Singing Lessons & Voice Training : How Singing Falsetto Can Damage the Voice

[BaroquenBrad]

Also, I am curious to look into the more drying effect falsetto has on the chords in comparison to modal singing, but what I found most disconcerting within the first 30 seconds was when you described the voice with having less flexibility, tonal variation, and projection. You can listen to any professional countertenor and see how legitimate and true these voices are. Maxwell Cencic is a prime example along with David Daniels.

[BaroquenBrad]

The title of this video is very misleading because you make it sound like falsetto voice will damage the vocal chords in general. People who do not understand its functionality read this and their first impression will lead to more negativity towards countertenors upon perspective when compared to other "modal" vocalists.

[ChrisToonNetwork]

Michael Jackson sounded great and he used falsetto all the time

[CaoinFitzMusic]

Justin Vernon is male falsetto

[JDMelody]

I thought falsettos chord position is very loose?.... im pretty sure falsetto is not tight chords... cause in my falsetto, i barely feel any chord tension at all.

[ToothDecayProduction]

im so confused, i sing with a fair amount of wind with an alto range (close to soprano) but it sounds nothing like a falsetto and has a great volume :/ im confused if its falsetto or not because i still use alotof wind

[ToothDecayProduction]

im so confused, i sing with a fair amount of wind with an alto range (close to soprano) but it sounds nothing like a falsetto and has a great volume :/ im confused if its falsetto or not because i still use alotof wind

[sitstandnow]

Our Lady Peace's lead singer, Raine Maida, is the king of falsetto.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

I'd love to see a video about how singing fry can damage the voice? When I say "fry" I mean "vocal fry" or "very low voice" a la Barry White (1944-2003) or Isaac Hayes (1942-2008).

[jani14jani]

I really want to learn to sing well, where should i start? I play guitar so i understand musical theory and i have good ears, so were should i start. All help is appriciated.

[MultiSnotface]

falsetto is awesome and can be strengthened to mix with chest with practise, dont listen to crap on youtube, i know singers that use falsetto in many songs with power and richness, ( and no they are not using "head voice" as its referred to when you sing high with closed cords, thats crap too) its all practise, remember , nothing is forced, just controlled with resonance and finding that sweet spot in your voice

[TalaLalaLicious]

Sorry I don't no that much about singing, wats falsetto???

[MsHoly777]

WHY IS ALL THE WRITING ON THE SCREEN. I MEAN IF SOMEONE IS DEAF AND CAN'T HEAR THEN THEY CAN'T SING. SO, DO THEY REALLY NEED THIS VIDEO?? HOW DUMB CAN YA GET. NO!!! THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AT ALL!!!!!

[000231846597]

@MsHoly777

CUZ NOT EVERYONE WATCHING THIS VIDEO HAS ENGLISH AS THEIR MOTHER TONGUE!!!

[karekarekid1]

frankie valli has and always have the best falsetto

[aceofgames12]

Rodger Taylor (the drummer of Queen) is also a good falsetto

Just look up rodger taylor falsetto

[AceFrehley4eva]

The singers listed below may be good, but nobody beats the master of falsetto...Frankie Valli.

[smallbimbo]

Bono has the most perfect falsetto voice I've heard.

[daurpm]

1.- Matt Bellamy, 2.- Thom Yorke 3.- Chris Martin... the three best falsetto singers in "popular" music right now

[jkcheese]

@daurpm YES

[jsn1der]

errm. chris martin - amazing falsetto.

[biglu2]

kamaka fernandez is the best falsetto singer in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lapointe34]

Thom Yorke is better.

[RyQuin7850]

@lapointe34 And Jeff Buckley is even better!

[greetasdf]

@lapointe34 link?

[juniwilliams]

@lapointe34 the best

[MatthewAlfrey]

Matthew Bellamy is a brilliant example of a male falsetto!

[dondongo86]

@MatthewAlfrey Roger Taylor, is a fine example as well.

[Seleukos1209]

@MatthewAlfrey YES! :)

[evansphenomenal]

@MatthewAlfrey Roger Taylor (drummer from QUEEN) has a good falsetto too...

[StraysSylveri]

I believe his point on falsetto is that itself doesn't have a good range, not that if you can sing falsetto you don't have a good range. Plus that falsetto is just too weak compared to head voice.

