awesome video kevin! so this compression is the same as what some call "twang" (twang compression) right? anyway, im still having some trouble replicating the "slide" at 4:50, (i get very breathy in my lower head notes, ie e4 and d4, and i dont want to be bridging too late), do you think its wise for me to train just the compression of my lower head notes till they become stronger before i try bridging chest to head? thanks a lot!
@rfcorange - Nope. "Twang" and "compression" are completely different things. "Twang" is something you add to an already created sound making it sound edgy or metallic. "Compression" has to do with air pressure, either in your body or under your vocal cords. If you "bridge early" you are changing the sound - not good. Training to compress your exhale will put a lot of other things in place in your voice. Train that first. "Twang" is just an effect like sob, or distortion/rasp.
@VcookiemonsterV - Not quite. The "oo" sound is simply created lower in the throat creating slightly more glottal compression so it slightly easier BUT but does everything you sing from chest into head resonance have an "oo" sound in it?
The technique is to be able to transition from chest to head on ANY sound. Starting with the more open and more challenging tones teaches you more than just finding the "easier" way to do it.
no matter I do lip roll, nay nay nay, bah bah bah, ma ma ma, I have my voice strained at high note, and I can never get that powerful sound quality. what should i do?
@Theotinyau - its not the sound you're making - thats secondary - your problem is one of strain and that has more to do with how you are approaching making those sounds. Your problem is in the throat, neck and jaw, not in your mouth.
Wow nice videos I miss my singing class i switched to home school for this year i don't know why but this is one of the exercises we did when we first walked in the class. glad i can do it more professionally cause you know what you're talking about :D
@Badsinger2718 - yes too much compression squeezes the cords closed and cuts off the sound and over time damages your voice. Its finding the balance point that's the key.
@rkim1993 first of all you can't "connect" modal with falsetto as falsetto is a disconnection of the vocal folds. You can sing from full voice to a falsetto tone using messa voce but modal and falsetto are two distinct approximations of the vocal folds. You need to stop thinking of your voice as having "parts". It does not. Its one register with various resonances. The idea is to keep the vocal cords together from your lower range into your higher with proper breath compression.
Very good video. You talk singers through the passage better than any of the other youtube videos I have found so far. Perhaps a hypocritical comment, but watch the pitch when you move above that second break point. You have a tendency to go sharp (really notice it in the two octave slide up). Either way, I'm just a chump pulling chest voice so keep doing what you do.
Great video. I love that you not only identified the problem, but you also explained the solution. A lot of YouTube lessons explain problems but not how to fix them. Great video.
@bootlegger1979 - yes this particular video was made to address that very problem here on YouTube. The solution is not some super secret insider technique, I'm not giving away the store by revealing it here. Some other teachers may not like that I gave this info away for free but if this messes up their teaching lessons, the don't know very much. This is basics.
Hey man, can I upload a sound file of how this exercise worked out for me? Im having a few doubts wether or not my sound's coming out the way it's supposed to. Worst case scenario, you can always use my example to show how NOT to do it.
@MrExtremeprotein - you are probably singing at homer at a much lower volume than with the band. Your breath support is probably OK for your volume at home but its not working in front of a loud band.
Tell the band to turn down. You only have one voice and its not worth doing damage because your band mates can't turn it down. If they won't turn it down, find another band because they don't care about your voice, only themselves.
@MrExtremeprotein - simple solution - take one ear plug out. This way you have an "open" ear to the room and you can the sound of your voice in context with the band. I have been doing this years. Keep the earplug in the ear that faces the loudest member of the band. That one earplug allows you to still hear yourself vibrate in your head and keep you from straining.
My question is "why are you straining for LOW notes"?
This is absolutely crucial to singing high notes and bridging or blending your passagio. It is helped me expand my range lower and higher, and I've passed through two areas of breaking and now have a full 3 octaves, using the buh exercises. Thanks.
as you're going up in pitch in this exercise, is your tone going from a more "mouthy" tone to a more pharyngeal tone? would it be important to consider keeping a consistent tone while going up in pitch? thanks
Why do some teachers preach neutral larynx? I fully agree with your comment when you said neutral larynx is unnatural. When we speak it goes up with pitch, and speaking is the most NATURAL and tension free way of "singing". So as long as our larynx doesn't go into the swallowing area we should be fine right?
@iTzJimBoi - a lot of teachers teach stable or neutral larynx because of an actual misunderstanding of the classical techniques found in Bel Canto. A non-moving larynx is completely unnatural. Why try to teach your larynx to do something it shouldn't do? It makes no sense. The larynx should float up and down about a half inch from its neutral or resting position. That amount of movement is natural and actually necessary to create certain vocal tones.
@BlessixDreamix - say "uh oh" in slightly loud speaking voice and feel your vocal cords come together right before the sound comes out. That is compression. Compression simply means using breath pressure to get your vocal cords to come together to vibrate and make sound.
The "M" and "G" sounds in your examples are simple vocal sounds that cause the cords to compress. You can't make a breathy "M" or "G" sound. Words like "Key" and "Cue" also cause compression.
you know i've been seeing adam lambert's videos of performances and i have seen that he sometimes steaks out his tongue when he sings some notes..and i dont know that much about singing but isnt the idea to keep the larynx stable?...because as you know steaking out the tongue raises the larynx a lot and as i have heard it's not that healthy to belt "classically" because it's not a technique that prolongs the voice's longevity.
@totoman12 - what you've heard is nonsense. Sticking out the tongue does not raise the larynx. Sticking it out keep the tongue keeps it from moving backward and choking off your sound. Lambert does it to make his high notes sound bigger. By doing that he is opening the back of his throat and making a bigger sound. Put your hand on your larynx and stick your tongue out - does it raise? No.
The larynx should float up & down a little, not stay in one place. A stable larynx is actually unnatural.
@totoman12 - the larynx rises when you haven't learned to relax your swallowing (Degastric) muscles behind the chin. These muscles lift the larynx on high notes and choke off your sound if they lift the larynx too high.
I hope this question doesn't sound silly but, would these lessons even benefit one who speaks a lot as a profession and want to have better control of their voice or to have a nicer voice, is that possible?
@brooklynlulu - in a certain sense yes they would. Though they are not specifically designed people who speak for a profession, the exercises do offer insight into how to speak in a more controlled manner, how to bring depth to the voice with better breath support and articulate clearer.
Thanks. I have not been asked that question before. It was a nice change of pace!
hey Kevin im 16 years old my name is Axl, i wanna make it big into rock/metal/thrash music i have big dreams....i live in canada i want to get prepared to go to L.A. when im 18 but im new to this vocal thing whats the first thing i should do?
@AxlTerry94 - buy some books on vocal technique like "Raise Your Voice" or Mark Baxter's "Rock n Roll Singers Survival Manual" and then seek out a competent vocal teacher. One who understands Rock music and can actually sing it. Do not go to a vocal teacher who cannot sing Rock. They will never help fully develop the right tools for singing heavy music. If you can't find one of those, seek out a classical opera teacher who is a Tenor. He can teach you how to develop a powerful voice.
wow, thanks for such an informative video. most people are like "the key to singing success is discovering the middle voice. I did it and can show you... YOURS FOR ONLY $200.00!!!" hahaha. I've been googling articles and work on this every single day so you can only imagine how grateful I am for such a video :) Definitely subscribed and will be back for more!
We're just starting Angel Breathing Out in out HS choir, here, and seeing is it requires sustained F and intermittent A's (diaphragm support/chest voice only gets me to a D with any quality), I'm trying to extend my range overnight.
I see already that isn't going to happen. But this does seem to be helping already. The problem I have is at and between the two breaks. I get very little sound with essentially no quality; the pitch jumps uncontrollably and sometimes nothing comes out. Any advice?
@Ratiqu - your problem is a matter of cord compression/closure, breath support and resonance blending. This cannot happen overnight or even relatively quickly. Although the physical movements are simple, it's a complicated coordination that takes a lot of practice.
A good way to start is to lip bubbles/rolls and slide the notes up and down through and between your break areas until the flip/crack goes away. If you can't do lip rolls do tongue trills or buzzing hums.
