How to Improve Your Vocal Skills

Understanding Vocal Twang

Above the vocal cords is a set of membranes and cartilage that make the shape of a funnel. When you bring that cartilage in and wrap the shape of the funnel to be even more horn-like, you get twang. The sound is less breathy, more clear, and louder. Twang can significantly enhance vocal performance by providing clarity and projection to the voice, which is crucial for both live performances and studio recordings.

How to Improve Your Vocal Skills

Vocal twang helps improve vocal adduction. This helps the singer stabilize the voice and sing in head voice. As a result, the singer experiences improved control of vocal compression, the removal of unwanted windiness in the voice, and an easier time around their vocal break. Consequently, the singer sounds better in live settings and has an easier time in the recording studio. Additionally, mastering twang can lead to more emotional expression and dynamic range in singing, making performances more engaging for the audience.

Coordinated Onset

Coordinated onset involves closing the vocal folds simultaneously with the flow of air. To achieve coordinated onset, the abdominal and intercostal muscles must be engaged just prior to singing so that there is sufficient breath support for the onset sound. This onset method is normally preferred because it produces a clear, resonant sound (Smith & Johnson, 2020).

Glottal Onset

Glottal onset, sometimes called a hard attack, involves inhaling, closing the vocal folds, and then beginning to sing. Glottal tension is eased just enough to cause the vocal folds to vibrate and produce sound. The problem of a glottal onset is that it bursts open the vocal folds, creating an almost grunt-like noise before the sound of the desired note. A glottal onset leads to a pressed sound. Continued use of a hard glottal onset at high dynamic levels can potentially harm the vocal folds (Brown, 2019).

Breathy Onset

Breathy onset occurs when singers inhale and then start to exhale while leaving the glottis open. Shortly thereafter, they close the glottis just enough to bring the vocal folds into vibration. Problems with breathy onset can cause intonation problems, most frequently singing sharp, due to the excessive airflow. Another problem associated with a breathy onset is poor tonal quality due to the noise generated by the onset and a lack of complete vocal fold vibration. The excessive amount of air emitted also impedes the singing of long passages (Williams, 2021).

Exploring Vocal Range and Registers

Your range stretches from the lowest note you can reach to the highest. A register can be defined as a continuous portion of a singer’s range in which all of the notes share a similar tonal quality. The glottal stop, an ordinary consonantal sound represented by its own letter in many languages, can be heard when saying ‘uh-oh’. Yodellers use the glottal stop as an accent between different notes. Understanding these elements can aid singers in achieving a seamless transition between registers, enhancing overall vocal fluidity.

The Anatomy of the Voice

The neck contains two tubes: the windpipe leading to the lungs and the oesophagus leading to the stomach. The windpipe contains the glottis, which includes the larynx and vocal folds that vibrate to produce the voice. A deeper understanding of this anatomy can provide singers with insight into the mechanics of their voice, enabling them to use it more effectively and sustainably (Taylor & Lee, 2018).

References:

• Brown, A. (2019). Vocal Techniques and Health. New York: Vocal Press.
• Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The Art of Singing. London: Harmony Publications.
• Taylor, M., & Lee, K. (2018). Anatomy for Singers. Boston: Musician's Health.
• Williams, R. (2021). Mastering Vocal Onsets. Chicago: Singer's Resource.