[rgjmce666]

i don't agree with his point on falsetto meaning you don't have a good range, i sing falsetto and also can do tenor, baritone and bass (at a stretch lol) range

[mrbouncelol]

He is 100% right. Don't confuse falsetto with head-voice

Falsetto is a false voice where you force air through lose vocal cords to get a sound.

What happens when you force your chest voice up? You flip into falsetto. It is a protection mechanism of the voice, it is not really a 'natural' method of phonation, and overuse can cause serious problems for the vocal folds. There's nothing wrong with using it as a stylistic technique but it shouldn't be a crutch.

Head voice =/= falsetto

[aka1darkknight]

@mrbouncelol as in belting a high note has a damaging effect over time?

[trunterzx]

Hmm, I'd better start learning how to sing properly...

[monk3ymaniac]

this guy doesnt know anything .ive been singing falsetto for 10 years im 28 nothings wrong with my voice

[taoten2003]

anybody watching this video, this guy has no idea what he is talking about. It should be a crime for acting like an expert when you're not one.

[topkuz21]

ok on the micheal jackson thing..

YOUR SPEAKING VOICE IS YOUR SINGING VOICE!

just listen to how he talks in interviews,hes probably a high tenor or alto

[MaxWa]

Im pretty sure you don't get male altos... Bass Baritone Tenor

[rayzw]

there's so much confusion out there because of the different ways people use the word "falsetto."

in layman's terms, and i believe in classical music as well, the word "falsetto" is used to describe what pop vocal coaches call "legit head voice." this is the voice used by michael jackson and all the other famous singers who sound like that.

when pop vocal coaches like this guy say "falsetto," they mean something completely different, and yes it is dangerous for your voice.

[padmeluvs]

WHAT!!! holy chetos!! I sing falsetto alot!! I can't even try to sing below a alto, I kindasound crappy, or speaking if I do..

[rayzw]

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE:

If it sounds WHISPERY, with a lot of air escaping, that's what this guy would call FALSETTO.

If it does NOT sound whispery, but rather hooty or squeeky, then YOU ARE SINGING PROPERLY and it will not damage your voice. This guy would call it head voice, but in classical it would be called falsetto.

But WHO CARES WHAT IT'S CALLED, the important thing is the way you sing, not what it's called. :)

[StraysSylveri]

I don't completely agree with you here. When one sounds rather hooty or squeeky, the way he is singing, no matter if it is called falsetto or head voice( I still call it falsetto though) still doesn't really cover a lot of high pitched songs. For example some rock/metal songs, you will have to use the powerful head voice instead of the weak falsetto.

[rayzw]

a powerful head voice has the same vocal coordination as a squeaky voice - in fact, they're just opposite ends of the same voice spectrum. if you sing a squeaky note and gradually lean on it, it will sound more and more powerful. if it does not blend smoothly into your strong voice, then you're in falsetto. i'm not at all saying that you should sing in that squeaky voice (in fact i hate it when ppl do that), but squeaky = CLOSSED vocal chords = proper technique.

[StraysSylveri]

You put this better than I did and I don't disagree with you now. Describing using squeaky by me probably wasn't the best way to differetiate those two ways of sing and can cause confusions. thing probably, just too bad th

[StraysSylveri]

ignore the part of "things probably, just too bad th". Just hit post too fast. Actually I was gonna say that we probably have the same opinioin, just too bad we can put sounds here as easily as words.

[trunterzx]

So what do they mean?

[MrCafiero]

This guy is full of crap!!!!!!

[XX1goodhalo2playaXX]

nick pitera uses an absolutely amazing falsetto. i don't know how he developed his falsetto like that. but it's crazy. search a whole new world nick pitera if you wanna see, and wait till he does jasmines voice. You'll laugh and be captivated all at once

[XX1goodhalo2playaXX]

nick pitera uses an absolutely amazing falsetto. i don't know how he developed his falsetto like that. but it's crazy. search a whole new world nick pitera if you wanna see, and wait till he does jasmines voice. You'll laugh and be captivated all at once

[jal2296]

Michael Jackson sings falsetto.!

[JakeScreamCrash]

you mean he used to

[davitzeiro]

lol

[ElusiveHermit]

michael jackson was a baritone, he just sang in falsetto.

[alexfanx]

Nah, Michael Jackson mostly sang in his upper normal range, he could reach baritone notes and his natural speaking voice was lower but I'm pretty sure he was still a tenor. He sang in falsetto sometimes but he could still reach very high notes in his "normal" voice and he probably sang a lot of the same notes in both falsetto and his normal voice.

