Problem finding head voice

[jgrimm51]

Hi everybody! My name is Joe and I have been singing for many years and have Never had this problem. I can't seem to find my head voice quickly. It is there but I am having a problem getting to it. When I find it, it seems to be fine...does anyone have any tips, tricks or advice. I have had training years ago as a teenager and am currently in lessons. Just wanted to see what anyone had to say. Thanks!

[NewYorkerDave]

Look for the thread I started in this forum recently; it's called "Total newbie discovers something useful." In MY case, I found it helpful to employ a visualization of sorts.

[Steven Fraser]

Hi everybody! My name is Joe and I have been singing for many years and have Never had this problem. I can't seem to find my head voice quickly. It is there but I am having a problem getting to it. When I find it, it seems to be fine...does anyone have any tips, tricks or advice. I have had training years ago as a teenager and am currently in lessons. Just wanted to see what anyone had to say. Thanks!

jgrimm51: I have a few minutes to write a fuller answer than I did the other day.

What we usually call 'head voice' results in the as we (males) pass through the range E4 to G4 (just above mid C), the specific notes depending on the vowel mostly. On the way up, it happens for EE and OO first, and Oh, Ih, Eh, Ay and some others in the middle and finally for Ah. If the registration is allowed to lighten naturally entering the bottom of this range, the transition (called passaggio, or 'bridge'), then head voice will result on the top side.

[VideoHere]

i'm no expert, just trying to be helpful, but the things i know help are:

a warmed up voice

an open throat

a silent inhalation on a yawn

keep your tongue relaxed and against the bottom teeth

and a mental concentration to focus or redirect the sound

then try singing let's say an "ah" (father) towards but not into the nose.

when you feel resonating off the soft palate you're there

[denamurray]

okay -- different coaches have different ideas about what a 'head voice' is. Some call a full voice a head voice because you can feel it in the head yet it's not a chest voice that is pulled all the way up into the head-- only sounds like one.

If you are asking about the head voice like a girl sounds (which is the healing aspect of the voice), I have found it quite helpful to have my students siren like a fire engine. Also, if you have trouble with that, to bend over, relax as if you were in some kind of exercise class, hands to the floor and feet apart on the floor. siren "Wee" from the top to the bottom. Play with your voice. Become a child again. Do Not be afraid to sound like a girl. If this is the voice you are looking for, you need to be willing to make a fool of yourself with these noises. After you have done the WEE bending over, immediately (and I mean immediately), sit straight up, don't miss a beat, and siren the WEE again.

If you can't find the head voice it is because you are inhaling too much air which will force you to have to close your throat to keep the air from expelling too fast. Head voice can only be performed with an open throat and a correct inhale of breath.

Hal Leonard recently published my latest book on how to inhale properly. You may want to look into it.

Most sincerely,

Dena Murray

www.denamurray.com