal type? I’m not talking about whether you’re
soprano, alto, tenor or bass. Your vocal type is what you tend to do when you sing in the
First Bridge!
Visit PowerToSing.com and take the PowerTest. This is a vocal test and quiz which will give
you your vocal type.
Then visit the Knowledge Center and watch the videos about your vocal type. Download
the free exercises for your vocal type. These are designed especially for your voice and
will help you make progress rapidly.
I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing.
You can sing higher with beauty, confidence and power.
I’ll see you inside the next video.
[Outtake]
Subtitles by the Amara.org community