@manateedolphinwhale - buy a book on the subject. Jamie Vendera "Raise your voice" is a great book and Mark Baxter's "Rock n Roll Singers Survival Manual" is a great place to start.
@penguinpablomaparkop - well you can't really "lose it". You can only forget how to activate it. We compress our vocal cords whenever we speak, just to a very small degree.
Hey Kevin! So far, the only bridging technique i was able to get right was Rob Lunte's "Lift Up Pull Back", which is the one where you lay back on support to bridge. Watching this video, i was able to bridge using the "mmmm" you do when you build up the "mmmm-pah" sound, but when i try to do it with the mouth open, i either flip to head/falsetto or i bridge, but with a fry-like sound "mixed" in the voice on the notes around my break. Am i doing something wrong or I just need to practice it more?
@defuntoba - you never lay back on support to bridge. Constant and even support is what makes you bridge without breaking. "LIft Up and Pull Back" is an OK exercise for a beginner or someone with too much weight on their voice to begin with. The "Pull back" portion of that exercise to teach relaxation as you bridge so you don't pull a lot of vocal weight up into the head.
@RocktheStageNYC My voice sounds like a vocal fry when I go higher my register. Is that vocal fry a part of my mixed voice? Will the vocal fry eventually go away?
@luigimanzanares - you simply are not applying enough compression to get the cords to fully close against themselves. That is why it sounds "edgy" or "vocal fry-ish". Mixed voice is not a fry sound, it can be first learned by using vocal fry but eventually you want a clean sound.
@defuntoba - Robert's "bridging" technique of "Lift up and Pull back" is actually flawed. Backing off on support does not erase a break, it only smooths over it. This can lead to it popping up now and again if you're not very careful. The proper way to blend the voice is to use constant, pressurized air against the vocal cords - you never let go of it - ever. Its an old Italian method called "appoggio".
So should the light grunting sensation be something that is felt constantly when singing in head voice? or is it just something you should feel when the cords start to zip together to help them zip together?
@DerekofChaos - the light grunt is something that helps you find and keep the amount of compression (closing) of the cords you need to stay connected, but it should back off slightly as you head into upper registers.
Mr. Kevin, I'm disheartened. I showed my cousin a video of me singing The Star-Spangled Banner, and another video of me singing, both videos on my channel. (You have previously looked at one, and called me an intermediate) My problem is that he was-- overwhelmingly unimpressed. Does my voice have a naturally unlikeable quality? I hear HORRIBLE singers with great voices all the time, so why should mine be bad? And if it is, is there a way to make it sound more pleasant? (I'm talking about timbre)
@AtariMaxiToriyama - and who is your cousin to judge? Developing a "mature" voice takes time, knowledge and experience. Lots of people can sing songs but it takes a deep connection to your soul to know how to "deliver" a song. That comes with knowing your voice exceptionally well, having confidence in your abilities and lots of singing experience behind you. Even still I've heard singers with tons of experience & great technique and they just don't "move" anyone emotionally. They lack "feel"
@RocktheStageNYC I must admit, I'm referring more to the simple timbre of my voice, rather than how I sing, or are the two hand-in-glove? Listen, for example, to the metal singer Jorn, or Bon Jovi on his sing It's My Life. Or Axel Rudi Pell. They all have voices that are fun to listen to. They could probably sing Mary Had a Little Lamb. But as I said before, I've seen actually heard ANYONE who I would say has an unpleasant voice. It would be just my luck to have a nerve-grating timbre. >_<
@AtariMaxiToriyama - In my professional opinion you DO NOT have a "nerve-grating timbre" in fact you have a tonality very geared to musical theater/Broadway. That means you have a very nice, round and warm tone. That doesn't mean you can't sing Rock like Jon Bon Jovi, but you're starting from a good place. Believe me I know what nerve-grating voices sound like being a teacher.
I don't mean to sound nasty but your cousin is an idiot with no eat for good vocal tonality. Who does he listen to?
@RocktheStageNYC Well, having you say that is a compliment of a caliber that few could surpass. My cousin listens to -- y'know, rock. Three Days Grace, Zebrahead, Rise Against, the Offspring.
I tend to get very few comments on my videos, even though to MYSELF, I feel like I'm singing pretty darn good for an amateur, so it was just discouraging that he was underwhelmed. He didn't have a SINGLE thing to say. But if you say that I have potential, then I believe it. Thanks.
OMG...this really works...I followed you up to scale and got to my head voice imediately and before I could only dream of this. I tought I am never gonna be able to do this...thank you very much on this exercise...It works instantly and now its like I cannot get out from my gead voice..haha...its great :)
Cheers man, one more thing off topic a bit but when I sing infront of people my throat tenses quite a lot and I don't sing as well as I hope and end up trying my hardest to sing and fail at notes I sing easily when I'm alone, just wondering if this is common and if there's any tips on how to overcome this it would help me greatly :)
@Route424Vocal - stage fright is a common thing. What builds confidence is hours and hours of practice and rehearsal getting to know your voice. The more you know what you can and can't do vocally, the more confidence you have in your abilities.
Mental stress leads to over thinking the process of singing and you end up making singing much harder than it needs to be.
@Route424Vocal - confidence is something that comes over time. Even the most trained singers get nervous in front of people. - its completely natural. Fear is the #1 stumbling block of singers - no matter what their skill level. The ONLY way around it is to simply do it more and more often. Over time audience start to intimidate you less and less as your confidence increases.
Hey, I'm 15 and currently the singer in a band, I can sing in my head voice like The singing in painkiller lol but everything between this and my chest voice is bad, just wondering if you had any tips on how to find and practice this area cheers :)
@Route424Vocal - that area is the whole "ball of wax" for singers. Chest voice should be relatively easy for you as its natural part of the voice - Connecting chest to head voice is what 99% of all singers strive for and want to learn. There are no "tips" that will fix that problem. Its a systematic process that takes 6-9 months to achieve.
check out ride the wings of pestilence by fron first to last do u think its chest or head voice? any info to help get remotely as high and good as Sonny Moore
The reason, I think, that people try to use JUST chest voice, is because singing in the head voice sounds silly. It's not until one really gets a good mix of chest and head that it starts sounding good.
i dont wanna be an asshole haha, i dont consider you as a great singer but this excercise was the first that worked for me to achieve the "vocal compression" i wanted so bad to learn, i'm very thankful with you for that =)
@pauua - vocal compression has nothing to do with puberty, age, gender etc. Its a natural function of your vocal cords. You compress your cords when you speak, just very lightly.
@pauua - well there are darkening issues with puberty that make the voice "freak out" a bit in certain spots but they can be controlled with proper technique.
Thanks for uploading these! I've watched a lot of your videos, and I really apreciate them. One question I had for you, was when I use resonance, (bite, twang, whichever you prefer,) I can sing several notes higher then I normally can. Do you have an explanation for why I can do this? I'm just curious...
@AndrewPCole - the twang/bite is helping you "place" the sound (where it resonates) higher in the vocal tract. Thereby thinning out your voice and allowing you to go a few notes higher in your range more easily.
Well, I've been at it for about a week, and I've already strengthened my upper range. It's not where I want it yet but it's getting closer. From what I've heard, it is not a quick and easy process. However, I'm very appreciative of how Mr. Kevin has helped me so far.
can you tell give me a list of your videos to strengthen my upper Head voice range? I can hit E5, but it is Incredibly weak. (NOT falsetto.....head voice.)
@AndrewPCole - just look at my videos. They ALL give you the advice you're seeking. BUT no one exercise or even series of exercises gives you the whole picture. Its a process that has to be overseen by a professional vocal coach.
hey man! thanks alot for this video. I've just started using head voice and now I'm trying to develop my mixed voice, but my head voice is breathy is weak! with the "ba's" I can get rid of my breath and I gain lots of power and control all the way up to about E5. but when I then start singing normal songs again I lose that power and it goes breathy again. how do I transfer this to normal singing?? thanks dude
@benjaminwilliams00 - take that "Ba" sound and stretch it out for longer notes. Connect with how that feels. Duplicate that feeling when singing melodies.
