Singing and the Vocal Folds

When we sing, the vocal folds must be brought together to the midline of the glottis to initiate phonation. This is known as approximation or adduction.

It works like this: the vocal folds are adducted or drawn together from the posterior (back) end of the larynx due to the approximation and rotation of the arytenoid cartilages as the lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA) and interarytenoid (IA) muscles contract.

The gliding and swiveling/rotating action of the arytenoid cartilages brings the attached vocal folds toward one another at the midline, allowing the inner edges of the folds to meet and leaving a slit along the middle for air to travel through.

After they are brought to midline, the folds begin to vibrate open and closed in response to air flowing up through the trachea from below the glottis (subglottally).

When we swallow, the folds remain closed so that food is more effectively directed toward the esophagus or food tube.

When we inhale, the folds are open.

When we phonate (make sounds such as speaking or singing) the folds open and close in a recurring cycle.

If the folds are firmly adducted at the midline to initiate phonation, the sound will be clear. If the folds are not brought to the midline and are not firmly adducted to begin phonation the sound will be breathy, inefficient, weak, and lacking in overtones.

Vocal onset can be divided into three categories, based on vocal fold positioning as the tone is initiated:

1)  Breathy (Hypo-adduction- not enough vocal fold adduction):

A breathy sound is one made with excessive airflow and insufficient vocal fold adduction. The breathy voice is usually associated with a high larynx and weak glottal closure, resulting in a sound that is anemic and lacking in the harmonics associated with firm glottal closure.

Hypo-adduction is typical of the Undeveloped category voice throughout the entire range, and of the Unbalanced-Light Lower category in the lower register.

2) Hard Attack (Hyper-adduction- too much vocal fold adduction and compression):

The sound is forced, pressed, squeezed or over-compressed, with high subglottal air pressure. Hyperadduction of the vocal folds along with excessive subglottal air pressure carries the greatest potential for vocal damage. Hyper-adduction is often a characteristic of the Unbalanced-Pulled Lower category voice.

3) Balanced, Appropriately Adducted, Firm Glottal closure:

A healthy approach that encourages a balance between vocal folds effectively brought to midline and subglottal air pressure. The folds adduct just enough and not too much and the resulting sound is efficient, clear, resonant, and unforced.

Adductive tension, medial compression, and longitudinal tension create increased glottal resistance to subglottal air pressure, producing a stronger, more powerful, more harmonically rich sound.

A firm glottal closure is essential for warm, powerful, ringing tones and chiaroscuro (balance of bright and dark resonance).

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