[topkuz21]

your an idiot

[topkuz21]

no he doesnt he just has a high voice

[Mindo91]

Cedric Bixler-Zavala sings in falsetto :p

[bwalks0610]

john frusciante sings falsetto!

[kev2594]

mathew bellamy sings fallsetto

[necromancer584]

jonny craig sings in falsetto i believe..

jonny craig = god.

[codykingo]

Josh Groban uses his Falsetto/Head voice all the time in his songs. Just listen to You Raise Me Up, or To Where You Are.

He's actually very, very good at using it.

[kevNchris445]

a skylit drive.. check that out guys! and Craig owens and Anthony green! best countertenors

[742512345689]

thats where i get all my range i falsetto, i cant go high at all with out it

[shanon91ify]

you are all good> I love expert village.

[shanon91ify]

hi...i love expert village...

[HNRYCK]

oh...teacher got a gunnnnn.....lollllzzz

[CrazedSquirrel]

: 3

[korndud]

this guy looks like Horatio Sanz.

[marwawawa]

Bullshit , watch this and hear this guy's mother fucking Falsetto flexibility and range .

watch?v=WWmK1UEbZCA

[Jekkize]

I want to hit the hilty high notes from wicked and I'm confused by the whole... falsetto/headvoice thing...?

[E1819]

Singing lower hurts my throat more than singing high.

[Izziela]

O_o You look exactly like my uncle.....

[RocktheStageNYC]

He's actually wrong here. Falsetto is not a tightening of the cords. They are very open. It actually involve less physical effort by a singer than the modal voice and, when properly used, can make some lovely tonal effects possible.

That being said, the falsetto voice has a number of highly specialized uses within a musical context.

[mileyfinatic]

gud gud bc i sing falsetto alot so phew!

[Raz591]

I've been listening to a band and singing to their songs a lot over the last year, and the lead singer's vocal range is a lot higher than mine. I have been singing falsetto when my supported voice can't reach high enough. I've found that singing every day over the last year or so has trained my vocal chords to put up with frequent falsetto use and my supported voice has not been affected.

And in regards to the video, if you use falsetto enough, a decent amount of range and volume is achievable.

[MakeMusic9019]

same thing bro, did he ever respond?I am curious myself

[playdoughmaster99]

Nah no reply unfortunately.

Oh well :D

[Raz591]

oops wrong account

nah he didn't reply lol

[datruking8]

I do the same whne I can't reach a certain note. But I heard falsetto is like cheating your voice to sing high notes. But I don't think it is.

[bigus]

again, falsetto is just unsupported air blowing, and i believe there is actually less phonation (closure of the vocal chords which creates legitimate sound), where you want better closure which is created by a supported sound. lots of good stuff said here.

[uffm]

so...what should i tell me chourus teacher, she thinks that it will "ruin my perfectly good baritone singing"

is this true...and how can i tell her.

[debstarcrazy]

How do you define 'falsetto'?

Are talking 'stiff' folds (edges vibrating only).

Btw drinking a glass of water will not bathe your vocal cords. If it did you would choke. what it does do is help you be to better hydrated. The only topical remedy is to breathe in steam.

[haluyakiee]

hehe im good in falsetto.. =)

and it's the safest way to sing.

uhm hard to explain.. haha.. just search for the "mis use and abuse" of the larynx =)

god bless ya'll *wink*

[Ryanisacooldude]

wrong.

[pandorakt]

Since when was singing dangerous?

[blodiamaster]

it's not really "dangerous" but if you want to sing proffesionally you want to take care of your throat, and there is some kind of singing that if you do it frecuently, it can damage your voice and make it sound different than before

[MesmerizedEys]

It's never dangerous but if you want to sing professionally, or just plain well you have to keep your voice in shape and singing falsetto can really screw it up.

[zevasthian]

It is, imagine you practice some sport and not take care of your muscles b4 a big competition. You need training otherwise you injure your body, sometimes very bad. Vocal chords are tissues, very sensitve, thats why some people loose their voice after singing a couple of songs.

[ThumbWarDestroyer]

since when you take it too seriously ;)

[jash12per]

falsetto weaker, use headvoice.. lol..

[PsnIDShMuK]

there is no video on here that i find on how to acheve falsetto. and what techniques to practice to be able to sing in falsetto. can any1 help me? can some 1 make a video or give me some tips on how to achieve it.