@RocktheStageNYC sounds like you know what you're talking about, I shall try it out! I have currently started private lessons with a speech level singing instuctor a few weeks ago and I can connect really well but still need to get rid of breathiness in order to use compression to gain the power, I would prefer to take lessons with you but I live in England.
@benjaminwilliams00 - I teach singers all over the world via the internet and a webcam. I get great results this way. I have students from France to Hawaii. I can teach you right from the comfort of your home.
I kinda have a problem with compression. I can do it, but sometimes I overdo it... How do I know when to stop compressing? and if I did overcompress, what can I do to kind of reverse the "over" just enough to get to balanced state?
@mastershakedude22 - it takes experimentation with your own voice to know precisely what is enough compression needed to produce a good, solid tone. Each person is different - some people have heavy voice, some have light voice. Each one will require a different amount of compression to sound good.
If you "overdo it" you'll simply choke off your sound. Too little and the voice breaks apart. This is why vocal lessons are so important. A good coach will help you find the right balance .
@RocktheStageNYC thank you sir. sadly I live in a place where good vocal coaches are extremely rare. and maybe 1 out of 50 of them might be the only one to know what compression is....
DUDE mr. awesome teacher dude, do me a huge favor? listen to the song "act appalled" by the band "circa survive" and explain to me how he sings his notes?
@Mushamashi987654 - I've been asked about Anthony Green before - Anthony has a very well developed high mix. He's a natural high tenor anyway so this range is more comfortable for him than 99% of male singers. He has an usually high "comfort zone" for his voice. Combine that with some obvious vocal training and you get that very chesty sounding high mix/ head voice vocal range.
He is easily singing between G4 and D5 - unusually high for a male singer.
Hello Sir. I feel tight around the area right below my eyes and tired after doing vocal compression. Is this normal? Should I continue to do this v.compression?
@zamel - yes you should keep trying compressing the cords - BUT nothing should feel tight. You can get tired from using some muscles in a way you haven't before but nothing should feel tight or strained. Vocal compression is simply a way to keep the vocal cords set in the mode they use for speech. But it takes very targeted control to keep them closed while staying relaxed and not straining.,
i have a problem with high notes, i can hit a G(below high c) in my full voice (mixed voice). but when i go past that G, my power disappears and it doesnt sound so full. i guess this is my second break.
sometimes i can hit A(below high c) in my mix but its not so relaxed, but when i use my head voice i can sing even high c, but its not so powerful. how can i fix this? how to sing with power in second bridge?
I have been TRYING like crazy to get any hint of a head voice, so far I have chest voice and a high chest voice mix. As I go up I hit a wall and crack out. I still have my tonsils and have not been singing for that long, 4 months...so..yah...Trying to do whatever I can.
@nfarnham2008 - 4 months in nothing. It can take a full year to learn how to connect chest register to head register through mix and stay connected without tension or strain. Its a process. Simple in design but not easy to execute properly.
@89gerardo - not quite. Proper breath support creates compression in the vocal cords. Compression is how much the vocal cords are pressing together to resist the air you are exhaling outward. The better and more balanced the compression on the vocal cords the fuller and more even your singing voice becomes.
@89gerardo - its none of those. To bridge and connect or blend your chest voice to your head voice requires relaxation of the throat and a precise balance between air pressure and vocal cord closure. It's not a simple coordination. There are no "tricks", "secrets" or quick fixes to achieving a smooth voice from bottom to top. It takes months of daily practice to get right.
is the "buh' exercise from 2:18 onwards used to eliminate the need of using falsetto? does that mean by doing this exercise daily i will be able to hit these notes using head voice instead of falsetto?
@swordsmanwil - the "buh" exercise (you can also use "mum") is meant to teach you how to connect to head voice without using falsetto. It keeps the voice connected by using nothing but what you use in speech. You are essentially speaking on pitch.
My voice always seems to be an octave lower when i sing compared to how people sing in songs. I struggle to hit middle c in my chest voice, is there any excersizes i can do to sing higher in chest voice?
@Jalamy - look at my channel and subscribe to my blog on my website under free-stuff. I give out exercises to help sing higher without tension. There are no magical exercises that will fix things - its a process that takes week to months to years.
@derecho1965 - get vocal lessons (CD courses or private), practice a lot and have a lot of patience. That's what it takes. There are no "fixes" or "secrets" that magically fixes a voice in a few weeks. It takes 6 months to a year of solid training to get a good singing voice.
@RocktheStageNYC Hi Kev, I've been practicing Remember When It Rained by Groban for months but struggle at the end where the line 'running down" is held for about ten seconds. I can do it for about 6.5 and then I fall apart. What note is it that I am trying to hit and what advice can you share. It has taken me about six months to get here, so close. You can find the YT vid at wwwyoutubecom watch?v=rfxqW9QwOSI see from 3-53 to 4-25 where I am very comfortable but crash at 4-26
@RocktheStageNYC I notice you seem oddly selective when it comes to looking at videos people send you. What was different about his request that you don't do?
@Learning2vocalize I believe that's a G4. Fairly simple to hit note, if you have a few months of training, I think. And it's on an easy, open vowel sound, a small "o," or "ah".
@VincentHarvey10 - absolutely normal. In fact you HAVE to bridge into head voice to sing notes like A4-B4 properly. Its the only way to access notes like C5-F5.
Another Question: For example Rock Singers Such as Robert Plant, Sebastian Bach, Michael Sweet, etc... Do they rely on head voice in order to sing the way they do
@empirecircle - not quite. In CVT Curbing is a specific vocal mode. what I'm doing here is applying cord compression, thinning the voice and breath support to eliminate breaks - all at the same time.
I prefer using my Falsetto for upper ranges, simply because I don't like shouting when singing. Teachers/people compare my voice to Chris Martin/James Blunt/Thom Yorke.
That's all good, but the problem is I can rarely hit anything above a C7, and even the C7 itself is often very hard to hit in Falsetto. In Head Resonance, however, it's easier to get those notes, and higher, but it becomes squeakier as it goes up.
So my question is:
How do I develop my falsetto voice to hit above that C7?
@Commando3200 - I'm not sure what position on the keyboard you are talking about. Here in the states a C7 is a double high C. One octave above a Soprano high C and would be in whistle register. There would be no need to go any higher than Soprano C (C6).
Here in the states Middle C is C4, male high C is C5 and Soprano High C is C6.
@RocktheStageNYC - C7 for me would be the Soprano High C, if Middle C would be C5.
In some songs they go above that C7. "Shiver" by Coldplay or "Never Say Never" by The Fray go above.
So how can I at least maintain that C7 to help me gain confidence in the upper ranges, in falsetto. Also a further question, how do I change to Whistle register in my falsetto voice, so going up from falsetto into Whistle register. I can do it but only if I switch into head voice, not falsetto
@Commando3200 - I think we scaling notes differently. Chris Martin from Coldplay cannot sing a Soprano High C - male high C maybe but not the Soprano C6.
Middle C for the US is C4 or the 4th C on the piano going left to right across the keyboard.
Ok, I'm looking at my piano. I see Middle C as the fourth C left to right on the keyboard. One octave above that would be C5, yes? One octave above that is C6, the Soprano High C? Or is that where we're misunderstanding each other?
If you want an idea of the note I'm talking about, the highest note in "Square One" also by Coldplay at the end of the chorus.
@Commando3200 - yes that's how we scale piano notes here in the US. That high note would be a C5. Not super high but challenging if you don't know how to get there without tension or strain.
Thanks heaps, that bah bah bah stuff is exactly what I needed to understand how vocal compression felt. In the song I'm practicing at the moment there were notes I couldn't hit without shouting, this totally fixed it.
@skvrko - I was born a baritone but that term is meaningless now as I can sing from the bass range into soprano. Voice types are only important if you want to limit yourself to a specific range of notes. Once you break those limits voice "types" like baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo become obsolete.
