1st Open Throat-Breaking Down Singing Styles Vocal Warmups--Voice Lessons and Tips

[Manu9078]

would Jackie Wilson's singing be considered open throat singing?

[wanttobehacker]

I'm a man and I just got into puberty one year ago and my voice gets alittle bit too squeeky and low, it was on the song "Fever" and I sang along to michael bublés version. But anyways is there a way to train my voice to get the dark tone in it.

Because before I used to sing in a light voice and I still do because it's easier but doesn't fit to all songs. Please help me

[girlycrazy1233]

Can u show us a couple exercises to help our voice??

[timwelch2]

Of course, anyone can get better!

[musclesandfun4life]

hello! if i have a mediocre voice as a beginner can i make it better? I mean I havent really tried singing officialy but I pretty good at it without any practice...

[pepeotf45]

Yo seriously hook me up with the chick in the video. She is beautiful

[erichernandezrivera]

Tim...thank you so much! I studied voice graduating from the Conservatory of Music in my country. I've have had problems since trying to just plainly recuperate my healthy vibrato voice. I know it's all about the "free voice". Since I've been singing other popular styles I've had to alter my technique, sometimes too much I guess. This video has helped me a great deal. I watched about 8 other videos prior to finding yours and finding someone who actually made professional sense.Thanks again!

[fifirifiri]

What is the name of the opera song at 5:10? It's so famous but I don't know the title!

[tobo86]

2.30 what sound does a gospel-singing horse make?

[sonicscreamingblue]

@tobo86 lmao xD

[pawnshopr]

so the basic concept of this is to yawn? iight got ya lmfao

[geromino2007]

Open throat sounds like just pressing the larynx/voice box down? Or is there something more to it?

[nfarnham2008]

Hmm I'm confused now. I sing and have been singing for a few months. I sing stuff like shinedown, as well as a lot of other rock/country. I was told by someone that I was pulling up too much in chest and my range stops. So he told me I needed to sing with an open throat, but are you saying it is only applicable for classical? I have a good chest voice range but when I go up into head voice, I can't even access it and I squeak out into a weird falsetto. (I have an acoustic cover on here) HELP!

[timwelch2]

@nfarnham2008 opening your throat will make the sound more classical and is not commonly used in pop/rock music

[jatnooo]

@timwelch2 @nfarnham2008 but yet you would have a more healthy way of singing and a healthier sound 2 ...also u can modify it and mix up the 2 ways of singing and find a more comfortable way of going up in your range without hurting or damaging your vocals! :)

[timwelch2]

@jatnooo @nfarnham2008 There is not anatomical research (that I can find) that proves that a open throat sound is healthier than a non-open throat sound. Also, you still have to mix in a non open throat sound. If you have that research I'd love to read it. In the experience of my voice studio I find that over use of the voice (in general) combined with an overly thickened vocal fold production causes the most vocal dysfunction. :-) not the openness of the voice.

[jatnooo]

@timwelch2 well i think every voice is different... and as my personal experience applying some classical tecnique... referrering as trying to have a more free sound by using the diaphram instead of straining the vocals to get up to the high part of my register has help me on having a way of singing that dosent hurt my vocals and actully can sing longer and stronger without them getting tired. but im not saying to change your way of singing to a classical way ...

[jatnooo]

just using or applying some details like using air to change the notes and supporting them with the diaphram... instead of the muscles around your throat it actually helps with the pitch 2! cause the voice or singing is a instrument of AIR. and i think that this are essential basics that every pple that study music .specially the voice (singers) has to know... ;) ans singing with a thickened vocal fold production isnt that what im saying??? lol

[AllyTheLlama15]

@jatnooo iM REALLY CONFUSED please help..I HAVE A CLASSICAL VOICE, BUT I WANT IT TO BE MUSICAL THEATRE... My throat is really open..how do i switch and close it xxxxxx

[hottluv32]

I thought non open throat meant straining, but I guess I was wrong. Still, isn't it harder on the vocal folds to sing non open throat?

