Need consistency and fullness in tone (audio inside)

[forgivendays]

I've been working on this range especially that note (G4) for a couple of months now and still no improvement. I'm pretty sure I'm supporting correctly. I can usually sing a G4 on EE or I once or twice. I don't constrict, there is a only slight squeeze but no tension. Anyways on a good singing day I can do it once or twice (after a short break) then this always happens:

http://www.box.net/shared/r2yffsgzdz

I support the same way when I pull it off and when I fail. Then after a while it becomes completely impossible.

This range is my main crutch. I've been struggling with it with very slow progress.

Please help.. Thanks!

[Mr Bounce]

I'm no vocal coach but it seems like some good old tension in the constrictors. I would look for A) breath control (seems inconsistent) and registration (seems very "chesty")

[VideoHere]

I've been working on this range especially that note (G4) for a couple of months now and still no improvement. I'm pretty sure I'm supporting correctly. I can usually sing a G4 on EE or I once or twice. I don't constrict, there is a only slight squeeze but no tension. Anyways on a good singing day I can do it once or twice (after a short break) then this always happens:

http://www.box.net/shared/r2yffsgzdz

I support the same way when I pull it off and when I fail. Then after a while it becomes completely impossible.

This range is my main crutch. I've been struggling with it with very slow progress.

Please help.. Thanks!

g4 is a tough note because it sits right near your break...the first guy on the recording knew how to shoot the tone up into the palate

right to resonate well modifying the "ee" as in "feet" with the "ih" sound (like in the word "eight".)

....try a little more support, open to a yawn mouth, opening up the back of the throat....then instead of thinking "knee" (the literal "ee" sound up there will flatten your palate, you don't want that).....when you go to sing it, think "knih" don't sing "knih" just think it. the "ih" will bring the palate up setting up the resonator you need to hit.

"ee" as in knee is fine when you're in the lower notes but once you start moving up you need to slightly modify the "ee" to not a sung "ih".....a thought "ih."

let me know if this helped and eased the effort. bob

[forgivendays]

I'm not sure if I did what you said correctly but it did help a little. I did feel more resonance near the soft palate. It's still very difficult. I think I'll be approaching these notes with head voice. Here's an attempt: http://www.box.net/shared/7jq81aos82 It still doesn't sound good but it's so much easier.

By the way that's Myles Kennedy in his band before Alter Bridge, The Mayfield Four. You should check them out, his best work imo.

[VideoHere]

I'm not sure if I did what you said correctly but it did help a little. I did feel more resonance near the soft palate. It's still very difficult. I think I'll be approaching these notes with head voice. Here's an attempt: http://www.box.net/shared/7jq81aos82 It still doesn't sound good but it's so much easier.

By the way that's Myles Kennedy in his band before Alter Bridge, The Mayfield Four. You should check them out, his best work imo.

are you suprised if i said myles kennedy did that in head voice, he pressurized his breath more and shot the tone up into the exact resonating spot that gave it that body and ring.

the only thing keeping you from doing the same is building the voice to that level and expending more effort. sure you can default to the way you have suggested, but it won't be the same live.

i'd say, work on it to get it more like he has.....you can do it my friend. watch this!

[gno]

When you modified the "EE" like Bob said everything fell into place nicely. "EE" is a tough vowel up over a certain pitch. To sing it with strength you've got to modify it. Myles modified it too.

[forgivendays]

I'm confused. Isn't the way I suggested (head voice) the same as what you're saying?

I would've been surprised if I heard that a couple of days ago but now I'm onto Myles and his games haha. I feel resonance in what Bel Canto and Myles call the mask. What do you mean by pressurizing the breath? Expelling more air or holding back more?

I think the onset is what gives off the weak tone. I need to shoot up the resonance really quick.

[VideoHere]

I'm confused. Isn't the way I suggested (head voice) the same as what you're saying?

I would've been surprised if I heard that a couple of days ago but now I'm onto Myles and his games haha. I feel resonance in what Bel Canto and Myles call the mask. What do you mean by pressurizing the breath? Expelling more air or holding back more?

I think the onset is what gives off the weak tone. I need to shoot up the resonance really quick.

when you said before "this way it's so much easier"

my question is why?

as you ascend into the higher notes the sound beam becomes thinner, and the vocal folds stretch and thin as well which means the space in which the air has to go through gets very tiny.... you need support and coordination to increase the air pressure without overblowing or pushing through. that balancing ability takes time to develop. yes, there are situations where you are restricting the air but pressurizing more, others where you're just going lighter into things without as much lean. a lot has to do with what you want to sound like and your basic level of development. the more accomplished singers, have more of a choice available to them, because they've built up their vocal strength and stamina.

the only thing i want to stress is adducting vocal folds to produce pitch should always be at the top of your goal list. falsetto singing isn't going to strengthen anything. if i were a vocal instructor i'd be drilling into my student's head not to default to falsetto.

[forgivendays]

I don't think I'm singing falsetto. I'm doing it in head voice just like Myles, except with a less full tone.

There are people I know, who don't even sing, that can produce this pitch easily in chest. However, they can't produce the low notes I can. I've tried for many months to strengthen this chest coordination. And I did modify 'EE' to 'I'. It's gotten a little bit easier. It's still very very difficult, tiring, and inconsistent for me. So I've accepted that our voices are different and that I should bring head voice down instead of bring chest up. I've gotten much more results with head voice these past days than I have with chest for many months.

[VideoHere]

I don't think I'm singing falsetto. I'm doing it in head voice just like Myles, except with a less full tone.

There are people I know, who don't even sing, that can produce this pitch easily in chest. However, they can't produce the low notes I can. I've tried for many months to strengthen this chest coordination. And I did modify 'EE' to 'I'. It's gotten a little bit easier. It's still very very difficult, tiring, and inconsistent for me. So I've accepted that our voices are different and that I should bring head voice down instead of bring chest up. I've gotten much more results with head voice these past days than I have with chest for many months.

no, they are not producing this in chest...head voice is in that g4. g4 is above the passagio.

modify "ee" to "ih" as in eight.

i'm just trying to help. bob

[forgivendays]

Sorry if I'm giving off the wrong impression. I really do appreciate the help

I just don't think I know what you're talking about anymore. You're saying a G4 should be sung in head voice, like Myles is doing it. I think I'm also doing it in head voice. It just doesn't sound as piercing and full as his. So how am I taking the easy way or defaulting to something I shouldn't default to?

[VideoHere]

Sorry if I'm giving off the wrong impression. I really do appreciate the help

I just don't think I know what you're talking about anymore. You're saying a G4 should be sung in head voice, like Myles is doing it. I think I'm also doing it in head voice. It just doesn't sound as piercing and full as his. So how am I taking the easy way or defaulting to something I shouldn't default to?

i'm not annoyed. it depends on your goals.

i guess i'm on this help crusade lately because i see what a year and half of training at 57 has done for my voice and tone. i want you to realize it's within your reach to sound piercing and full and to strive for that sound rather than sing it the other way. are you voice exercising 5-6 days a week?

[ronws]

Exactly what is wrong with Morid's "other way"? He is a light tenor with a fairly clean voice. Similar in effect, though not in timbre, to Michael Sweet of Stryper. I absolutely triple dog dare you to say that Sweet was not singing Metal.