I have a problem, if you could help me, I'd really appreciate that. I took a really long break from singing, and I'm trying to get my voice back in shape. I can access head voice, but for some reason I strain my larynx. I can go from chest voice to head voce but I strain the head voice. I'm a baritone.
hey Rock the stage, i have another video of that guy who sings with a high and low octave rock voice, i am still confused, i filmed this but not the stage as i didn't want to look as if i was filming, he some how has a whistle coming through with the deep voice, he done this sound in other songs as well, its awesome, and is not his true voice. he somehow turns into a different singer . its on my channel , its "shook me all night long" please listen and what do you think? cheers Stebolian
@RocktheStageNYC not for most songs , i found out that he has developed his whistle register throughout his range to the point where its blends highs and lows, he developed the primal register that was used when a man faced danger long long ago, children use this register and are soon taught to shut up thus suppressing its development into adulthood, . it is like singing high notes in the low register, and saves you from extending and straining in falsetto or your highest head voice. its hard
@stebolian - what you are saying makes no sense. Whistle does not happen in the lower registers. I think you are using the term "whistle" on something that isn't whistle. I think you really mean overtones or resonance.
Either way, this guys tone is NOT something you want to copy.
@RocktheStageNYC yer maybe the wrong term, the muscles that produce the whistle register are and extension of a vocal fry when you ascend in the fry a squeak appears, he has developed those muscles, thus creating an alternative register to play around in, the sounds tend to blend in octaves, sorry if i sound a bit wrong in terms, its hard to explain. he sings awesomely in other songs, this is just a party trick i guess for power, each to their own, sounds good live.
It depends on what scales/exercises you are doing and how you're doing them. Anyone can master a scale but translating that to actual singing only happens if you are practicing legato or smooth scales/exercises. Legato scales are the closest to singing. It also depends if you are doing the scales correctly. Its not quantity of practice - it the quality.
Scales/exercises are good to build strength and flexibility but you also have to know how to breath correctly and use "placement".
Hey my name is alex I'm a 14 year old singer, songwriting and have been taking voice lessons and do intense vocal training everyday i can sing easily up to tenor high c and even to some e5 on a a good day. But i was wondering why when i go to sing the same notes its hard to actually sing. like when I'm just doing my vocal warm ups and training my voice i hit them with ease but when i go to sing them its doesn't hurt but sometime i tend to push to hard or overpower the notes... can you help? :)
I'm having some trouble with the "Buh's". Like I can go from Chest to Head but When i descend from head to chest I crack. Can you tell me a way so that I can maintain control?
@JacksonX94 - just keep practicing. Have in your mind that when coming back down you have to sound just like you did going up (only if going up was correct). You can't let go of the cord compression - the pressure "Buh" creates. Keep the "B's" heavy, don't let them get breathy.
@xblackxsailsx - "cord compression" is what gets the cords closed firmly to create a solid seal and a solid vocal tone.
"zipping/adduction is the process of taking those closed cords & allowing them to stretch without tension. The large opening at the front of the cords for chest voice moves to the back for head voice and gets smaller - increasing pitch. Smaller hole, less air & higher pitch. The remainder of the cords are touching but in a state of rest and not producing sound.
i can sing reasonably high rock songs but in a lot of the really high bits it starts to strain, what is the easiest way to relax this tension and hit those slightly higher notes in the same voice
@clince121188 - the "easiest way"? There is no easy way, no blue pill you can take. Its a process of learning how to manipulate your voice without using any muscles that aren't involved in speech. That can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months.
i have a prob, i wanna sing rock like metal or something but i just get a stupid child voice ,id like to have deep rocking voice like foo fighters singer has.
@TheOfflain - be prepared to study and practice for at least a year. Find a good teacher or buy a vocal course. Either way it'll take at a least year to get a good sounding voice.
awesome video kevin! so this compression is the same as what some call "twang" (twang compression) right? anyway, im still having some trouble replicating the "slide" at 4:50, (i get very breathy in my lower head notes, ie e4 and d4, and i dont want to be bridging too late), do you think its wise for me to train just the compression of my lower head notes till they become stronger before i try bridging chest to head? thanks a lot!
rfcorange 3 weeks ago
@rfcorange - Nope. "Twang" and "compression" are completely different things. "Twang" is something you add to an already created sound making it sound edgy or metallic. "Compression" has to do with air pressure, either in your body or under your vocal cords. If you "bridge early" you are changing the sound - not good. Training to compress your exhale will put a lot of other things in place in your voice. Train that first. "Twang" is just an effect like sob, or distortion/rasp.
RocktheStageNYC 3 weeks ago
its a shit ton easier if you do boo (as in book) because the "oo" sound in book pulls toward head voice allowing an easier connection
VcookiemonsterV 3 weeks ago
@VcookiemonsterV - Not quite. The "oo" sound is simply created lower in the throat creating slightly more glottal compression so it slightly easier BUT but does everything you sing from chest into head resonance have an "oo" sound in it?
The technique is to be able to transition from chest to head on ANY sound. Starting with the more open and more challenging tones teaches you more than just finding the "easier" way to do it.
RocktheStageNYC 3 weeks ago
no matter I do lip roll, nay nay nay, bah bah bah, ma ma ma, I have my voice strained at high note, and I can never get that powerful sound quality. what should i do?
Theotinyau 3 weeks ago
@Theotinyau - its not the sound you're making - thats secondary - your problem is one of strain and that has more to do with how you are approaching making those sounds. Your problem is in the throat, neck and jaw, not in your mouth.
Look at my videos on vocal strain first.
RocktheStageNYC 3 weeks ago
Wow nice videos I miss my singing class i switched to home school for this year i don't know why but this is one of the exercises we did when we first walked in the class. glad i can do it more professionally cause you know what you're talking about :D
CoolVideoWatcher101 4 weeks ago
Is too much vocal compression bad for the voice? And should it be applied in the low notes?
Badsinger2718 1 month ago
@Badsinger2718 - yes too much compression squeezes the cords closed and cuts off the sound and over time damages your voice. Its finding the balance point that's the key.
Low notes need it but not so much.
RocktheStageNYC 1 month ago
2:31 I did exacly as he said guys would do hahaha
Alexis60549 1 month ago
I have a hard time connecting my modal and my falsetto,
Is there something I can do to make a good transition between the two?
rkim1993 2 months ago
@rkim1993 first of all you can't "connect" modal with falsetto as falsetto is a disconnection of the vocal folds. You can sing from full voice to a falsetto tone using messa voce but modal and falsetto are two distinct approximations of the vocal folds. You need to stop thinking of your voice as having "parts". It does not. Its one register with various resonances. The idea is to keep the vocal cords together from your lower range into your higher with proper breath compression.
RocktheStageNYC 2 months ago
Very good video. You talk singers through the passage better than any of the other youtube videos I have found so far. Perhaps a hypocritical comment, but watch the pitch when you move above that second break point. You have a tendency to go sharp (really notice it in the two octave slide up). Either way, I'm just a chump pulling chest voice so keep doing what you do.
059750 2 months ago
Great video. I love that you not only identified the problem, but you also explained the solution. A lot of YouTube lessons explain problems but not how to fix them. Great video.
bootlegger1979 5 months ago
@bootlegger1979 - yes this particular video was made to address that very problem here on YouTube. The solution is not some super secret insider technique, I'm not giving away the store by revealing it here. Some other teachers may not like that I gave this info away for free but if this messes up their teaching lessons, the don't know very much. This is basics.
RocktheStageNYC 3 weeks ago
Hey man, can I upload a sound file of how this exercise worked out for me? Im having a few doubts wether or not my sound's coming out the way it's supposed to. Worst case scenario, you can always use my example to show how NOT to do it.
howyadoinable 5 months ago in playlist Liked
this is probably your best video. Really nice!
howyadoinable 5 months ago
thanks alot your video helped me alot when i'm ready i'll dedicate my singing video to you haha kk Thanks
AndriaBMWshow 6 months ago
@MrExtremeprotein - you are probably singing at homer at a much lower volume than with the band. Your breath support is probably OK for your volume at home but its not working in front of a loud band.
Tell the band to turn down. You only have one voice and its not worth doing damage because your band mates can't turn it down. If they won't turn it down, find another band because they don't care about your voice, only themselves.
RocktheStageNYC 6 months ago
@MrExtremeprotein - simple solution - take one ear plug out. This way you have an "open" ear to the room and you can the sound of your voice in context with the band. I have been doing this years. Keep the earplug in the ear that faces the loudest member of the band. That one earplug allows you to still hear yourself vibrate in your head and keep you from straining.
