Q&A for How to Expand Your Singing Voice Range

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  • Question
    Can you expand your vocal range?
    Amy Chapman, MA
    Singing Coach
    Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a Vocal Therapist and Singing Voice Specialist. Amy is a licensed and board-certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
    Singing Coach
    Expert Answer
    You can improve your vocal range by slowly stretching your voice down and humming as low as you can comfortably. And the same by going up and gliding your voice up and slowly creeping it up while it's still comfortable. So gliding the voice down and up, and slowly increasing that each time you do it.
  • Question
    Is it beneficial for me to drink water before practicing singing?
    Community Answer
    It is advisable to sip on lukewarm water rather than drinking copious amounts. Your stomach gets pulled in while singing and drinking a lot of water will limit the muscle movement.
  • Question
    How can I increase my chances of winning a singing competition?
    Community Answer
    Practice, practice, practice. And watch other singers on Youtube. It's not just about how well you sing, but how you sing -- stage presence is important as well. You have to OWN the song and make it yours. Every song is different, so be sure to pick a song that shows off your voice and your heart and soul. Sing from your heart. Be real and invite the audience into your performance.
  • Question
    I can currently reach a C5 but want to reach a D5 comfortably and in a way that I can belt it out. Is this feasible?
    Community Answer
    Since you can reach the note below it, a D5 shouldn't be that hard to get to with scale practice and patience.
  • Question
    How do I warm up? When I have to sing, my voice begins to crack. How can I manage this?
    Community Answer
    Sing do re mi fa so la ti to. Go high then go low. Do it again and again til you feel comfortable with the notes.
  • Question
    I sing alto and I have a very low voice and can't sing high to save my life. How can I train my voice to go higher?
    Community Answer
    Your vocal cords may not be formulated to go that high. You can try following the exercises, working slowly upwards and mastering one note at a time. Stop though when your voice shows signs of tension.
  • Question
    If I'm an alto, can I sing mezzo or soprano?
    Community Answer
    This would not be a good idea. If you try to sing too far out of your range, you can ruin your voice. Instead, sing a few scales. The highest note that you can sing comfortably, clearly, and without straining is the end of your range.
  • Question
    I'm an alto but I want to be a soprano. Is there a way to do that?
    Community Answer
    With practice, yes. Go into a low metzo range before trying to hit soprano. Never try to strain your voice trying to get to a soprano range.
  • Question
    How can I learn to develop vibrato naturally without having to "fake" it? About how long after I start singing does the vibrato start to develop?
    Community Answer
    Vibrato comes from alternating your voice between two close pitches. You'll benefit from developing basic skills first, such as proper breathing and projection. It can take a long time to develop it properly, but the only way to do it the right way is through practice. Practice switching between notes that are easy for you. Put your hands right below your chest and push in as you sing to get an idea of what it's like.
  • Question
    Is it okay to have your tonsils removed as a way of increasing your vocal range?
    Community Answer
    Yes, having your tonsils removed opens a larger airway for the sound to come out and therefore adds more flow and power to your voice.
  • Question
    How do I avoid singing vibrato?
    Community Answer
    If it has to do with your head movement, try to sing in front of the mirror and fix the unnatural bobbing. Otherwise, I'd recommend getting an audience. Sometimes an unwritten and involuntary vibrato can help the song if you are trying to make it your own. If it does not help the song, try to open up your vowels, make sure you're able to feel the air, and keep your tongue down.
  • Question
    How do I know if I am not singing correctly?
    Community Answer
    Your throat will feel tense, even painful. Your voice will strain and break. Always stop what you're doing if it begins to hurt. Also, your airflow will be compromised if you are tense or have bad posture. This may require you to stop and observe how you sing or have someone else observe you.
  • Question
    Are there any foods I can eat before singing that will help open my vocal chords?
    The AdzTheMuffin Show
    Community Answer
    Foods won't make a difference to your range; they may actually constrict your range because the stomach expands when holding food. That being said, small amount of something like watermelon might ease the throat and allow you to reach higher notes easier.
  • Question
    How can I increase my range by one semitone?