[timwelch2]

@hottluv32 nope, you can sing hard on your throat with both open and non open throat, and vise versa

[L7MuSiC]

wow...open throat really helps !

[dejavu3552]

@L7MuSiC bet your boy friend is happy

[L7MuSiC]

@dejavu3552 ....i'm boy...i'm not a gay...i have girlfirend !

[bumblebert]

your really handsome. like a more attractive david byrne lol

[jinjabreadboi]

warm ups???

[EiDaKaCONJUR]

boring



[LasseLundster]

Your vibrating things are fucking annoying, the end.

[gfunk449]

Great video. Love the examples - they really help to clarify the concepts presented.

[MuriwaiMoko]

i like this

[lena220]

woohoo the vocal coach is a hottie

[enseiken]

thanks it is very helpful..

am i correct if i say most often sopranos and tenors use non open throat while alto and bass uses open throat?.. tnx.

i wish you can teach me someday.. aha

[boazclark]

When my throat opens I begin to eat... Yum Yum

[Kevinsims22]

When I open throat my voice is like.... SUUUUPPPERRR DEEP... As in way too deep....

[carvee]

this is what i need as a singer. hello, sir.

[randyblyth3]

I LOVE YOU GIRL !!!! YOUR SO HOT... :))

[SmexiiStevie]

that girl looks like that one chick from american idol

[brunette8989]

hi, i am a student at nocca and i m auditioning for the role of little red riding hood in into the woods and i tihkn it would be more of a closed-throat sound but i am not exactly sure...can anyone help? O ya and that video helped alot but i still need an answer so thanks

[DanyelHawkes]

i think both of those examples are relative. The first examples are ''more'' open than the later. But its true that there not doing it correctly yet. But they're both students. The theory is there though, the teacher is explaining it correctly. Its not bel canto, bel canto is a world of its own.

[timwelch2]

@DanyelHawkes Yes Bel Canto is absolutely a world of its own. So much of my study and experience with Bel Canto (in reference to the teachings of Berton Coffin and others) leads me to use it as a supplement at an intermediate to advanced level of study. Most people for the first couple years are just figuring out the basic mechanics of the voice. Bel Canto is about SO much, one thing it is great with is the eternal study of proper vowel choice throughout the full range.

[drummerbode]

can't focus on my voice.. that girl is hot. lol

[barkley313]

OHMYGOODNESS!

[angelovocci]

I heard a tongue tension in his open throat example. Hmmm... See--he admits he thinks opening the throat is pressing down on the larynx a little--but not too much. YIKES! A dead tongue, lifted in the back, then relaxed--ie:dead, EQUALS an open throat. You close the throat with the base of the tongue. STUDY BELCANTO!!!

[xCookiexCrumbsx]

@angelovocci Wait, so what do you do with your tongue?

[timwelch2]

@angelovocci Tim here, My demonstration here was over exaggerated, but for beginners they need to understand the extreme differences before they start dialing in openness. There was no tongue tension in my "sighing" sound and I never said the throat should be pressed down, I actually said the opposite. I agree the tongue should not be swallowed. And Bel Canto is great, (which I have studied) but in this beginner demonstration I am just addressing the VERY basics of singing different styles.

[bozzioisgod44]

I've been trying to learn James Labrie's singing style but I can't figure out what kind he sings T_T

[saintsaens21]

Good video. I sing in a choir and naturally go for the open throat technique to achieve a pleasant and healthy sound. If only all the other (male) singers did that, so many have that atrocious pinched whiny sound which comes with a closed throat. They don't seem to realize their singing is awful.

[mikeinverizon]

If I may -- I'm a little in disagreement with the idea that there is a "one or the other" notion to singing ... In this case open and non-open throat. Would it be fair to say that if one PRACTICES their vocalises with an open throat technique, this would yield great results even when singing styles that are not specifically designed for open throat? Isn't the point to open the throat as much as possible, even if you do not sing opera, etc? No one wants to hear pinched high notes.