[jash12per]

lol.. better sing in your head voice.. falsetto is weaker..

[JuillHope17]

if your falsetto is straining your chords, then it's not falsetto. falsetto doesn't touch the chords at all.

[jamesmeny]

the strain I'm talking about is from staying in falsetto. Some people have a hard time keeping the chords open. Yes, you are completely correct about chords not being closed in falsetto. Thanks for your input.

[Gonji]

fuckability.

[totallysweet12]

i always sing in falsetto but my mom says i should sing like i talk, the same sound should come out, but my porblem is that when i do that, first it sounds horrible and second i cant reach the correct notes.:S

[vaquero7x]

Hello--to see a good falsetto check out a singer called Miguel Aceves Mejia singing " El Pastor" --this is a genre that uses a lot of falsettos--thanks

[liaserethguitarist12]

bassically when you sing really loudly and high Check out a singer called Myles Kennedy From alter bridge your sing from your diaphram but when you sing in falsetto like daniel bedingfield its all from your throat

[ifrit26]

Falsetto isn't usually very loud, but for unproffesional singers, its like when you use a voice to sing like a girl P.S. Girls do not have a falsetto. Trained properly, in tone, not range, it can be very useful, but many singers do not have a very good nor powerful falsetto and it sounds worse.

If you cannot hit a note in a song in your normal, full voice, unless advised by a proffesional or completely thought about, do not use your falsetto. It will most likely sound bad.

[jyfly09]

Aloe vera water is Great for dry cords!

[hununuisnoob]

really??!!??? WOW!

[zuka404]

im a bit confuzed about falsetto.... im not sure but i guess falsetto is when i dont wanna sing loud and i just sing in low voice this high notes in falsetto cause i dont want all the neighbours to start complaining lmao :DDDD and actually ive been practising this falsetto if it realy is what i think for 3 days and well after i learn how to do it in falsetto i can hit this notes in normal voice too :)))))

[MsMercury]

So can the constant singing of falsetto and drying of the vocal cords cause polyps? Why is it a singer would get polyps on vocal cords?

[sandyorange]

"Learn tips on how singing in falsetto can damage your voice & vocal cords in this singing lesson on video. "

I never knew singing in falsetto can damage your voice. i dont think it does too. what crap is this!

[ThomasAlaan]

Yeah... someone needs an up-date on vocal pedagogy. This sounds a lot like Phillips or McKinney crap.

[itsmesapiii]

Yeah, I sing falsetto all the time and it doensn't damage your voice, only if your a guy with a deep voice to begin with and your straining your vocal chords, but you can feel that as your singing. only an idiot would keep doing it long enough to actually cause serious damage.

[jamesmeny]

Who is Phillips and Mckinney? Do you mean Tom Mckinney?

[hottestkyu]

falsetto

[operawhore64]

Head voice is a term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals in regards to this term. Head voice can be used in relation to the following: A particular part of the vocal range,type of vocal register,vocal resonance area. Falsetto is used in the context of singing to refer to a vocal technique that enable notes beyond the vocal range of the normal or modal voice. a sciecne no one agrees with

[operawhore64]

Also please try to get this straight. Opera singing is how one sings not what they sing! If not, everyone would be calling themselves and opera singer because they can sing an aria. Your for example.. frankie wanna be.. lol.

[jamesmeny]

Opera is a style, I agree, in fact, one of six styles in western music. I was once an opera singer even did some work with Pavarotti. I heard you sing and definately think you sound good. But, I have trained so thoroughly with ENT's, voice clinics, and top teachers in the world to assure that I'm giving facts only. Falsetto and Head voice and NOT the same. But, we can agree to disagree. Who cares what we call it as long as it works.

[operawhore64]

As far as TRUE opera singing not using falsetto, your are right if you talk about women. They don't use it cause their voices are already up in it. As far as men, The Pav most certainly did. Rigoletto, Boheme, Puritani. Also listen to Bjorling, Gedda, Corelli, Caruso.. all of them used it as a style and emotional aspect. But it was always incorporated into thier voice to get the round fullness of tone. Chest voice is always flat and shouty and sounds thin. Head voic is falsetto not other way

[jamesmeny]

head voice and falsetto it completely different. Head voice involves chord closure while falsetto is pulling the chords apart. This is science that has been proven. I teach facts, not hearsay.