    Community Answer
    Follow the steps above, taking expansion one note at a time. Touch on the first notes, increasing how long you can sustain them. Keep going until your range has increased to where you want it or you can't increase it anymore without hurting your voice. Remember that the vocal cords you were born with have a set natural range, so there is a limit to how far you can go.
  • Question
    I'm 13-years-old and I want to learn vibrato. When can I learn it and how?
    Community Answer
    Just work on keeping your throat relaxed and it will come eventually. Some people don't develop vibrato until they are well into adulthood. It comes from the muscles in the throat that hold your vocal chords in different positions. When they are in a position for a bit, they begin to shake, just like all other muscles do after use. You can learn to control it once you have it but you can't force yourself to have a natural sounding vibrato. Stay patient and keep practicing.
  • Question
    How do I increase my voice to F5 I'm a countertenor and my vocal range is D#3 to G4 in full voice?
    Community Answer
    You can't, and should not attempt to do so. If G4 is your full voice, trying to get to F5 will only hurt your voice and can potentially ruin it.
  • Question
    After puberty, is it possible to sing at a C5 level? If so, how can I reach it?
    Community Answer
    Yes. With the usage of proper vocal technique you can achieve C5 with or without using falsetto.
  • Question
    If I can hit a G4, can I expand to a B5?
    Community Answer
    With enough work, you can because a G4 is already in the soprano range. If you keep training, your voice can reach new highs.
  • Question
    I'm a male and I want to know how to be able to sing higher notes with less strain and voice breaks. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Lots of practice, drink slippery elm tea, and try moving up a note each week.
  • Question
    How can I expand my bass tone voice to a baritone?
    Community Answer
    If your voice is firmly in a bass range, you may have a difficult time getting into the baritone range. Start in your range and use a soft sound to work up a scale and touch upon the notes just beyond your range. Keep doing this until you can hit those notes reliably, then practice sustaining them.
  • Question
    Is it bad to push my voice range to the point where it cracks on the highest notes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but with the right care and proper technique you should be able to hit the notes that are possible for your voice easily.
  • Question
    Can I lose my high notes as I get older?
    Community Answer
    During puberty, your voice usually changes and gets deeper, especially with males. After that, however, your voice should stay the same.
  • Question
    How do I keep from straining when I use my chest voice?
    Community Answer
    Your chest voice should be as low as you can comfortably go. If you start straining, stop, you can hurt yourself like that.
  • Question
    I'm 14 years old, male, and my highest note is A4. Is it possible for me to sing comfortably without any falsetto in C5?
    Community Answer
    With enough care and by strengthening your mix and head voice, you can easily complete the task.
  • Question
    I'm a tenor singer, but I find it hard to sing an A4. How can I improve?
    Community Answer
    Practice. Try getting to your head voice. Open your mouth and put the tip of your tongue behind your bottom teeth, which will raise your soft pallet, making high notes much less strained. You will slowly be able to increase your range.
  • Question
    Will my voice range change if I am already 18 years old?
    Community Answer
    It is unlikely that this will happen, as you are mostly vocally mature at 18. However, I have known 16-year-olds to change from sopranos to second altos, so you may well change. With safe practice you can expand your vocal range, too.
  • Question
    How can I easily find my vocal range? I find this hard to do because whenever I sing each note along with my keyboard, I end up singing the wrong note. How can I prevent this from happening?
    Community Answer
    Ask for a partner or a mentor to help you find your vocal range.
  • Question
    How do I make my singing voice louder?
    Community Answer
    There are various articles and videos from which to learn to develop a powerful, loud voice.
  • Question
    How do I expand my lower register while singing?
    Community Answer
    You can use the steps above, except move down the scale instead of up. You won't need to do tricks like rounding vowels and substituting words, but you can benefit from trying to reach and sustain lower notes in practice.
  • Question
    I am a soprano . I can sing from A#2 to D#6 without whistle notes . But I can sing A#2 to B7 with whistle notes. I have a really powerful head voice that can go up to D#6 but I wish I can at least go up to G6 . What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Follow the steps above. Correct any basic singing issues, if there are any left, then work on expanding your range upwards by touching the notes and trying to hold them. Keep your vocal chords shortened, but don't force air through them.
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