How to Sing Better with Vowels

Vowels (from the Latin vocalis, meaning "uttering voice") are sounds in which the vocal tract is open.

Vowels form the nucleus or center of a syllable. Because the vocal tract is open and the articulators don’t move when singing vowels, the resonance frequencies are more stable. When we sustain notes in singing, we do so on vowels, not consonants.

All great singing is based on exceptional vowel production.

VOWELS AND TONGUE POSITION

Vowel articulation occurs in one of three cavities: the oral (mouth and pharynx), labial, (lips) and to a smaller degree, the nasal (nose) cavity.

Vowels are formed mostly by various alterations of the constriction of the tongue, with help from the lips for the rounded vowels only- [u] (you), [o] (go), and [ʊ] (good). The constriction of the tongue is the middle area that can arch upward for vowels such as [i] or flatten for vowels such as [ɑ].

The constriction divides the oral cavity into the mouth and pharynx.

Aside from formation of rounded vowels, the lips should remain largely neutral; there is no need to grimace like a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern to say the vowel [i] (eat), for instance, if the tongue is in the correct position.

Vowel categories are based on tongue body position front-to-back and high to low.

OPEN AND CLOSED VOWELS

Vowels are categorized as closed or open depending upon the high to low position of the constriction of the tongue. Height refers to the position of the constriction of the tongue relative to the hard palate.

Closed vowels are formed with the constriction “close to” the hard palate. For example, when you say [i] (eat), the constriction of the tongue is at its highest position, almost pushed up against the top molars.

The more closed a vowel is, the more it tends to encourage release or lack of strain.

Open vowels are formed when the tongue is positioned lower in the mouth. When we say [ɑ] (father), for example, the tongue is in the lowest position. The more open a vowel is, the more hold is encouraged.

If your objective is to create more release from straining, vocalize on a closed vowel such as [u]. If your objective is to create more hold, vocal fold adduction, or a more belt-like quality, use an open vowel such as [æ] or [ɑ].

Vowels are also defined by how far front to back in the mouth the tongue is positioned.  Vowels are referred to as front, central or back, depending upon which portion of the tongue is used to create the vowel.

The front vowels tend to be associated with more brilliance and edge, and the back vowels create more depth. This is due to the balance of formants and harmonics.

The back vowels usually also include lip rounding. When we round the lips and push them forward, a labial resonator is formed. The back rounded vowels [u], [ʊ], and [o] are categorized by the degree of lip rounding required to form the vowel.  Rounding the lips lengthens the vocal tract and lowers all formants, encouraging more release.

For example, [u] (you) is a closed, lip-rounded, back vowel because it is made with a high tongue and rounded lips.  The back of the tongue is elevated.

However, [i] (eat) is a closed front vowel; the tongue is high and forward.  Because the tongue is more forward, [i] is a more brilliant vowel.  We will learn more about this in the formants discussions to follow.

For activating the upper register with release, [u] and [i] vowels are very effective; that is why we sing w[u]-[i] (WOO-EE) above the primo passaggio (first bridge) in Step Three to experience a free upper register.

For breathy singers, the bright Boston AH vowel [a] and its close neighbor [æ] are effective in developing better adduction.

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