Sing Higher
Would you like to learn how to sing higher? If so, please consider accepting my offer on this page for the FREE Report and you will be on your way to increasing your singing range.
You may have been trying very hard to increase your ability to sing notes at a higher range, but you may notice that you are not able to hold the note. It can also be the case that your voice becomes very tired after attempting to sing a song with multiple high notes in comparison to singing high once and then returning to a normal singing voice.
In both of these cases the issue isn’t range, but it is tessitura. Tessitura is your natural singing range where you are able to sing at a steady pitch without straining. This word can also be used to identify the basic range of the pitch of a song or a particular part of a chorus.
There are some mezzo-sopranos that may be able to elevate their range sometimes to a high C when singing. However, the tessitura of these mezzo-sopranos is probably a half octave to an octave below a high C, more than likely from the A range above middle C to the second A range above middle C. If singers of this sort attempt to sing a song where the tessitura is in the range of a high G to high C then they will more than likely have issues with the voice being strained and tired.
It is very important for you to know where your tessitura is because it will help you in selecting songs that you are capable of singing comfortably. It is possible that you are able to sing above your tessitura. However, when you do this you increase the chances of causing strain to your voice.
So, are you really able to increase your tessitura? Actually, it is possible but it will take some time and effort. The main elements for achieving this involve learning how to support your breath with upper resonance. When you attempt to sing high notes without using proper breathing you increase the chances of straining your voice. If you continue to do this over a length of time you could cause damage to your voice.
You will find that in order to sing notes at a higher range you will need more than breathe control. All of the breathe muscles which include the intercostals, spinals, diaphragm and abdominals have to be used while fully opening the middle portion of the body as you breathe in. When you breathe out make sure that you keep all your muscles open with the exception of your abdominals. The abdominals will be used in order to regulate the flow of your breath.
Once you have acquired the correct breathing you can begin to pay more attention to upper resonance which is also known as “head voice”. When focusing on your head voice it is best to think of the sound going in an upward direction from your forehead and the top of the head. You can compare this exercise to taking an elevator where you can envision your breath as the control that makes the elevator rise.
When you do this exercise you will experience a vibrating sensation in your sinuses and the soft palate or the roof of your mouth. Hold your mouth so that it is tall vertically but narrow horizontally. A common recommendation is to imagine swallowing something that doesn’t taste good. When you do this you will usually only open your throat enough so that whatever you are swallowing doesn’t touch the sides.
It is best to keep your tone lightweight and to resist trying to overdo anything. Using the yawn-slide or vocal siren is recommended to start off. For the yawn-slide exercises breathe in and then form your mouth as you would when yawning. When exhaling emit a “hoo” or “hee” at the very top of your range then repeatedly do this to the very bottom of your range. When beginning again, try to start each exercise at a higher range if possible.
The vocal siren exercise is like the yawn slide except it goes in the opposite direction from the bottom up. Start by humming and as you increase your breath attempt to complete this exercise repeatedly using the same breathe.
The five-tone scale is another exercise that you can perform to increase your tessitura. It involves a rapid rise and fall of the scale using your voice. You can begin this exercise by beginning at mid-range. You can use the buzz which is also referred to as bubble lips or lip roll or vowel sounds. The five tone scale is the do-re-mi-fa-so-fa-mi-re-do. When you repeat the exercise increase your range a half-step and remember to support your breath correctly.
By practicing regularly you will eventually be able to increase your tessitura and sing notes higher with much ease. You just have to be willing to practice and have realistic expectations.
Tags: sing higher, vocal training