Mixed voice development is challenging because you aren’t singing with only chest or head
voice. You’re singing with both chest and head voices at the same time blended or mixed
together. It’s a new feeling caused by a new approach to singing.
Here are four exercises that cause you to sing with a mixed voice. I’ll give you the
exercises, show you how to do them, and explain why they work. By the end of this video you’ll
be singing in mixed voice. Shall we do a little mixing?
Hi! I’m Chuck Gilmore, International Vocal Coach and Founder of Power To Sing.
Each week I teach you lessons in vocal technique so you can build a powerful and confident
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Your mixed voice development improves as you train your voice in a new way of singing and
drop the old way. Mixed voice is different and requires you to learn new habits of singing.
Here are 5 exercises that will retrain your voice to being singing in a mixed voice.
Exercise One - Bubble Lips
First say, “uh”. This is the voice at rest. “uh”
Next make a frown. Place your fingers in the crease of your frown and lift upward. You’re
taking the weight of your cheeks off of your lips, so they can bubble easily.
Now while saying “uh” and lifting your cheeks with your fingers, blow air through
your lips. [demo]
Now to it on this scale. Men it sounds like this: [demo from B2]
Both men and women will go up 2 ½ steps. Ready men, begin.
Now women. Yours sounds like this. [demo from G3] Ready ladies, begin.
This exercise works because when done as demonstrated, it keeps the larynx at your speech level,
that is, at the level where you speak, while allowing the vibrations to shift from chest,
through the vocal bridge and into head voice. Also, the vocal cords will adjust appropriately
from chest, through the bridge and into head voice. Be sure to maintain the connected tone
like this. [demo] Don’t let it break into falsetto like this. [demo]
Exercise Two - Ney
Say the word, “ney”. Add to it a funny sound like this. [demo a witchy ney]. Do this
exercise on an Octave Repeat Scale like this. [demo] Men start here. Both men and women
go down 2 ½ steps. [demo G4] Ready men, begin.
Now women. Yours sounds like this. [demo C#4] Ready ladies, begin.
This exercise works because, when done as demonstrated, it thins out the chest voice
so it doesn’t pull chest up as you sing higher. Also, you get deeper into the cord
structure to prevent you from singing in falsetto so you connect into head voice. The results
is a mixed voice...even though it is still a work in progress and not a finished tone.
Exercise Three - No
Using the same Octave Repeat scale, say “no” instead of “ney”. Say this in slow motion.
[demo no - ooo] Can you hear the “ooo” in word “no”. When you sing “no”,
be sure to say “ooo” at the end of “no”. This will help it go into your head voice.
Men start on the same pitch as before. It sounds like this. [demo G4] Ready men, begin.
Guys, can you feel the vibrations moving into your head? Let me know in the comments section
below. Just say “yes, I feel the vibrations moving up”. Or “no I can’t feel it yet.”
Ladies yours sounds like this. [demo C#4] Ready ladies, begin.
Ladies, can you feel the vibrations moving into your head? Please let me know in the
comments section below.
This exercise works because the “no” lowers the larynx and allows it to rest at your speech
level. The “ooo” in “no -ooo” encourages the vibrations to shift into your head. This
causes you to use both chest and head voice mixed together at the same time. You are singing
in a mix.
Exercise Four - Mum
Using the same exercises as before, say “moom” (as in good) . Be careful to keep the vowel
the same as you sing higher. Don’t let it go to “mam”. [demo]
Men start on the same pitch as before. It sounds like this. [demo G4] Ready men, begin.
Ladies yours sounds like this. [demo C#4] Ready ladies, begin.
This exercise works because it encourages the larynx to stay low and resting. The vowel
“oo” is self centering...meaning it tends to cause a blend of chest and head voice.
In other words, it causes you to mix chest and head voice together as you sing. You are
singing in a mix.
This is a great beginning for you singing in a mix. Now you’re ready for more special
exercises designed to help you take your mixed singing to the next level.
Follow these steps:
One. Download this PDF, Get Your Vocal Type. Get it here or in the description below this
Youtube video.
Two. Follow the links on the PDF and take the vocal test. The vocal test will help you
discover your vocal type. Your vocal type describes what you tend to do when you sing
through the bridge.
Three. Watch the videos about your vocal type and watch demonstrations of exercises for
your vocal type, so you can get faster results.
Four. Download the exercises for your vocal type and start practicing them. These exercises,
designed for your vocal type, will help you succeed singing in mixed voice.
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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.