subject: Things You Must Do To Sing Higher [print this page] There are many reasons why a vocalist might need to learn to sing higher. High notes are much easier to hear over loud music, plus they really grab the audience's interest and showcase the vocalist's skill.
If you want to sing notes well, there are a few things you must do. Here is several tips to help you expand your upper vocal range:
1. Sing Past Your Range
Once you've found the top of your natural vocal range, you can begin singing slightly higher each day until you master the notes just above your comfort zone. Never compel your voice; sing gently when you're first beginning.
How high is too high? For now, stick with notes near the top of your range. You will ultimately stop at the highest note you can hit without switching to falsetto. You will realize you've switched to falsetto when you produce notes that do not pulsate your vocal chords. Keep a hand on your throat as you sing to know the difference.
2. Warm Up - Always
It's important to warm up your vocal chords beforehand. Sing scales, and commit some time singing the lowest possible notes. This will relax your vocal chords and prepare them to sing high notes.
Try singing the high notes with different vowel sounds. Some singers warm up by singing short words like 'no,' or 'gug'. You will shortly discover which vowel sounds sound best in greater pitches.
3. Identify Your Head Voice
When you sing up a range, there is a point where your vice naturally shifts from the chest voice to the head voice. Your head voice is lighter and airier than your chest voice, and it resonates in the top of your throat or the back of your mouth.
The point where your chest voice adjusts to your head voice is referred to as your 'break'. The key to making this a smooth transition is creating a mixed voice, or 'middle voice', that combines your chest and head voice.
4. Develop Your Middle Voice
The coveted 'mixed' or 'middle' voice is the mark of an experienced vocalist, and it needs time and effort to develop it properly. A strong middle voice helps you flow easily from your chest voice to your head voice.
This is often known as bridging, or singing through your break. To develop your middle voice, practice singing notes that take you back and forth across your break. Differ your vocal chord stress and breath pressure until the changeover starts to smooth out.
5. Use Your Breath
Some singers fetch out high notes with apparent ease. Those singers have learned the truth about breathing and how it affects high notes.
While it might seem counter intuitive, you actually need to use less breath tension in order to produce a high note. If you exhale too briskly when you produce the note, the sound quality will struggle.
Pay attention to your breath and vocal chord tension when you sing higher notes. After a few days, you will have an idea of how much breath is necessary to sing high notes well.
6. Practice Singing in a Higher Key
If you have a favorite song that you usually sing in a low or middle key, practice singing it in a higher key. It's okay if you don't sound perfect at first; high notes take practice!
Take the song up an octave and sing it completely through. You will find out which notes are reasonable for your voice, and which ones are simply too high.
The highest notes will need time and practice. If you cannot reach them without exhausting your voice, transpose them to a lower key when you perform.
7. Just Keep Singing
The significance of practice cannot be overstated. Even if you think you sound terrible at first, keep practicing those high notes. Quality and control will return in time.