My question is "why are you straining for LOW notes"?
RocktheStageNYC 6 months ago
This is absolutely crucial to singing high notes and bridging or blending your passagio. It is helped me expand my range lower and higher, and I've passed through two areas of breaking and now have a full 3 octaves, using the buh exercises. Thanks.
singinglyfe 7 months ago
as you're going up in pitch in this exercise, is your tone going from a more "mouthy" tone to a more pharyngeal tone? would it be important to consider keeping a consistent tone while going up in pitch? thanks
treadsuit 7 months ago
@treadsuit - a consistent tone is essential.
RocktheStageNYC 7 months ago
Why do some teachers preach neutral larynx? I fully agree with your comment when you said neutral larynx is unnatural. When we speak it goes up with pitch, and speaking is the most NATURAL and tension free way of "singing". So as long as our larynx doesn't go into the swallowing area we should be fine right?
iTzJimBoi 7 months ago
@iTzJimBoi - a lot of teachers teach stable or neutral larynx because of an actual misunderstanding of the classical techniques found in Bel Canto. A non-moving larynx is completely unnatural. Why try to teach your larynx to do something it shouldn't do? It makes no sense. The larynx should float up and down about a half inch from its neutral or resting position. That amount of movement is natural and actually necessary to create certain vocal tones.
RocktheStageNYC 7 months ago
@BlessixDreamix - say "uh oh" in slightly loud speaking voice and feel your vocal cords come together right before the sound comes out. That is compression. Compression simply means using breath pressure to get your vocal cords to come together to vibrate and make sound.
The "M" and "G" sounds in your examples are simple vocal sounds that cause the cords to compress. You can't make a breathy "M" or "G" sound. Words like "Key" and "Cue" also cause compression.
RocktheStageNYC 8 months ago
you know i've been seeing adam lambert's videos of performances and i have seen that he sometimes steaks out his tongue when he sings some notes..and i dont know that much about singing but isnt the idea to keep the larynx stable?...because as you know steaking out the tongue raises the larynx a lot and as i have heard it's not that healthy to belt "classically" because it's not a technique that prolongs the voice's longevity.
totoman12 8 months ago
@totoman12 - what you've heard is nonsense. Sticking out the tongue does not raise the larynx. Sticking it out keep the tongue keeps it from moving backward and choking off your sound. Lambert does it to make his high notes sound bigger. By doing that he is opening the back of his throat and making a bigger sound. Put your hand on your larynx and stick your tongue out - does it raise? No.
The larynx should float up & down a little, not stay in one place. A stable larynx is actually unnatural.
RocktheStageNYC 8 months ago
@RocktheStageNYC ha..really? perhaps i have all mix up some terms....so when does the larynx rises..?
totoman12 8 months ago
@totoman12 - the larynx rises when you haven't learned to relax your swallowing (Degastric) muscles behind the chin. These muscles lift the larynx on high notes and choke off your sound if they lift the larynx too high.
RocktheStageNYC 8 months ago
@BlessixDreamix - "very tight" meaning quick and short. Don't be lazy with them.
RocktheStageNYC 9 months ago
I hope this question doesn't sound silly but, would these lessons even benefit one who speaks a lot as a profession and want to have better control of their voice or to have a nicer voice, is that possible?
brooklynlulu 10 months ago
@brooklynlulu - in a certain sense yes they would. Though they are not specifically designed people who speak for a profession, the exercises do offer insight into how to speak in a more controlled manner, how to bring depth to the voice with better breath support and articulate clearer.
Thanks. I have not been asked that question before. It was a nice change of pace!
RocktheStageNYC 10 months ago
hey Kevin im 16 years old my name is Axl, i wanna make it big into rock/metal/thrash music i have big dreams....i live in canada i want to get prepared to go to L.A. when im 18 but im new to this vocal thing whats the first thing i should do?
AxlTerry94 11 months ago
@AxlTerry94 - buy some books on vocal technique like "Raise Your Voice" or Mark Baxter's "Rock n Roll Singers Survival Manual" and then seek out a competent vocal teacher. One who understands Rock music and can actually sing it. Do not go to a vocal teacher who cannot sing Rock. They will never help fully develop the right tools for singing heavy music. If you can't find one of those, seek out a classical opera teacher who is a Tenor. He can teach you how to develop a powerful voice.
RocktheStageNYC 11 months ago
wow, thanks for such an informative video. most people are like "the key to singing success is discovering the middle voice. I did it and can show you... YOURS FOR ONLY $200.00!!!" hahaha. I've been googling articles and work on this every single day so you can only imagine how grateful I am for such a video :) Definitely subscribed and will be back for more!
keirakang 11 months ago
@keirakang - Yes there are a lot of those out there. Some good, some bad and some very bad ripoffs. I'm glad you learned something useful here.
RocktheStageNYC 11 months ago
We're just starting Angel Breathing Out in out HS choir, here, and seeing is it requires sustained F and intermittent A's (diaphragm support/chest voice only gets me to a D with any quality), I'm trying to extend my range overnight.
I see already that isn't going to happen. But this does seem to be helping already. The problem I have is at and between the two breaks. I get very little sound with essentially no quality; the pitch jumps uncontrollably and sometimes nothing comes out. Any advice?
Ratiqu 11 months ago
@Ratiqu - your problem is a matter of cord compression/closure, breath support and resonance blending. This cannot happen overnight or even relatively quickly. Although the physical movements are simple, it's a complicated coordination that takes a lot of practice.
A good way to start is to lip bubbles/rolls and slide the notes up and down through and between your break areas until the flip/crack goes away. If you can't do lip rolls do tongue trills or buzzing hums.
RocktheStageNYC 11 months ago
@RocktheStageNYC - Hmm. Sounds like sound advice. Thanks for taking the time to help me out; I guess I'll be working on this for a while.
Ratiqu 11 months ago
I have gotta be honest....The ma ma ma method works the best for me.
highnote32 11 months ago
Curiosity...For the female voice, I know they break at the A4 or Bb4. Where would their 2nd break be? You say a man's 2nd break is at A4.
highnote32 1 year ago
@highnote32 - the second female "blend area" for females is in the same place as a male's first "blend area" just one octave higher at D5-Eb5.
Depending on the voice a male's second blend area can be anywhere between G4-Bb4.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC Yeah, that sounds about right. Thank you so much for the education...I am NO longer pulling or flipping
highnote32 1 year ago
Hey could you help me understand this 'singing talk?' like 'chest voice' and stuff.
manateedolphinwhale 1 year ago
@manateedolphinwhale - buy a book on the subject. Jamie Vendera "Raise your voice" is a great book and Mark Baxter's "Rock n Roll Singers Survival Manual" is a great place to start.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
If your friend lost vocal compression could he gain it back?
penguinpablomaparkop 1 year ago
@penguinpablomaparkop - well you can't really "lose it". You can only forget how to activate it. We compress our vocal cords whenever we speak, just to a very small degree.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Say if sombody somehow lost a part of your vocal range through so much cheering when he were to practice this technique would this help?
penguinpablomaparkop 1 year ago
@penguinpablomaparkop - partly but not fully. This is just one exercise, its not a complete picture.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Hey Kevin! So far, the only bridging technique i was able to get right was Rob Lunte's "Lift Up Pull Back", which is the one where you lay back on support to bridge. Watching this video, i was able to bridge using the "mmmm" you do when you build up the "mmmm-pah" sound, but when i try to do it with the mouth open, i either flip to head/falsetto or i bridge, but with a fry-like sound "mixed" in the voice on the notes around my break. Am i doing something wrong or I just need to practice it more?
defuntoba 1 year ago
@defuntoba - you never lay back on support to bridge. Constant and even support is what makes you bridge without breaking. "LIft Up and Pull Back" is an OK exercise for a beginner or someone with too much weight on their voice to begin with. The "Pull back" portion of that exercise to teach relaxation as you bridge so you don't pull a lot of vocal weight up into the head.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC My voice sounds like a vocal fry when I go higher my register. Is that vocal fry a part of my mixed voice? Will the vocal fry eventually go away?
luigimanzanares 1 year ago
@luigimanzanares - you simply are not applying enough compression to get the cords to fully close against themselves. That is why it sounds "edgy" or "vocal fry-ish". Mixed voice is not a fry sound, it can be first learned by using vocal fry but eventually you want a clean sound.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@defuntoba - Robert's "bridging" technique of "Lift up and Pull back" is actually flawed. Backing off on support does not erase a break, it only smooths over it. This can lead to it popping up now and again if you're not very careful. The proper way to blend the voice is to use constant, pressurized air against the vocal cords - you never let go of it - ever. Its an old Italian method called "appoggio".
