All singers want to have a wide vocal range because the ability to sing high notes well makes for a very impressive performance. However, not everyone is talented at singing high notes perfectly! Just like any other muscle, the vocal cords need to be trained to get stronger and more flexible. To do this, learn how to relax your muscles, warm up your voice before singing, and practice widening your vocal range using certain techniques.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Relaxing Muscles
Step 1. Breathe calmly and relax
You need to breathe as relaxed as possible if you want to hit the high notes. Otherwise, the vocal cords will become tense. Inhale and exhale slowly. Breathe normally, calmly and regularly.
Relax your shoulders, neck, and chest as you continue to inhale and exhale to remove tension from these areas
Annabeth Novitzki, private vocal trainer, suggests:
"To widen the vocal range, practice by doing a lip trill, making a siren-like sound, and singing a scale starting from the lowest note to the highest and then down again to the lowest note while relaxing your muscles and breathing using your diaphragm."
Step 2. Massage the facial and lower jaw muscles to relieve tension in the jaw
Place the balls of your palms on both sides of your face just below your cheekbones and gently massage your cheeks while moving slowly down to your lower jaw. Leave your mouth slightly open. Do this movement several times.
Step 3. Perform neck and shoulder circular motions to relax the muscles
Rotate your neck left and right slowly a few times. When your neck is relaxed, roll your shoulders in a gentle back and forward motion. Let your arms hang relaxed at your sides.
Relax your arms as you practice. Don't clench your fists or tighten your arm muscles while trying to hit a high note
Part 2 of 3: Doing a Sound Warmup
Step 1. Buy a vocal cord humidifier and use it before and after singing
This tool serves to moisten the vocal cords by flowing warm air containing water vapor. Get in the habit of moisturizing your vocal cords before and after practicing your vocals or performing at a performance to treat your vocal cords.
Step 2. Drink 1 glass of warm water to relax the throat muscles
It also helps to moisten your vocal cords so you can reach higher octaves. Dissolve honey in water to treat and/or prevent swelling in the throat.
Don't drink cold water, caffeinated drinks, or milk before warming up your voice as this can have a negative effect on your vocal cords
Step 3. Warm up the sound by doing a lip trill
Close your lips and let the air flow through the cleft lip without breaking so that your lips vibrate and sound like you're shivering with cold. Begin the exercise by making a long, unbroken "h" sound while blowing air through the gap between your lips.
- If you can, continue the practice by making a long "b" sound while singing in ascending and descending scales.
- The lip trill trains you to catch your breath while reducing pressure on your vocal cords.
Step 4. Stretch your vocal cords by making a siren-like sound
Form your lips to say the letter "O" and then inhale. To make things easier, imagine you're sipping a long noodle! As you exhale, make a long, uninterrupted "wooo" sound. Repeat this exercise 2-3 more times.
Then, continue the practice by saying a long "wooo" while singing in ascending and descending scales
Step 5. Warm up your voice by singing 2 octaves of the scale while practicing to hit the high notes
Start singing the scale with the lowest basic note. Say "miii" while singing the scales from the lowest to the highest note then down again while saying "iii". Continue the practice by singing the scales up and down repeatedly while raising the basic note.
- When you've relaxed enough, continue the exercise in the same way, saying "ooo."
- While warming up, don't force yourself to sing as high as you can. If done often, this method narrows the vocal range.
- You can practice warming up your voice using an app, such as Singscope.
Part 3 of 3: Widening the Vocal Range
Step 1. Breathe using your diaphragm to produce a more powerful sound
As a singer, you've probably heard this advice many times. However, you must master the technique in order to be able to achieve and maintain high notes while relaxing your muscles.
- When you inhale, the abdominal muscles should expand first and then the chest muscles.
- To make it easier, place your palms on your stomach while breathing regularly so that you focus on the stomach area.
- The ability to reach high notes is largely determined by the ability to regulate your breath. So make sure you sing using diaphragmatic breathing and practice using air to strengthen and care for your vocal cords.
Step 2. Start practicing by singing the middle notes in your vocal range and then work your way up to the highest notes you can
This exercise is a continuation of the sound warm-up which is done by making the sounds "ooo" and "iii". When you get to the note you want, say the vowels in a round voice to make it sound like "hooo" or "huuu."
- If you practice regularly, high notes will be easier to achieve.
- Don't forget to practice singing low notes. This exercise is useful for strengthening the vocal cords needed to reach high notes.
Step 3. Do a test using vowels
Usually, high notes are easier to achieve when sung while pronouncing certain vowels. Find out the vowels that help you reach high notes easily and sound beautiful. Then, practice singing at a higher basic note while changing the pronunciation of the letters (gradually).
For example, you might have trouble hitting high notes when you say a long "i" (such as when you say "fun"), but it's easier to hit a high note when you say a short "i." Therefore, change the pronunciation of the long "i" in the word "fun" to the short "i" in the word "usik" and adjust it to a long "i" while raising the basic tone
Step 4. Put a consonant in front of a vowel
Consonants, such as the letter "g" while stomping, help you perform cord closures to close your vocal cords together as best you can. After practicing using vowels for a while, put the letter "g" in front of it. This step is useful for training the vocal cords to vibrate regularly so as to produce a stable sound.
- Also, put "m" and "n" in front of vowels.
- Cord closure means closing the vocal cords together to produce sound. Airflow is not stable if the vocal cords are not tight.
Step 5. Say the word "yawn" (like you want to yawn) while singing high notes to shape your mouth
As you practice, don't hesitate to say the word "yawn" so you can hit the high notes. When pronouncing the word "yawn", the shape of the mouth and throat is very appropriate to achieve high notes. Use these tips as you practice until you're able to shape your mouth properly, but don't do it during performances!
Step 6. Try to produce a steady, uninterrupted sound
A steady flow of air is important for achieving and maintaining high notes. When practicing to widen your vocal range, make sure the air continues to flow as you inhale and exhale while producing a steady, uninterrupted sound.
- Think of all the sentences/phrases that will be sung in a high pitch and then prepare to make a sound by taking deep breaths so that the high note connects with the previous and following notes.
- Exhaling air suddenly at certain notes causes tension in the throat and vocal cords.
Step 7. Cool down after you've finished singing so you don't hurt your vocal cords
Practicing singing to hit high notes stretches the vocal cords. Get in the habit of cooling down after practicing to keep your vocal cords functioning properly, for example by humming an up and down scale while making a "mmm" sound.
Pay attention to how you feel on your lips when you hum. Lips vibrate and like being tickled
Step 8. Let the vocal cords rest for 30 minutes after singing
The vocal cords should be rested and restored after singing high notes. To rest your vocal cords completely, set aside 30 minutes of silence each time you finish singing, not singing, not talking, not humming.
Tips
- Practice singing with a vocal teacher to widen your vocal range and reach high notes.
- Don't give up if you haven't been able to sing high notes in a short time! This exercise takes time. Practice diligently.
- Do not allow the vocal cords to become tense to avoid injury. Injured vocal cords cannot be restored.
- Practice singing every day. The sound quality does not improve, in fact it gets worse if the vocal cords are left idle.
- When you start practicing, warm up your voice while singing a simple song to relax your vocal cords. This can be helpful in preparing your vocal cords for singing more difficult songs with higher notes.
Warning
- If your throat hurts, don't keep singing. You need to rest because this happens because the vocal cords are strained.
- Don't sing when you have a sore throat, as this will narrow your vocal range instead of widening it.
- Get in the habit of warming up your voice before singing to get the best sound quality and prevent injury.
