Singer's Forum Part II

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I'm always in.... though as soon as I start talking about "inhaling the voice," I'm sure people think I'm completely nuts...

Chris
:D
 
anyone have some tips on strengthening the upper range of one's voice...not really extending it.........

my upper register is from a Ab to C (4th through 8th fret on high E on the guit) ......ie, i can hit notes up there, but can't (and don't need to) sing a whole song up there............any tips on strengthening this part of the range?

the A is usually as high as i need to go....some times i can just nail it w/ power, but some times i get the 'cracking, stretching for the note' sound........are there proper techniques that can get me killing these every time? should these be sung only in the 'head' voice or still with a blend? I can hit them easier with just head, but they don't seem to have the tone......

WE NEED A SINGING FORUM
 
singing tips for higher range

Here some quick ideas/tips about how to improve your high range.

1) Relax and open your mouth more as you get into your higher register. Learn to feel tension in your neck. As soon as you feel tension (anything that doesn't feel "relaxed"), stop singing, regroup, try to regain that relaxed feeling or position, than try again -- even if it's hours later or the next day. Better not to sing at all than to sing with tension.

2) Sing scales and sing them lightly -- at first. A good scale exercise is just to sing a five note major pentachord on ma (ma-ah-ah-ah-ah...), then go up by 1/2 step until you've reached your vocal break (your passagio) where you have to go into falsetto. If you can sing the scale in falsetto comfortably, keep going. If not, go back down by 1/2 steps, then start again. The main thing is to sing the scales lightly. May feel weird at first, but trust me, the volume will come later. Opera singers can belt because they've sung these scales for years and years and have strengthened their vocal cords. Also, they've learned how to mix their chest voice with their head voice (a whole other topic).

3) Start to think about singing as you would playing any other instrument; that is, the best performances come from a relaxed place where the performer is breathing properly (deeply, from the diaphgram, w/minimal or no shoulder heaving). Keyboard players, guitar players, basically all instrumentalists are taught to hold and play their instruments in a certain way -- a relaxed way. The voice is the same way: It must be "held" or used in a certain, relaxed way.

A singer's most important tool: the breath. A cliche in singer's circles, but true. Breath people, breathe.

Well, that's my two cents.

Bye bye and happy singing
 
Vocal Forum YEAH!

It would be great to me if we had a singers forum. After being away from singing for 10 years or so I've had a real strong hankerin' to start back up but good singing instructors are hard to find around here. It would be great to see ya'lls tips for strengthening my vocal chords without blowing them out, plus regaining some range. (i presently have a three note range-not too impressive!)
 
Re: singing tips for higher range

kelitupu said:
Here some quick ideas/tips about how to improve your high range.

1) Relax and open your mouth more as you get into your higher register. Learn to feel tension in your neck. As soon as you feel tension (anything that doesn't feel "relaxed"), stop singing, regroup, try to regain that relaxed feeling or position, than try again -- even if it's hours later or the next day. Better not to sing at all than to sing with tension.

2) Sing scales and sing them lightly -- at first. A good scale exercise is just to sing a five note major pentachord on ma (ma-ah-ah-ah-ah...), then go up by 1/2 step until you've reached your vocal break (your passagio) where you have to go into falsetto. If you can sing the scale in falsetto comfortably, keep going. If not, go back down by 1/2 steps, then start again. The main thing is to sing the scales lightly. May feel weird at first, but trust me, the volume will come later. Opera singers can belt because they've sung these scales for years and years and have strengthened their vocal cords. Also, they've learned how to mix their chest voice with their head voice (a whole other topic).

3) Start to think about singing as you would playing any other instrument; that is, the best performances come from a relaxed place where the performer is breathing properly (deeply, from the diaphgram, w/minimal or no shoulder heaving). Keyboard players, guitar players, basically all instrumentalists are taught to hold and play their instruments in a certain way -- a relaxed way. The voice is the same way: It must be "held" or used in a certain, relaxed way.

A singer's most important tool: the breath. A cliche in singer's circles, but true. Breath people, breathe.

Well, that's my two cents.

Bye bye and happy singing

Welcome to the board, kelitupu!!

Great post, too. Whenever people start talking about singing, all the witch-doctors and snake-oil remedies start to come out, as singing is a very "mysterious" process - you can't actually SEE it happen, but we all know it does. It is often, then, subject to some really funny ideas. Regardless of one's technique, all of your ideas of of considerable value to ANY singer.

...except don't know about the whole falsetto thing.... maybe.... But yes, opera singers have their strength partly in mixing their chest voice with their head voice. It's not so much about strengthening the vocal cords, though, as much as it is about strengthening the breathing associated with it.


Chris

I'll post some ideas of my own a bit later...
 
Only the Lord knows how I wish I could sing!!!
Even to test out some lyrics on some jammies I'm producing!!
I can't even sing in tune. As a matter a fact I can't even TALK in tune!!
:(


Wassup there Chris T.!!
 
Re: Vocal Forum YEAH!

tmix said:
It would be great to me if we had a singers forum. After being away from singing for 10 years or so I've had a real strong hankerin' to start back up but good singing instructors are hard to find around here. It would be great to see ya'lls tips for strengthening my vocal chords without blowing them out, plus regaining some range. (i presently have a three note range-not too impressive!)

Yeah, we need a vocal forum. I've been singing since I was 7 years old in the church choir, and I still don't really do it correctly.
VOCAL FORUM VOCAL FORUM VOCAL FORUM
 
HEY SCOT...aren't you the one that ran sweetnubs off? Sure do miss him!
 
hey sorry guys...almost forgot why I was postin..10-4 on the vocal forum! God knows I need as much help as I can get.
 
bdbdbuck said:
HEY SCOT...aren't you the one that ran sweetnubs off? Sure do miss him!


OOOH I hope I didn't run Nubby off! I don't need that on my conscience... :eek:
 
Nice post kelitupu!!

The singers forum idea is great. Has anyone asked Dragon about it?
 
Being a singer is a very physical thing. Given that, you are in a much different situation than virtually any other musician. No matter what else you play, you can still get out there and perform pretty much at the top of your game on two hours sleep, battling a flu, and hung over beyond belief.

Singers, on the other hand, cannot. Your health plays a role, as does how much sleep you have had. Both of these things contribute to your overall energy level, which is in my experience, one of the single most important things that will determine how well you sing on a given day.

Smoking and alcohol dry out the throat - avoid these if you want to sing your best.

Technique will ensure longevity in terms of being able to perform over the course of a night, or over the course of a lifetime. Whenever you feel tension in your throat, you're hurting yourself.

Chris
 
Chris Tondreau said:
Being a singer is a very physical thing. Given that, you are in a much different situation than virtually any other musician.
Chris

Yeah tell my Hand that :(



;):D Joe
 
Chris Tondreau said:
No matter what else you play, you can still get out there and perform pretty much at the top of your game on two hours sleep, battling a flu, and hung over beyond belief.

Try convincing wind instrument players of that. :)
 
Okay.... it's settled, then. It seems its officially "beat up on Chris day." Go ahead then, if you must. I can take it,....

:confused: :cool:

Chris
 
Sometimes when im belting out a really loud vocal, I cant help worrying if Im using too much eyeliner and hairspray, like whats a singer to do?:confused:
 
Like pretty much anything else in life.... if you think you are - then you probably are....

:D :D

Chris
 
How do you know when there's a singer at the door?



You open it and she doesn't know when to come in.:D
 
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