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
So should the light grunting sensation be something that is felt constantly when singing in head voice? or is it just something you should feel when the cords start to zip together to help them zip together?
DerekofChaos 1 year ago
@DerekofChaos - the light grunt is something that helps you find and keep the amount of compression (closing) of the cords you need to stay connected, but it should back off slightly as you head into upper registers.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Mr. Kevin, I'm disheartened. I showed my cousin a video of me singing The Star-Spangled Banner, and another video of me singing, both videos on my channel. (You have previously looked at one, and called me an intermediate) My problem is that he was-- overwhelmingly unimpressed. Does my voice have a naturally unlikeable quality? I hear HORRIBLE singers with great voices all the time, so why should mine be bad? And if it is, is there a way to make it sound more pleasant? (I'm talking about timbre)
AtariMaxiToriyama 1 year ago
@AtariMaxiToriyama - and who is your cousin to judge? Developing a "mature" voice takes time, knowledge and experience. Lots of people can sing songs but it takes a deep connection to your soul to know how to "deliver" a song. That comes with knowing your voice exceptionally well, having confidence in your abilities and lots of singing experience behind you. Even still I've heard singers with tons of experience & great technique and they just don't "move" anyone emotionally. They lack "feel"
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC I must admit, I'm referring more to the simple timbre of my voice, rather than how I sing, or are the two hand-in-glove? Listen, for example, to the metal singer Jorn, or Bon Jovi on his sing It's My Life. Or Axel Rudi Pell. They all have voices that are fun to listen to. They could probably sing Mary Had a Little Lamb. But as I said before, I've seen actually heard ANYONE who I would say has an unpleasant voice. It would be just my luck to have a nerve-grating timbre. >_<
AtariMaxiToriyama 1 year ago
@AtariMaxiToriyama - In my professional opinion you DO NOT have a "nerve-grating timbre" in fact you have a tonality very geared to musical theater/Broadway. That means you have a very nice, round and warm tone. That doesn't mean you can't sing Rock like Jon Bon Jovi, but you're starting from a good place. Believe me I know what nerve-grating voices sound like being a teacher.
I don't mean to sound nasty but your cousin is an idiot with no eat for good vocal tonality. Who does he listen to?
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago 2
@RocktheStageNYC Well, having you say that is a compliment of a caliber that few could surpass. My cousin listens to -- y'know, rock. Three Days Grace, Zebrahead, Rise Against, the Offspring.
I tend to get very few comments on my videos, even though to MYSELF, I feel like I'm singing pretty darn good for an amateur, so it was just discouraging that he was underwhelmed. He didn't have a SINGLE thing to say. But if you say that I have potential, then I believe it. Thanks.
AtariMaxiToriyama 1 year ago
OMG...this really works...I followed you up to scale and got to my head voice imediately and before I could only dream of this. I tought I am never gonna be able to do this...thank you very much on this exercise...It works instantly and now its like I cannot get out from my gead voice..haha...its great :)
1irule 1 year ago
Cheers man, one more thing off topic a bit but when I sing infront of people my throat tenses quite a lot and I don't sing as well as I hope and end up trying my hardest to sing and fail at notes I sing easily when I'm alone, just wondering if this is common and if there's any tips on how to overcome this it would help me greatly :)
Route424Vocal 1 year ago
@Route424Vocal - stage fright is a common thing. What builds confidence is hours and hours of practice and rehearsal getting to know your voice. The more you know what you can and can't do vocally, the more confidence you have in your abilities.
Mental stress leads to over thinking the process of singing and you end up making singing much harder than it needs to be.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@Route424Vocal - confidence is something that comes over time. Even the most trained singers get nervous in front of people. - its completely natural. Fear is the #1 stumbling block of singers - no matter what their skill level. The ONLY way around it is to simply do it more and more often. Over time audience start to intimidate you less and less as your confidence increases.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Hey, I'm 15 and currently the singer in a band, I can sing in my head voice like The singing in painkiller lol but everything between this and my chest voice is bad, just wondering if you had any tips on how to find and practice this area cheers :)
Route424Vocal 1 year ago
@Route424Vocal - that area is the whole "ball of wax" for singers. Chest voice should be relatively easy for you as its natural part of the voice - Connecting chest to head voice is what 99% of all singers strive for and want to learn. There are no "tips" that will fix that problem. Its a systematic process that takes 6-9 months to achieve.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
check out ride the wings of pestilence by fron first to last do u think its chest or head voice? any info to help get remotely as high and good as Sonny Moore
ILLET101 1 year ago
The reason, I think, that people try to use JUST chest voice, is because singing in the head voice sounds silly. It's not until one really gets a good mix of chest and head that it starts sounding good.
AtariMaxiTariyama 1 year ago
i dont wanna be an asshole haha, i dont consider you as a great singer but this excercise was the first that worked for me to achieve the "vocal compression" i wanted so bad to learn, i'm very thankful with you for that =)
LiNNNNNNNNk 1 year ago
@LiNNNNNNNNk - whatever floats your boat. glad it worked for you.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@LiNNNNNNNNk wow, Kevin has a great voice, and you WERE an asshole to tell him that either way cause it is rude and irrelevant..
Rosannasfriend 1 year ago
@Rosannasfriend maybe you're right, sorry for that, my fault
LiNNNNNNNNk 1 year ago
Is vocal compression lost during puberty period and is vocal compression (or at least some of) retained after puberty?
pauua 1 year ago
@pauua - vocal compression has nothing to do with puberty, age, gender etc. Its a natural function of your vocal cords. You compress your cords when you speak, just very lightly.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC thanks mate.Well,what does the puberty do to vocal chords anyway?
pauua 1 year ago
@pauua - well there are darkening issues with puberty that make the voice "freak out" a bit in certain spots but they can be controlled with proper technique.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@AIG96
A weak E5 in head voice, (NOT FALSETTO.)
AndrewPCole 1 year ago
@AndrewPCole i mean how high is your voice before you started practising?
AIG96 1 year ago
@RockthestageNYC
Thanks for uploading these! I've watched a lot of your videos, and I really apreciate them. One question I had for you, was when I use resonance, (bite, twang, whichever you prefer,) I can sing several notes higher then I normally can. Do you have an explanation for why I can do this? I'm just curious...
Also, What do you prefer to go by?
Thanks!
AndrewPCole 1 year ago
@AndrewPCole - the twang/bite is helping you "place" the sound (where it resonates) higher in the vocal tract. Thereby thinning out your voice and allowing you to go a few notes higher in your range more easily.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@AIG96
Well, I've been at it for about a week, and I've already strengthened my upper range. It's not where I want it yet but it's getting closer. From what I've heard, it is not a quick and easy process. However, I'm very appreciative of how Mr. Kevin has helped me so far.
AndrewPCole 1 year ago
@AndrewPCole How high is your voice before you started?
AIG96 1 year ago
Hey,
Can you do the compression 'BUH' exercise once you're already in head voice? Would that help me add power?
Canadianspunge 1 year ago
@Canadianspunge - yes but it won't give you a lot of power. It will keep you connected but ti will be a light connection.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RockthestageNYC
Hey,
can you tell give me a list of your videos to strengthen my upper Head voice range? I can hit E5, but it is Incredibly weak. (NOT falsetto.....head voice.)
it would be much appreciated!!!
AndrewPCole 1 year ago
@AndrewPCole - just look at my videos. They ALL give you the advice you're seeking. BUT no one exercise or even series of exercises gives you the whole picture. Its a process that has to be overseen by a professional vocal coach.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@AndrewPCole hey how long did it take you to improve your vocals? thanks for any answer.
