They say, only those born with high pitch can sing higher notes.It is a lie! Any person who has a heart for music can grow its voice range. Perhaps you are just singing the wrong way thus results in not-so-good high notes.To achieve this most impressive way of singing, read on our tips on how to do it.
Hurting the throat is not the answer in reaching for higher notes.Our vocal chords are similar to body muscles that need exercise to get fit.That is why voice warm-up is much important before singing to increase your vocal range. Intentionally leveling up into higher notes may give inconsistent results.An expert is ever-present to make things easier for you.
Things to Remember
Your speaking voice should not be too far from your singing voice.The relaxed feeling, while you speak, must be applied when you start singing.Do not act like another persona just to reach a high note.Always be yourself and let the real emotions come out from your mouth.
Some days your voice does not feel good to belt out songs and so give it a rest. Consider your body’s condition before hitting high notes, as there are conditions that can affect your voice.It can be a cold and flu, menstruation, and other serious illnesses.
Let us proceed to the main topic.
How to Reach High Notes?
Some singers hit those top notes in a wrong way that results in damaging the vocal chords.Here are some tips to sing like Mariah Carey without straining your voice:
1. Determine your voice type
There are an overall six voice types according to gender– soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass.We all have a unique voice and so achieving big notes is highly possible.
Hitting high notes should be done naturally, so you need to know your voice limits as well.Our voices can be damaged permanently if we choose to sing outside our range.
2. Facial Relaxation
Relaxing your muscles is necessary to hit high notes.It is more than how wide you open your mouth while singing.That way might even cause injury over your veins. A relaxed face and mouth are necessary before singing to avoid hurting yourself.
First, you must have relaxed breaths to easily release tension upon reaching high notes.Slowly breathe in and out while keeping your shoulders, neck, and chest relax.
Next is you need to massage your face and jaw muscles by placing the heels of your hands below the cheekbones. Gently massage the area to release the muscles. Your mouth must be slightly opened along the process. Repeat over a few times.Have a big yawn to fully stretch the face and jaw muscles.
Lastly, give your neck and shoulders a good stretch to release more tension for singing high notes. Start by rolling your neck from side to side until being fully stretched out.Then comes to your shoulders slowly moving backward and forward while your arms hang loosely. A lot of tension can be found in these areas anyway.
3. Stay Hydrated
There are many drinks badly for our voices, like alcohol and caffeinated drinks.They are the reason why we go to the toilet more often just a few minutes after drinking.We end up more dehydrated which weakens our vocal ability.
Human’s vocal must stay lubricated to sing high notes without getting hurt. Water at room temperature is advisable to keep our vocals healthier. Do not drink ice water because it makes the vocal chords less flexible and in shock.
Both genders have a particular number of cups of water to drink in a day, 13 cups and 9 cups for men and women, respectively.You can exceed the adequate intake for healthier vocal folds.
4. Warming Up the Vocal Chords
The most important session for every singer is the warming up of the vocal chords. It aids your vocal chords to be in good shape for the entire performance.
Here is a simple guide to warm-up your vocal chords:
- Ensure your vocal chords are hydrated by using a personal humidifier before and after a performance. It helps to moisture your throat which is good for singing.
- Before the warm-up starts, drink water with a bit of honey to prevent the throat from swelling upon reaching higher registers. Go back to number 3 for the drinks needed to avoid.
- It is time to do lip trills that will guide your breath control and lessen the pressure on your vocal chords when you sing. Make a raspberry sound by pressing your lips together and then releasing air by your mouth. The lips will vibrate in a steady stream.Do it again with “h” and “b” sound, in a row.
- Up next is to make a siren sound with an “o”. This helps to stretch out the vocal chords. Start by turning your mouth into an “o” position. Inhale and exhale to release a “woo” sound at up and down scale just like a siren.Repeat up to three times.
- Another one is the two-octave scales that help you to reach higher notes. You can use “me”sound by starting at a low pitch and increasing your range until you can. Change it into “oo” sound if you feel your vocal chords are pretty loose.
To fully understand these warm-up exercises, you can download some helpful apps as a guide.
5. Practice
Excellent singers know that breathing from the abdomen helps to maintain higher notes. Practice singing from the diaphragm to better control the air coming in and out of your vocal chords.
Develop also your vocal range by singing higher and higher using the warm-up scales above. You may add up vowel and consonant sounds to sustain your vocal chords.
The mouth should be properly positioned all through the performance to prevent feeling awkward.Singing the word “yawn” helps to maintain a proper mouth gesture while belting higher notes.Do this before and not during the performance.
Maintain a steady flow of air while singing.Be ready to sing the next verses, especially those with high notes,to produce a smooth and connected sound.Avoid forcing out the air in order to reach higher notes not to strain your throat. Stay relax while singing, it helps a lot.
After the performance, your vocal chords must be cooled down to operate well in the next sessions. Gently hum an “m” sound in up and down the scale. You can feel vibration over your lips a little bit.
6. Rest
Working on high notes deserves a full rest on your vocal chords. A 30-minute rest could be enough every after the session to rest your voice. It is a total voice rest and so no extra activity should be done, like talking or humming.
Summing It All Up
Forcing up your voice upon singing a higher note will never be a good idea. There are other bad habits to be avoided not to destroy your vocal chords you should be aware of. Learn how to balance everything instead until you discover even higher notes by yourself.
Consider doing the tips above justly, from warming-up toward practicing the proper way of vocalization.Time will come that your range will increase more and more.
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