Reaching legit head voice

[Daniel]

Hey y'all, new here. Just thought I'd see what you guys could contribute to this difficult topic.

I'm a male singer, have range from like an E2 to C5ish, all connected. I'm familiar with Brett Manning's terminology so that's probably what I'll use to describe the problems I'm having, hopefully you guys can translate if you're familiar with other stuff. I'm trying to find my really light legit head voice- I can powerfully belt like an F or sometimes G above high C, but I can't do it quietly, and it's strained. I'm not sure I'm fully in my head when I'm at the C5 too, it's almost more of a mix quality, because when I lighten it up as much as I can, it sounds light but it's a touch strained. It almost sounds better when I belt it, there's not as much strain, but the tone isn't as free, sounds too pingy and pharyngeal. I feel like what I'm missing is the ability to release into an easy head voice up to a G5 or so, that will give me the correct resonance space in my "mix" voice up to that high C and give me the freedom I'm looking for up in that E4-C5 range. I'm assuming you guys want some sort of audio demonstration, is there a place to easily post audio files on here that everyone can hear? In the meanwhile you can get a feel for my voice here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSS_5sdhKrA.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions, thanks everyone!

[VideoHere]

nice vocal dan!

bob

click on "tmv vocal forum"... you'll see "review and critique my singing." post it there.

[analog]

Dan,

a lot of us use Box.net. Of course, you could also use YT. Why don't you post a clip of the "strained" sound so we know what it is you're doing. Anything else would be speculation.

Also...you've got a sweet sound man. This site has some great voices(and songwriters!)

[chele1000]

that's a great song Dan! You're doing a fine job singing it as well.

For lighter head voice, you can start by visualizing the note in a helium baloon. Floating freely.....find the spot where it does that and get used to the feeling. Then working on strengthening it. Once you find it, it becomes easier.

You should post on the review and critique my voice forum. You'd get more feedback there.

WELCOME to TMV!

cheers

[ronws]

Great song, first off. Great voice, too. And I like the very slight rasp you sometimes get. It's like seasoning, not overly done, knock you on your butt spicy, just a slight taste to bring out the other flavors, if you will pardon the food metaphor. Just as you can brighten and strengthen a sound by smiling, even an inside smile, I think you can vary the "smile" to allow the vowel to darken and soften, somewhat. But that's just imagery and I could be completely wrong. Not many of the songs I do have a soft upper melody. Except for "Dust in the Wind" where I let the note fade with two things. Mic placement and I have the ability to go from full note to falsetto, which also softens the note. I think it as doing the note, then I slowly start to "waste air."

[Matt]

Sounding very, very nice

Edit: Added an extra 'very'

[Snax]

As far as the vocals on your song goes they are splendid! You have an easy natural singing style which suits the song very well. I'd be curious to hear you singing a song that requires more effort from you vocally so we can see where your problem area are if any. Very impressive vocals on your own song though Dan and welcome to the BEST vocal forums anywhere on the net!

[Steven Fraser]

Hey y'all, new here. Just thought I'd see what you guys could contribute to this difficult topic.

I'm a male singer, have range from like an E2 to C5ish, all connected. I'm familiar with Brett Manning's terminology so that's probably what I'll use to describe the problems I'm having, hopefully you guys can translate if you're familiar with other stuff. I'm trying to find my really light legit head voice- I can powerfully belt like an F or sometimes G above high C, but I can't do it quietly, and it's strained. I'm not sure I'm fully in my head when I'm at the C5 too, it's almost more of a mix quality, because when I lighten it up as much as I can, it sounds light but it's a touch strained. It almost sounds better when I belt it, there's not as much strain, but the tone isn't as free, sounds too pingy and pharyngeal. I feel like what I'm missing is the ability to release into an easy head voice up to a G5 or so, that will give me the correct resonance space in my "mix" voice up to that high C and give me the freedom I'm looking for up in that E4-C5 range. I'm assuming you guys want some sort of audio demonstration, is there a place to easily post audio files on here that everyone can hear? In the meanwhile you can get a feel for my voice here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSS_5sdhKrA.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions, thanks everyone!

Daniel: what are you doing with your vowels above tenor high C? If you want to maintain ease, you have to pick the right ones to sing.

[Daniel]

Hey everyone, thanks for the kind words!

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

Here's an example of something I'm trying to figure out how to sing right now. Don't mind the lyrics I'm literally making them up as I sing, except for the chorus, it's a work in progress, but the melody of the chorus is really difficult. I sing it in several keys, and the commentary in between is kind of hard to hear- I didn't get my levels before I recorded, just a quick and dirty thing (not really warmed up either haha) but yeah basically I'm just saying that on the "You save me" part, I like it in the upper key, but the "woah" gets a bit shaky, and there's the flip sound. I can connect the sound at the top down without a flip no problem, but getting up there that quickly without the catch is tough, and as you hear, it's a bit pingy up there anyway. I feel like I can get it fuller though, and have the benefit of more epic "you save me"s... Anyway lemme know what you think.. I'll repost this in that other forum.

Thanks again everyone.

Steven: I'm not sure, I guess I narrow them... I'll make another sound clip in the next few days of me doing some scales or something up there and you can tell me what you think.

[Daniel]

Alright I think I figured out exactly where the strain comes in- this is more of a technique question so I'll post it here.

I don't have any control whatsoever over vocal fry through my E4-F#4 bridge, and when I try to sing vocal fry in the F#4-C5 area, it gives me the same feeling of tenseness I get when I try to go higher than a D5, but I'm lower in my range. That leads me to believe that if I can learn to correctly release that tension and what causes it, I won't have to worry about it anymore cause I'll have a conscious/working knowledge of how to minimize it, and that I'll be able to reach higher in my head voice (and be fuller in my mix).

I also notice then when I do light fry workouts over that bridge, I stumble on whistle notes sometimes, cause I'm getting air through very compressed cords- makes me think I'm on the right track..

Does anyone know why this tension might be occurring? Or some exercises to help alleviate the tension?