AIG96 1 year ago
hey man! thanks alot for this video. I've just started using head voice and now I'm trying to develop my mixed voice, but my head voice is breathy is weak! with the "ba's" I can get rid of my breath and I gain lots of power and control all the way up to about E5. but when I then start singing normal songs again I lose that power and it goes breathy again. how do I transfer this to normal singing?? thanks dude
benjaminwilliams00 1 year ago
@benjaminwilliams00 - take that "Ba" sound and stretch it out for longer notes. Connect with how that feels. Duplicate that feeling when singing melodies.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC sounds like you know what you're talking about, I shall try it out! I have currently started private lessons with a speech level singing instuctor a few weeks ago and I can connect really well but still need to get rid of breathiness in order to use compression to gain the power, I would prefer to take lessons with you but I live in England.
benjaminwilliams00 1 year ago
@benjaminwilliams00 - I teach singers all over the world via the internet and a webcam. I get great results this way. I have students from France to Hawaii. I can teach you right from the comfort of your home.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
I kinda have a problem with compression. I can do it, but sometimes I overdo it... How do I know when to stop compressing? and if I did overcompress, what can I do to kind of reverse the "over" just enough to get to balanced state?
mastershakedude22 1 year ago
@mastershakedude22 - it takes experimentation with your own voice to know precisely what is enough compression needed to produce a good, solid tone. Each person is different - some people have heavy voice, some have light voice. Each one will require a different amount of compression to sound good.
If you "overdo it" you'll simply choke off your sound. Too little and the voice breaks apart. This is why vocal lessons are so important. A good coach will help you find the right balance .
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC thank you sir. sadly I live in a place where good vocal coaches are extremely rare. and maybe 1 out of 50 of them might be the only one to know what compression is....
mastershakedude22 1 year ago
DUDE mr. awesome teacher dude, do me a huge favor? listen to the song "act appalled" by the band "circa survive" and explain to me how he sings his notes?
Mushamashi987654 1 year ago
@Mushamashi987654 - I've been asked about Anthony Green before - Anthony has a very well developed high mix. He's a natural high tenor anyway so this range is more comfortable for him than 99% of male singers. He has an usually high "comfort zone" for his voice. Combine that with some obvious vocal training and you get that very chesty sounding high mix/ head voice vocal range.
He is easily singing between G4 and D5 - unusually high for a male singer.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC what about jonny craig? can you explain how he gets that super raspy clean sound?
Mushamashi987654 1 year ago
@Mushamashi987654 - that is simply his voice. No vocal tricks there. That's how he sings naturally. He sings well in the mix.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC one more thing; how do you know when to switch to head voice? do you just feel for the change or something?
Mushamashi987654 1 year ago
Hello Sir. I feel tight around the area right below my eyes and tired after doing vocal compression. Is this normal? Should I continue to do this v.compression?
zamel 1 year ago
@zamel - yes you should keep trying compressing the cords - BUT nothing should feel tight. You can get tired from using some muscles in a way you haven't before but nothing should feel tight or strained. Vocal compression is simply a way to keep the vocal cords set in the mode they use for speech. But it takes very targeted control to keep them closed while staying relaxed and not straining.,
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
i have a problem with high notes, i can hit a G(below high c) in my full voice (mixed voice). but when i go past that G, my power disappears and it doesnt sound so full. i guess this is my second break.
sometimes i can hit A(below high c) in my mix but its not so relaxed, but when i use my head voice i can sing even high c, but its not so powerful. how can i fix this? how to sing with power in second bridge?
ibanez92ish 1 year ago
@ibanez92ish - buy my vocal course. It's designed to teach just what you're looking to do. Power in the mix and head voice.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
I have been TRYING like crazy to get any hint of a head voice, so far I have chest voice and a high chest voice mix. As I go up I hit a wall and crack out. I still have my tonsils and have not been singing for that long, 4 months...so..yah...Trying to do whatever I can.
nfarnham2008 1 year ago
@nfarnham2008 - 4 months in nothing. It can take a full year to learn how to connect chest register to head register through mix and stay connected without tension or strain. Its a process. Simple in design but not easy to execute properly.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
"Compression" is the same that singing "with support" ?
89gerardo 1 year ago
@89gerardo - not quite. Proper breath support creates compression in the vocal cords. Compression is how much the vocal cords are pressing together to resist the air you are exhaling outward. The better and more balanced the compression on the vocal cords the fuller and more even your singing voice becomes.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC
So to develop head voice you have to apply more tension?
or what kind of tension is this? it is similar to "vocal fry"? or more to that "raspy sound" that kurt cobain used to use when sing?
89gerardo 1 year ago
@89gerardo - its none of those. To bridge and connect or blend your chest voice to your head voice requires relaxation of the throat and a precise balance between air pressure and vocal cord closure. It's not a simple coordination. There are no "tricks", "secrets" or quick fixes to achieving a smooth voice from bottom to top. It takes months of daily practice to get right.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
is the "buh' exercise from 2:18 onwards used to eliminate the need of using falsetto? does that mean by doing this exercise daily i will be able to hit these notes using head voice instead of falsetto?
swordsmanwil 1 year ago
@swordsmanwil - the "buh" exercise (you can also use "mum") is meant to teach you how to connect to head voice without using falsetto. It keeps the voice connected by using nothing but what you use in speech. You are essentially speaking on pitch.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
My voice always seems to be an octave lower when i sing compared to how people sing in songs. I struggle to hit middle c in my chest voice, is there any excersizes i can do to sing higher in chest voice?
Jalamy 1 year ago
@Jalamy - look at my channel and subscribe to my blog on my website under free-stuff. I give out exercises to help sing higher without tension. There are no magical exercises that will fix things - its a process that takes week to months to years.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
How can I be a better singer what is your suggestion?
derecho1965 1 year ago
@derecho1965 - get vocal lessons (CD courses or private), practice a lot and have a lot of patience. That's what it takes. There are no "fixes" or "secrets" that magically fixes a voice in a few weeks. It takes 6 months to a year of solid training to get a good singing voice.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC Hi Kev, I've been practicing Remember When It Rained by Groban for months but struggle at the end where the line 'running down" is held for about ten seconds. I can do it for about 6.5 and then I fall apart. What note is it that I am trying to hit and what advice can you share. It has taken me about six months to get here, so close. You can find the YT vid at wwwyoutubecom watch?v=rfxqW9QwOSI see from 3-53 to 4-25 where I am very comfortable but crash at 4-26
Learning2vocalize 1 year ago
@Learning2vocalize - I don't do this sort of thing.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC I notice you seem oddly selective when it comes to looking at videos people send you. What was different about his request that you don't do?
AtariMaxiToriyama 9 months ago
@Learning2vocalize I believe that's a G4. Fairly simple to hit note, if you have a few months of training, I think. And it's on an easy, open vowel sound, a small "o," or "ah".
AtariMaxiToriyama 9 months ago
Im confused.. How am i meant to carry on once i loose vocal compression at the bridge point?
CrazeyKoaster 1 year ago
@CrazeyKoaster - thats the issue. You don't want to lose vocal compression as you bridge. That's what causes vocal breaks - loss of compression.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
I can do all the bah bah bahs on every note in this video when i go up, except it starts breaking as i reach higher notes going down
p0kgai 1 year ago
Thank you so much for this video. It makes things much cleaer fro me.
smokey1472 1 year ago
I have a question is it normal for a male singer to begin using head voice in order to sing in the 5th octave
VincentHarvey10 1 year ago
@VincentHarvey10 - absolutely normal. In fact you HAVE to bridge into head voice to sing notes like A4-B4 properly. Its the only way to access notes like C5-F5.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC
Another Question: For example Rock Singers Such as Robert Plant, Sebastian Bach, Michael Sweet, etc... Do they rely on head voice in order to sing the way they do
VincentHarvey10 1 year ago
lol lost it at E5
SCREAMOpants 1 year ago
sounds pretty much the same as curbing is for the CVT vocal technique
empirecircle 1 year ago
@empirecircle - not quite. In CVT Curbing is a specific vocal mode. what I'm doing here is applying cord compression, thinning the voice and breath support to eliminate breaks - all at the same time.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC By "thinning the voice and breath support" you mean something akin to Rob's Lift Up Pull Back?
defuntoba 1 year ago
I prefer using my Falsetto for upper ranges, simply because I don't like shouting when singing. Teachers/people compare my voice to Chris Martin/James Blunt/Thom Yorke.