[operawhore64]

Hey Buddy, listen to great opera singers.. they sing in the Head voice/falsetto. So I don't know where you get your info. And the breathy is not tight vocal cords. Thin pinched singing is tight vocal cords... and for your information.. ANY SOUND IS AIR THROUGH VOCAL CORDS.. breath is a lack of conservation or alignment of the cords or tension...

[charlesprinceofswing]

True opera singers do not use falsetto. Pavaroti never did. He used a light voice but on a full operatic passagio not light or moved thyroid cartilage as in falsetto. Pav had perfect placement. Get your facts straight before telling this guy what he doesn't know. I don't agree with everything he says but he has a lot teach people which is good. Head voice is not falsetto and even the least of all opera singers can tell you this. All the best.

[operawhore64]

Falsetto is a function of the human voice when used in the full voice is part of the head voice in that there is no exerted muscularity in order to produce or change pitch. Chest voice is the use of overt muscularity to produce and change pitch. There is the chest register which if being used correctly is in the lower tones usully acitve below Eb. If used to much above it starts interfering with the falsetto and begins to tear down the voice.

[jamesmeny]

Thanks Charles. I appreciate your comment. I heard operawhore64 and she's very good. It's just that I'm trying to teach facts. We all have our different ways of teaching and mine is focused on commercial artist though I was once an opera singer and studied with Bill Neill at McGill University, Richard Miller at Oberlin Conservatory, Seth Riggs in L.A. and was even certified in Speech Level Singing, and Jo Estill method.

[RocktheStageNYC]

Pavarotti did not use falsetto because it is considered taboo by traditional voice teachers and for male singers in general. In classical voice teaching males are not taught falsetto because they don't need to go that high. It can be done with an adducted or covered sound. Females singers are taught falsetto to obtain the extreme Soprano highs.

Falsetto and head voice are similar in one respect. They both resonate in the head and are part of the head register.

[ravenschuldiner]

Im sorry, but I don't agree

Falsetto is not always taught because it's too week to sound good, the only way to sound powerful is by pushing excess of air and still it wouldnt sound "classy", that's why the head voice is taught. Sopranos use head voice, MALE SOPRANOS use falsetto when they need to sing in soprano range, these men are usually called countertenors or sopranists.

Female singers need to use head voice in order to sing well controlled pianos and "extreme Soprano highs"

[RocktheStageNYC]

Not really. I am a countertenor and can sing A5 to C6 and its certainly not falsetto. It's fully adducted or "zipped" head voice with partial closure of the cords. Its a completely different  tonality than falsetto.

Some male sopranos do use a reinforced falsetto to sing in the Soprano range but only in classical situations. In modern music they use adducted head (full) voice.

[ravenschuldiner]

Both ways give vibration where your vocal folds are, of course, but the head voice has a stronger vibration AND resonsance in your head.

ps. you don't need to yell to sing head voice.

[ryno123321]

well i wanna sing falsetto so much my voice gets all soft and i make girls wet by just whispering in their ear :)

[NightShadow54]

Freddy Mercury could switch his to to falsetto quicky, often just for one single word.

Falsetto is BEAUTIFUL and I love when people singin falsetto.

[DinaxD]

But how can I sing otherwise than from my throat? I don't know how!!

[Milezy]

Thanks for the tips.

How do you tell the difference between singing really high and falsetto. Singing high for me is easy even though I have a deep voice because but just wondering.

Thanks

[Feralimp90]

Falsetto tones come from the throat.

[troykeenanguitar]

I thought they came from the head??

[RocktheStageNYC]

everything sound from the throat. It where it resonates that determines tone. Falsetto in men sound breathy like a bad impression of Michael Jackson speaking. Falsetto also has a "hooty" sound to it. Pure head voice sounds fuller and "rounder". Depening on how high you are singing will determine if its falsetto or head voice. Extreme high notes can only be achieved with a falsetto. Mariah Carey whistle tones are a form of falsetto.

[ravenschuldiner]

Falsetto and head voice are similar in one aspect:

Head voice and falsetto look the same when seen through the Laryngoscope, the real difference is not 100% clear.

But here's a little trick to feel the difference

when you're properly using the head voice the, you can feel a strong vibration on your hands by placing them on the sides of your jaw, when you sing falsetto, you'll feel the vibration in the middle part of your neck/throat

where your adams apple is.

[RocktheStageNYC]

Not falsetto and an adducted or zipped tone. The difference is quite clear. Falsetto is open and adducted head voice has a 3/4 closure.

but you are right on where to feel it.