[timwelch2]

Love this question! Pinched high notes come from over compression of the vocal folds not from an open or non open throat. One could have pinched high notes and an open throat or pinched high notes with a closed throat. When you open the throat it simply changes the size of the resonance space. AND yes you can over open your throat, it is called a depressing your larynx, very muffled dark pulled back sound. Opening the throat makes the color of the tone more classical.

[mikeinverizon]

A wonderful answer, thank you very much. My next question is quite simply: How does one go about getting to a place where high-er notes are not pinched sounding, assuming they are well read on vocal knowledge and are gifted singers to begin with?

[tmg2x]

is there a difference between open throat and open vocal cord

[tim23z]

Love your video. I'm singing in choir and recently heard about the 'Mask' technique. Can you explain and will this help me to improve my singing? Also, how does one go about 'opening' the throat? Thanks!

[veiolouco]

a voz da moça eh linda veio

[ideiao]

Ma che schifo. . .

[ideiao]

In Italy,people only talk about the" throat" when they get a cold or some thing else that is not helthy.If one want to learn how to sing the last thing to think or talk about is the throat.

Good day.

[knink24]

I have a high falsetto but its hard for me to sing it high like i want to

[ilbacioditosca]

Shut up man!!! jajajajaj Open throat jajajajaja

[HMW]

k, that rendition of 'la donna e mobile' around 5:15 was god awful

[DinaxD]

Sometimes my throat is opening and something not at all. Thats why it sounds very nasal. I want to have a natural airflow and ope my throat. But it is very hard. But your video is really really helpful! I hope you can look at my videos and tell me what to improve MORE! Thanks.

[RockmySoul11]

Amazing video! I have a question to you as a voice teacher :) Achieving and maintaining an open throat is the only real technique problem that I have (I started as a contemporary singer but my real love is classical singing). I try to achieve an open throat through yawning but this seems to happen more in my lower throat+chest and I can hardly maintain that when I sing. Do you by chance have any alternative idea for training an open throat? Thank you!

[jowox]

Thanks for these informative videos!! I think the explanation of opera high notes sitting in the back of the mouth is the best (3rd video for males). To me this is more like open back throat. Pop belting has a sound more in the front of the mouth/head, open front throat.

I have many videos featuring high notes from opera and rock/metal...

[timwelch2]

Nice breakdown.

[ImadsOfficialPage]

I would really like for you to make a video for breathing exercises.

PLUS: Your videos are really helpful. Keep it up. I shall be subscribing. :D

[mrnoplay]

not bad but still not completely helping me and that girl is really hott just gotta say haha

[CreatePerform]

I have heard of Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor and am a fan of the latter but in my experience as a teacher, when kids want to sing "pop" they mean Christina A or Alicia Keyes or Beyonce etc etc. The difference is that a singer that is truly trained in all styles can adapt to any genre. I agree with Lemonbade that your singer does not show that this is the case. I would be interested to hear her sing contemporary musical theatre too. Maybe something by Jason Robert Brown?

[timwelch2]

Well it might be time to make a video going into further detail breaking down the technical vocal differences in contemporary singing styles. Thanks for the opinions! stay tuned...

[lemonbade]

(cont) I have not heard of Fiona Apple or Regina Spektor. Are they only famous in the US? I don't know any musical theatre singers who could get work in the chorus or as a lead role with a voice like that. It is just too feeble! Please do let me know if there is one!

[lemonbade]

I would love to hear her connecting her cords! Please post a video on here! I think that would be far more valuable, to show that she really can adapt her voice and sing in completely different styles. The current video really doesn't show that.

