Q&A for How to Belt

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  • Question
    How do you not damage your voice?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    You can protect your voice by practicing wisely (like following the suggestions in this article), taking care of your voice (like taking vocal rest after practicing) and working with a professional voice teacher to guide you in the right direction.
  • Question
    Can you belt in head voice?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    No, belt voice and head voice are two different ways to use the vocal cords. There is a very difficult technique called mix voice that uses some of the qualities of belt and some of the qualities of head voice at the same time. Mix voice is common in pop and musical theater.
  • Question
    What is a belt in singing?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Belting is very similar to yelling, where the singer maintains pitch and rhythm. Singers who can belt well sound powerful and rich.
  • Question
    How can you "let rip" when you're singing, (a.k.a. belting)? I'm classically trained in choir singing, so I can't really belt -- I'm more used to singing the right note at a lower volume.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Start with your speaking voice. See what it feels like when you speak something loudly or yell with a lot of joy or anger. Belting is basically speaking/yelling on pitch, so let your speaking voice teach you how to belt.
  • Question
    What if I am a 14-year-old girl?
    Community Answer
    Your age doesn't matter. Anyone can belt as long as they do it correctly. Put your hands on your hips and try to push your hands to the sides with your stomach. While doing that, you can belt "HEY".
  • Question
    Can I only use my head tone while belting, or do I still have to mix it?
    Community Answer
    On very high notes, you can use a twangy, whiny head voice to make a powerful sound. Although this technically isn't belting, it has a similar sound and it's used often in rock and gospel music. A good way to work on this is by singing "Nyan" (the a is as in "at") on a 5-note descending scale starting around Bb4 for males and F4 for females. Try to keep the sound in your nose and, contrary to normal belting, drop your soft palate a bit.
  • Question
    How do I know am singing from my diaphragm and not from my throat?
    Community Answer
    If your shoulders are moving, you are singing from your throat. If your stomach is moving, you are singing from your diaphragm.
  • Question
    Whenever I mix my belts they are chest dominant. I also close my throat while belting higher, which causes me to switch to whistle register -- how can I mix evenly and open my throat?
    Community Answer
    Sing an arpeggio or scale on "Nyee," "Nyay," "Nyaah," "Nyoo" and "Nyou." Use the NY to place the sound in the hard palate and "brighten" the sound, the "y" being the consonant use rather than a vowel sound.
  • Question
    If I stop trying after pain occurs in my throat, can I try after 20 minutes or so?
    Community Answer
    It'll be best if you rest your voice, drink lots of water and wait until the tensions in your throat aren't there anymore.
  • Question
    How do you belt out a high note without forcing it?
    Community Answer
    You don't. Your belting range only goes so far. Gradually try to widen your belting range with the help of a vocal coach, or do a mixed belt, which involves both your chest voice and your head voice.
  • Question
    How can I keep my voice steady while belting without it shaking?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you have good breath support. Use your core. Relax. Massage your jaw.
  • Question
    What do I do to get rid of tension problems when I belt as a soprano?
    Community Answer
    Practice hitting those harder notes every day. Your vocal chords are muscles, and just like your other muscles, your chords need training to get better. Lightly hum the harder notes, then get more powerful.
  • Question
    Is it possible to belt while sitting down if I have to play an instrument?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you have to make sure that you have good posture even while sitting so you can fully belt from your core.
  • Question
    How do I physically belt out step by step?
    Community Answer
    Try going a note higher every increment and stop if your voice cracks and come back at it tomorrow, so that you are almost stretching your voice higher each time you practice
  • Question
    How do I belt when it gets high enough so that I have to use my head voice?
    Community Answer
    It's the same as belting from your chest voice -- just don't be afraid of squeaking and be sure to control your air flow.
  • Question
    What do I do if I get nodes?
    Community Answer
    Go to the doctor. Nodes are serious and need to be treated immediately.
  • Question
    How long does it take to learn belting?
    Community Answer
    It depends on your vocal range. Belting is a difficult skill to learn. Watch some YouTube videos to really find out how you can tailor belting to your unique voice range.
  • Question
    I'm a natural belter. My vocal coach isn't really helping me with head voice belting. How should I do this with out hurting my voice or developing knots at 13?
    Piperh
    Community Answer
    Practice a lot. Warm up. Make sure you can distinguish your diaphragm voice versus your head voice, and know it's easier to belt using your diaphragm.
  • Question
    I am trying to belt, but feel like I'm yelling. How do you know if you're belting or yelling?
    Piperh
    Community Answer
    Use your diaphragm. Record your voice, and compare it to people who you know are belting. Belting is very different from yelling, so you need to be able to distinguish the difference. Belting is like Lady Gaga in Shallow during the chorus, and yelling is when you're trying to talk to someone across the house.
  • Question
    What is mixed voice?
    Hagukanan
    Top Answerer
    A mixed voice is when you add your chest voice (or your belt) in with your head voice.
  • Question
    Is belting bad for your voice?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Belting can be really bad for your voice if you do it incorrectly. It could cause you to be hoarse or even develop nodules on your vocal cords that could damage your voice permanently. It's important that you position your body correctly and breath from your diaphragm. Keep your mouth open and tongue down, and concentrate on placing your voice forward so it resonates in front of your face. Make sure you have enough air so you can sustain belted notes without hurting your vocal cords. Practice with a trained vocal coach to nail the technique.
  • Question
    What is a belt in singing?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Belting is a singing technique that involves a trained singer mixing their lower and upper resonances to produce a sound that resembles yelling but is really a highly controlled sound. The sound is really powerful, strong, and beautiful when it's done well. It takes a lot of practice and experience to belt correctly and without risking injuring your vocal cords.
  • Question
    Is belting just yelling?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    No, belting is a singing technique that takes a lot of practice to master. It involves mixing high and loud tones to produce a powerful and beautiful sound. Belting is produced by pushing air from your diaphragm with control. If it's done improperly, it can really damage your throat and vocal cords. But when it's done well, it's a really powerful thing to hear.
  • Question
    How can I make my belting sound beautiful?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you're belting in a healthy way, and practice on a daily or weekly basis. Consistent practice will improve all aspects of your voice. You also may want to consult a voice coach, who can give you more personalized help. Just remember not to be too hard on yourself. You're learning, and vocal cords are pretty small muscles in comparison to the stress singing puts on them.
  • Question
    How do I know if I am singing with a head voice or chest voice?
    Frame Muse
    Community Answer
    If you're singing with chest voice, it would feel like the sounds comes from the bottom of your throat and you also may feel like your chest vibrating a bit too. If you're singing with chest voice, there would a feeling of vibration near your nose and eyes. If you're singing with mixed technique (it may be more head or more chest voice), it would feel like everything (chest, diaphragm, throat, place around nose) vibrating and resonating.
  • Question
    My chest voice is improving, but I keep straining my voice when going to high notes. How do I train my chest voice to be stronger and reach higher notes?
    Tessa Metzger
    Community Answer
    Practice consistently. When you practice, push your range a little bit but not to the point of strain. If you're feeling discouraged, belt something that you think sounds really good in your range. Find a good spot to practice that won't make you feel self-conscious, or try to keep the volume low to prevent straining.
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