That's all good, but the problem is I can rarely hit anything above a C7, and even the C7 itself is often very hard to hit in Falsetto. In Head Resonance, however, it's easier to get those notes, and higher, but it becomes squeakier as it goes up.
So my question is:
How do I develop my falsetto voice to hit above that C7?
Commando3200 1 year ago
@Commando3200 - I'm not sure what position on the keyboard you are talking about. Here in the states a C7 is a double high C. One octave above a Soprano high C and would be in whistle register. There would be no need to go any higher than Soprano C (C6).
Here in the states Middle C is C4, male high C is C5 and Soprano High C is C6.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC - C7 for me would be the Soprano High C, if Middle C would be C5.
In some songs they go above that C7. "Shiver" by Coldplay or "Never Say Never" by The Fray go above.
So how can I at least maintain that C7 to help me gain confidence in the upper ranges, in falsetto. Also a further question, how do I change to Whistle register in my falsetto voice, so going up from falsetto into Whistle register. I can do it but only if I switch into head voice, not falsetto
Thanks in advance!
Commando3200 1 year ago
@Commando3200 - I think we scaling notes differently. Chris Martin from Coldplay cannot sing a Soprano High C - male high C maybe but not the Soprano C6.
Middle C for the US is C4 or the 4th C on the piano going left to right across the keyboard.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC
Ok, I'm looking at my piano. I see Middle C as the fourth C left to right on the keyboard. One octave above that would be C5, yes? One octave above that is C6, the Soprano High C? Or is that where we're misunderstanding each other?
If you want an idea of the note I'm talking about, the highest note in "Square One" also by Coldplay at the end of the chorus.
Commando3200 1 year ago
@Commando3200 - yes that's how we scale piano notes here in the US. That high note would be a C5. Not super high but challenging if you don't know how to get there without tension or strain.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Thanks heaps, that bah bah bah stuff is exactly what I needed to understand how vocal compression felt. In the song I'm practicing at the moment there were notes I couldn't hit without shouting, this totally fixed it.
guyverdio 1 year ago
Now are you supposed to use your head voice?
AhmirTHAfutureOFrNb 1 year ago
@AhmirTHAfutureOFrNb - not sure what you mean????
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
what type of voice are you ?
skvrko 1 year ago
@skvrko - I was born a baritone but that term is meaningless now as I can sing from the bass range into soprano. Voice types are only important if you want to limit yourself to a specific range of notes. Once you break those limits voice "types" like baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo become obsolete.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago 2
this could be very helpful I'll try it thank's
TheCarlo66 1 year ago
I have a problem, if you could help me, I'd really appreciate that. I took a really long break from singing, and I'm trying to get my voice back in shape. I can access head voice, but for some reason I strain my larynx. I can go from chest voice to head voce but I strain the head voice. I'm a baritone.
original503 1 year ago
@original503 - yeah I can help you. Sign up for some SKYPE lessons and we'll work together to fix your problems.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
hey Rock the stage, i have another video of that guy who sings with a high and low octave rock voice, i am still confused, i filmed this but not the stage as i didn't want to look as if i was filming, he some how has a whistle coming through with the deep voice, he done this sound in other songs as well, its awesome, and is not his true voice. he somehow turns into a different singer . its on my channel , its "shook me all night long" please listen and what do you think? cheers Stebolian
stebolian 1 year ago
@stebolian - dude, that is NOT a sound you want to have. Its quite annoying to listen to. I know you liked it but that is horrible vocal tone.
on another note: you're in a bar, film all you want - nobody will care.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC not for most songs , i found out that he has developed his whistle register throughout his range to the point where its blends highs and lows, he developed the primal register that was used when a man faced danger long long ago, children use this register and are soon taught to shut up thus suppressing its development into adulthood, . it is like singing high notes in the low register, and saves you from extending and straining in falsetto or your highest head voice. its hard
stebolian 1 year ago
@stebolian - what you are saying makes no sense. Whistle does not happen in the lower registers. I think you are using the term "whistle" on something that isn't whistle. I think you really mean overtones or resonance.
Either way, this guys tone is NOT something you want to copy.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC yer maybe the wrong term, the muscles that produce the whistle register are and extension of a vocal fry when you ascend in the fry a squeak appears, he has developed those muscles, thus creating an alternative register to play around in, the sounds tend to blend in octaves, sorry if i sound a bit wrong in terms, its hard to explain. he sings awesomely in other songs, this is just a party trick i guess for power, each to their own, sounds good live.
stebolian 1 year ago
It depends on what scales/exercises you are doing and how you're doing them. Anyone can master a scale but translating that to actual singing only happens if you are practicing legato or smooth scales/exercises. Legato scales are the closest to singing. It also depends if you are doing the scales correctly. Its not quantity of practice - it the quality.
Scales/exercises are good to build strength and flexibility but you also have to know how to breath correctly and use "placement".
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
Hey my name is alex I'm a 14 year old singer, songwriting and have been taking voice lessons and do intense vocal training everyday i can sing easily up to tenor high c and even to some e5 on a a good day. But i was wondering why when i go to sing the same notes its hard to actually sing. like when I'm just doing my vocal warm ups and training my voice i hit them with ease but when i go to sing them its doesn't hurt but sometime i tend to push to hard or overpower the notes... can you help? :)
AlexGraftonMusic 1 year ago
this reminds me of a song... thanks for all your vids!!! =) it will really help!
Roweign143 1 year ago
I'm having some trouble with the "Buh's". Like I can go from Chest to Head but When i descend from head to chest I crack. Can you tell me a way so that I can maintain control?
JacksonX94 1 year ago
@JacksonX94 - just keep practicing. Have in your mind that when coming back down you have to sound just like you did going up (only if going up was correct). You can't let go of the cord compression - the pressure "Buh" creates. Keep the "B's" heavy, don't let them get breathy.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
whats the difference between vocal compression and "zipping up" the cords?
i feel like Brett Manning and his buddies are starting to replace "zipping up" (adduction?) with compression...or something...
i guess if i had to ask this as one big nice coherent question it'd be:
"What is the difference between compression (vocal cords getting closer together) and adduction/zipping up, and which is used for seamless bridging?"
sorry if i mixed up my terms there, it's just confusing with all these terms
xblackxsailsx 1 year ago
@xblackxsailsx - "cord compression" is what gets the cords closed firmly to create a solid seal and a solid vocal tone.
"zipping/adduction is the process of taking those closed cords & allowing them to stretch without tension. The large opening at the front of the cords for chest voice moves to the back for head voice and gets smaller - increasing pitch. Smaller hole, less air & higher pitch. The remainder of the cords are touching but in a state of rest and not producing sound.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
i can sing reasonably high rock songs but in a lot of the really high bits it starts to strain, what is the easiest way to relax this tension and hit those slightly higher notes in the same voice
clince121188 1 year ago
@clince121188 - the "easiest way"? There is no easy way, no blue pill you can take. Its a process of learning how to manipulate your voice without using any muscles that aren't involved in speech. That can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
@RocktheStageNYC Well. . . there is a blue pill. But it happens to be a suppository. : )
AtariMaxiToriyama 9 months ago
i think this is what i'm missing, because i cant get over my second bridge(A4) .
thanks ill try it out
misledemopunk 1 year ago
i have a prob, i wanna sing rock like metal or something but i just get a stupid child voice ,id like to have deep rocking voice like foo fighters singer has.
TheOfflain 1 year ago
@TheOfflain - be prepared to study and practice for at least a year. Find a good teacher or buy a vocal course. Either way it'll take at a least year to get a good sounding voice.
RocktheStageNYC 1 year ago
yes.yes..
i love this vid.i was able to do it...
but when it comes to singing its doesnt feel the same.
why is that??lol
ThePowerOfNow1 1 year ago