How to Sing Better: Balance in All Things

The key to good vocal production is balance in all things.

Imbalances that result in cracks, breaks, flips, and other vocal problems occur in the following ways:

     1) Resonance imbalance (formants and harmonics): we affect resonance by altering the shape of the resonators of the mouth (including the lips and tongue) and pharynx.

Most musical instruments have resonators that are stable and don’t change shape. However, our vocal tracts change shape every time we form a new vowel. Every vowel requires a different combination of two formants- F₁ and F₂, to be discernible.

Every time we sing a pitch, a series of harmonics is generated along with the pitch, also known as the fundamental (F₀) or first harmonic (H₁).

Any time a formant or harmonic cross one another there is the potential for instability.

How does this crossing happen?

It can happen if we change pitch, or it could happen if we change vowels while maintaining the same pitch.

     2) Poor coordination of the intrinsic muscles: these include the muscles that lengthen (CT) and shorten (TA) the vocal folds and those that adduct the vocal folds (the TA, IA and LCA muscles).

The intrinsic IA and LCA draw the folds toward the midline of the glottis for a firm onset; these muscles are often inefficient in untrained singers.

The vocal folds must lengthen and thin for higher pitches; they cannot be held static but must be adaptable to pitch requirements. If the vocal folds are not allowed to thin and lengthen for higher pitches, the only way to raise pitch is to contract the TA muscles and increase air pressure.

The singer can push a few notes higher with this method of "pushing chest"; however eventually the TA muscles let go, the vocal folds suddenly elongate and abduct or open, closed quotient abruptly decreases, and there is a drastic change in timbre as the first formant now resonates the first harmonic (F₁/H₁).

This is the flip, which sounds like a yodel.

Flipping, cracks, and voice breaks occur most often in passaggi. The primo passaggio, first bridge, or first transition area is a series of notes with great vocal instability resulting from changes in formant/ harmonic relationships and balance between the intrinsic TA and CT muscles.

     3) Subglottal air pressure/vocal fold resistance imbalance: excessive subglottal air pressure is one of the leading causes of vocal trauma leading to nodules, polyps, and hemorrhage. Insufficient subglottal air pressure results in weak glottal closure and low closed quotient.

Subglottal air pressure is controlled by the muscles of appogio. We must develop the correct balance of appoggio and vocal fold adduction to sing efficiently and maintain vocal health.

If you would like to learn more about your voice AND learn to sing from home for less than you probably spend for lattes every month, check out our amazing YOU can Sing Like a Star online subscription courses for singers and voice teachers.

You can learn to sing with a self-study method- IF it's the right method.  The ONLY method that can take you from beginner to professional is the  YOU can Sing Like a Star online subscription course with over 600 recorded exercises.

This is the best method available and the ONLY method that takes you all the way from beginner to professional singer- for far less than the cost of in-person voice lessons!

Check this amazing course out at YOU can Sing Like a Star online subscription course.

If you are a voice teacher who wants to up your game, check out the YOU can be a Successful Voice Teacher online subscription course

With over 600 recorded exercises, including Riffs and Runs- Style, you don't need to be a great pianist or vocal stylist to be a great teacher!