Whistle Voice Research For Male Singers

[Manolito Mystiq]

Today Alberto ter Doest – master coach EVT – checked my vocal folds when doing whistle voice.

 

Interestingly, at my extreme high notes (C6–G6)¹, I compress my vocal tract so much, that the light of the camera couldn't reach the folds, so it's hardly visible. I seem to fold my epiglottis in two, for amplification as well as being able to reach the highs.

 

 

I can sing my extreme highs very pianissimo and very loud. My compressing of like everything could explain why I can do that. The girl singers were either loud or medium in their highs and their folds were visible at all times, because they didn't ridiculously narrow their vocal tract as I did.

 

We arranged a new appointment with a camera through the nose, which could show more of what I'm doing.

 

I will be receiving the video material in the coming days and keep you updated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Manolito

 

----------

1. My range is G2–G6.

 

[KillerKu]

Interesting info. Yeah I hate both ways of doing fold inspection and have had enough to last a lifetime now. The nose tube is definitely the way to go for a singer though, as singing requires free access to those various muscles. What timbre does your whistle take on? Do you have a sound file? I sound flutey and typical, but my favorite singer could scream in whistle:

 

 

Strangely enough, in spite of my favorite singer being quite the whistler, I've never been a huge fan of it in other singers and he is the only singer I listen to that uses it regularly. Ruffin just sounds so pumped up and enthusiastic when he does it, it's infectious. He did it long before the Mariah craze too. Before people even had a name for it. It was just part of his identity as a singer, kind of like a steam locomotive has the chug chug chug, and then lets out the screaming whistle.

[Manolito Mystiq]

This is from a while ago:

[KillerKu]

That is abnormally strong. Certainly stronger than mine. Sounds kind of like a pinch harmonic on a guitar. If it doesn't hurt your throat or cause problems, go for it. Of course it's only meaningful in a meaningful context, but guitar players love their pinch harmonics.

 

When I use that register, it seems to make my voice want to lighten and raise the lowest pitch. It's normal for my lowest notes to move a bit with extensive use of headier configurations, but I think whistle is worse. Not sure why, but it's more than one note.  

 

I think I've used whistle more often for composing melodies on the guitar, singing along as if I include it the entire guitar range can be covered on a good day. In real world scenarios it isn't that useful for me outside of maybe a harmony, or mirroring an instrumental pattern. If mine was as cool as yours, I might use it more.

[ronws]

Looking forward to your video, Manny.

[Manolito Mystiq]

@KillerKu:

Actually, I practiced my voice to go from a high note to a note in my whistle range, just like how a pinch harmonic sounds on the guitar (and I play guitar, so that helped with the 'idea' if you can call it that).

A student at the conservatory thought of a flageolet, as well. And my control over a wide range of dynamics is pretty interesting. I can make it sound very softly, and also like a (pinch) harmonic, but also full blast, similarly to a female whistle range.

I can use some -- what I think is -- laryngeal vibrato, and I can do scales, but I get easily tired practising those.

I also think that I can let go off some unnecessary tension. But I think that's only when I sing whistle softly; full blast is much easier.

Also, while I can go higher, up until G6 is comfortable. The B6 in the video seemed like just a lucky day thing, because even though I can still go that high, it's not as easy as it was on that rehearsal session.