Even a "basic video" needs to be clear. I agree that the pop singers you list do have soft voices and certainly don't belt. But this seems to be the privilege of singer/songwriters, such as Suzanna Vega, who received a lot of flack for her "weak voice".

[lemonbade]

I agree with the post below. the guy's voice is fab and he really could sing anything. But the girl is always going to sound like a classical singer. Her attempts at the closed throat songs were awful! Her vocal chords were not connecting! She was singing in a kind of low skatey head voice, with no power whatsoever. She may get the lead in Oklahoma, but that's about it. She'll never be a pop singer or be able to belt those notes that are REQUIRED nowadays in contemporary musical theatre.

[timwelch2]

She sure can "connect those cords" and belt with a lot of power (I have heard her do it!) I didn't choose to show that from her in this basic video breaking down singing styles (especially since she is only 17 here!) Btw, many pop singers and well as contemporary musical theatre shows use the as you say "skatey low head voice sound." examples: Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, a fine frenzy shows:Spring Awakening, Chess, Brownstone, Full Monty, and so on..it's not ALL big belter stuff!

[CreatePerform]

This is interesting I think it shows that singers that have been trained to sing classically often find it nigh on impossible to sing pop/c'musical theatre. Leigh struggles with the these styles and never gets that clear tone that you need for musical theatre. It IS possible to do both well (i.e Kristen Chenoweth) but sadly in my experience classical teachers are reluctant to teach belting etc leaving many singers "stuck" with classical sounding voices when they want to sing pop and modern MT.

[timwelch2]

Wonderful comments!! Finally thoughtful discourse! I agree about Classical teachers being reluctant to teach "belting." I do very much teach belting when it is appropriate (btw Leigh actually can belt quite well even though I didn't make her do too much of the high chest voice work on these basic videos.) It is true though that her focus has gone more Classical as she recently received a full ride scholarship to a great 4 year classical vocal program. Great observations though. cheers!

[jowox]

belting to me is the pop/rock version (front of head) of hitting a high C like a male opera tenor. what about the high male head voice of metal singers which go all the way to soprano high C? It is not falsetto but a connected male head voice. have you looked into that voice?

[EightEmptyYears]

The highest register for male vocals is tenor, maybe that's what you're thinking of?

[NewOrleanzSkater]

Not true, Countertenors is the highest vocal classification for males.

[EightEmptyYears]

Countertenors are used for classical music and they sing mostly in falsetto. For non-falsetto singing tenors are both higher and more well suited for other styles of music.

[juan909s]

ok, he can sing, but his "pop" voice is like some weasel mutant guy. the pop singers i know do not sing that way >:(

[jzen2003]

that guy is trying opera. haha "naaaaaaayyyyyy"

[enzogrella]

6:44 Dont worry, she will leave you.....

[sarg178]

omg

[jskymusicfan]

It sounds like the girl is primarily a classical singer and the guy mainly a Broadway type singer. They sound really good in their comfort zones but not so great when they try the other styles (jazz is a disaster for both). Still, very helpful for vocal technique demonstration!

[HornungMoeller]

Hehe. I Think no matter how much Billy will open the throat, he will still sound not that open throated. I think he is pretty nasal in every sound? How can you sound so nasal even when you sing open throat?

[Bjoerrelli]

Listening to this male singer try to sing opera proves to me that you must lower the larynx to sing with an operatic sound that I like. The italian is really bad but the vocal production is even worse.

[somanybaloons]

Thank you very much!

[gyorgy11]

LaH Donna AY MOBILAY, couldn't you find someone with a clue about Italian diction?

[WaitonAlsoSings]

I wasn't exceptionally fond of the male singer in this video. His voice lends itself to Broadway very well, but the nasal quality of his tone is improper for classical and opera. And he absolutely does not know proper Italian. =)

[FarhadTv]

I use open throat

[derickbrutalman]

i bet ;P

[ferlan9]

HAHA good one

[derickbrutalman]

i try =]

[extremeusername]

interesting :)