Often people are impressed and inspired by the expansive vocal range of professional singers. But how did they get to that point in their talent? This is actually a skill that most singers build up to and is not always a natural gift, contrary to the popular belief about a singers vocal range
An expansive vocal range means that a singer can sing high and low notes with precision and clarity.
So how can you acquire the skills to achieve this kind of range?
One thing to remember when it comes to singing is that you sing with muscles, and muscles have to be strong enough to do their job properly every single time.
The most difficult thing is that people that are trying to sing higher notes are actually doing it all wrong. Every time they sing a high note and it cracks or it breaks, they decide they shouldn’t sing it anymore. But muscles that are not being used are not getting stronger. So the theory of “I’ll come back next week and try it out” doesn’t actually help you get an expansive vocal range.
The best way to learn how to reach outside of your comfort zone is to be outside of the comfort zone, not by a lot, but just outside of your comfort zone. So if your belt goes up to an E4, try to sing an E sharp 4. Then try to find a song that has that note in it so that you’re utilizing it in and out of your registers.
Understanding the parts of your voice is extremely important.
Most of the Pop, R&B and Gospel singers that you idolize are actually using a part of their voice called the mixed voice.
The mixed voice is like if you were singing with your chest voice and your head voice at the same time.
Most people are trying to battle the top of their actual chest voice, and it’s too harsh. This makes it really hard to control. Understanding how to go into your head voice, chest voice, mixed voice, and the fluidity of your voice is very important. As well as how to properly move in and out of these registers.
Another important aspect about obtaining an expansive vocal range would be the dynamics. For example, a high note is just a high note in reference to the lowest note of the song. So when you start singing a song in a range where you feel comfortable, begin moving outside of that comfort range zone. The only way to move past it is to push through.
Remember everyone’s voice sounds different.
So if you sing somebody else’s song again in their key, and then decide that you can’t sing well because you can’t sing their key, just realize that they also are singing their key and not somebody else’s. That song was keyed exactly for them.
Let me give you an inside scoop about how things go in the music business for singers.
They normally have a song being given to them on a demo of some sort, unless they wrote the song and it’s in whatever key they wrote it in. They then get to move it into the key that’s perfect for them before they decide to record it. They’ve also probably worked on recording that song for about three months or so before they’ve ever recorded it. So if you sing a song that you’ve heard once or twice and then expect it to sound like a professional singer who’s been practicing for three months, good luck.
Another thing that you have to do when you’re expanding your range or extending your range is learn how to use your body’s muscles properly.
Your voice is air controlled by muscles.
Understanding how your diaphragm works is a pretty important part of singing. This knowledge can also take you from amateur to professional.
The vibrations that create a higher note are faster vibrations, so your body is using more air per second to produce a higher note. If we don’t know how to breathe properly in the first place, how to consume and use that air as we’re singing, it’s really hard to have consistency. Knowing where to breathe, where to push from, and more is imperative. Vocal training can be extremely helpful.
Lastly, the way you open up your mouth is HUGE. Voicercise has worked with people on extending their range half an octave in one sitting by teaching them how to open up their mouth. There are two ways you can open up your mouth, you can lift your cheeks or you can drop your jaw. This is crucial because the space inside of your mouth is what creates those frequencies.
We hope this blog post has prepared you to have an expansive vocal range! And remember, we are always here to help.
