Total newbie discovers something useful

[NewYorkerDave]

Hi all! A Google search on vocal technique brought me to this forum. I have to say, after reading for a couple of days, I'm blown away by the level of knowledge and commitment here. Much of the discussion is way over my head, of course, since I'm unfamiliar with most of the technical terms.

I'm an untrained singer/guitarist/songwriter and for all of my adult life, I've sung in a baritone that could either be described as "warm and pleasing" or "comically deep" depending on whom you asked. A friend of mine who's a respected studio musician actually told me that I have the perfect voice for "modern country" - but believe me, that's not my bag. My material is more in the vein of melodic punk or power pop, veering occasionally into harder rock territory, so my chesty voice was a liability more often than not.

Recently, I was driving home and on the radio, I heard the old Raspberries song "Go All The Way." I decided right then and there that I was sick of being stuck in my very limited, low-pitched range and I was going to make a conscious effort to develop my voice. So I got on the Internet and started watching various instructional videos. Quickly, I realized that my problem was a restricted throat, fear of using my "head voice" and labored breathing. Using some of the warmups in the videos (lip trills, etc.) I could occasionally get my voice "forward" with a relaxed throat and I was amazed at how effortless singing had become, even at pitches I'd only been able to reach previously in a weak, strained falsetto. Problem is, I just couldn't seem to find the mental key to help me get my voice into that place on a consistent basis; I would kind of stumble into it after singing for a while and then lose it just as quickly. I tried the "ng", the "yawn", "smelling the rose", etc. and sometimes they'd work, but sometimes they wouldn't - possibly because all this thinking was making me excessively self-conscious and tense.

At last, that brings me to the point of this post. This morning, as I was waiting for a bus and having a smoke (I realize most serious vocalists will not approve of this habit, but anyway...) it suddenly came to me: I should sing just as if I were lazily exhaling cigarette smoke! So I did and EUREKA... it worked! My voice was right in the "mask", the tone was full and agile at all pitches (compared to the way I'd been singing before, anyway) and the feeling was one of near-effortlessness. So... I dunno, perhaps this bit of imagery would be useful to someone out there. Thanks for reading.

[analog]

Great visualization IMO! I imagine the "lazy" part stops you from lowering the larynx, while keeping the throat open.

[NewYorkerDave]

Yes, I made a point of describing it as "lazily exhaling cigarette smoke" because it's not forcing the air out like trying to inflate a balloon. It's just letting the air flow in a steady stream that's "focused" into the front of the mouth. Again, I'm not yet familiar with the proper terminology.

[Steven Fraser]

NewYorkerDave: This mental image, of the slow exhalation, is a very beneficial one when doing what you are trying to do. The particular one you mention is related to one used in classical-singing circles, which is sometimes known as 'inhaling the note', or 'fogging the glasses'. All of them reduce the extra breath energy, and help to bring things more into balance.

Congratulations on your discovery.

[NewYorkerDave]

PS: The reaction of onlookers to a 6' tall, 225 lb. man standing at a bus stop singing in falsetto is priceless to say the least ;)

[NewYorkerDave]

Thanks, Steven. "Inhaling the note" and "fogging the glasses" are great imagery, too - probably even better than my smoking analogy because they'd make sense to anyone, smoker or not.

[joshual]

A big thanks for you NewyorkerDave and Steven.

Inhaling the note never worked for me, i've never could aplied it to singing, you guys just solve this problem.

Thanxs a lot!

[analog]

Yeah...I occasionally smoke non-cigarettes and the way I inhale is with a high tongue( kinda "EE" position) but with an open throat. This visual is GREAT for singing w/ heavy twang but not constricting/keeping open throat.

[NewYorkerDave]

I Googled "Inhaling the note" after reading Steven's post and the description I found was confusing to me at first. Basically, it said that you should feel as if you're inhaling even as you exhale... Huh? How can that be? Then, after "playing with it" for a while, I think I grasp it. What I BELIEVE it means (though I certainly could be wrong) is that everything in your head/throat remains just as it was when you took the breath, even as you let it flow back out. So the sensation is one of just letting the air trickle out on its own without force - even though subconsciously, there's a gentle pushing from the diaphragm. This is a natural action when inhaling/exhaling cigarette smoke, so that's why that visualization clicked for me. It is indeed like trying to fog your glasses with breath to clean them, maybe even less forceful than that. Am I on the right track, fellas?

[Steven Fraser]

I Googled "Inhaling the note" after reading Steven's post and the description I found was confusing to me at first. Basically, it said that you should feel as if you're inhaling even as you exhale... Huh? How can that be? Then, after "playing with it" for a while, I think I grasp it. What I BELIEVE it means (though I certainly could be wrong) is that everything in your head/throat remains just as it was when you took the breath, even as you let it flow back out. So the sensation is one of just letting the air trickle out on its own without force - even though subconsciously, there's a gentle pushing from the diaphragm. This is a natural action when inhaling/exhaling cigarette smoke, so that's why that visualization clicked for me. It is indeed like trying to fog your glasses with breath to clean them, maybe even less forceful than that. Am I on the right track, fellas?

NewYorkerDave: The physical action that the 'inhale the note' imagery is designed to provoke is to put the muscles of inhalation and exhalation into balance, specifically to counteract the common reflex to 'push' the note out. In another manner of speaking, its a way to provoke support reflexively, without talking about muscles at all. Likewise your lazy smoke exhale and the glasses fog.

All that said... your interpretation is a very good one. Another (for smokers) would be the sensation you have between making 2 smoke rings...

When it comes to the 'fogging the glasses' image, a more detailed way is to say 'breathe out as slowly as you can with your mouth wide open', and then start singing with the same level of exhalation energy. To 'breathe out slowly' causes the diaphragm to continue to stay actively involved, balancing the body forces (and gravity) that are trying to push air out. Singing on this sense of balance reduces the strain, and increases the efficiency of the laryngeal muscle actions. All good things.

By the way... the diaphragm is a muscle of inhalation, not exhalation. While there are muscles in its area that are involved in pushing air out, it is not one of them.

I hope this helps your understanding.

[joshual]

Just to say thanxs again, i finally could work on my singing today ( 2 weeks without practising, i was dying for a session lol). And i manage to understand and APPLY it to my singing!!!!

It's just awesome, the notes are much easier to get, it's more on pitch, no problems of dry throat, less strain, bigger tone on middle voice!!

Today is a really great day and because of you!!!

Thanxs again! You rock!!:cool:

[NewYorkerDave]

RE: the function of the diaphragm, as technical person myself, I should know better than to use technical terms without really knowing what they mean

Another visualization that's been working great for me is to imagine that I'm "sipping" or "drinking" the note.

[Steven Fraser]

RE: the function of the diaphragm, as technical person myself, I should know better than to use technical terms without really knowing what they mean

Another visualization that's been working great for me is to imagine that I'm "sipping" or "drinking" the note.

NewYorkerDave: Same idea... slightly different wording. Yours is the phrasing that was favorite of voice teachers Margaret Harshaw, and of Hermaenus Baer, both of Chicago.

[chele1000]

this is an awesome thread! good stuff.....one can always learn.

cheers NewyorkerDave!