It’s one thing to understand the mechanics of singing, and quite another to put everything together to create a clear, even tone. If you’re not sure if you’ve found it yet, or are still at a loss, let’s do a quick checklist to help you find that pure note.
- Breathe with a relaxed diaphragm, feel the breath in the solar plexus, and use a small focused stream of air.
- Keep the tongue pulled back to create a rounded acoustic space; avoid jaw, neck, or larynx tension that makes sound breathy or strangled.
- Practice quietly while singing technique reminders, gradually increase volume, and let the pure note float at the back of the mouth.
First of all, every time you take a breath in, take your attention down to the heart, and relax the diaphragm as you breathe in. Remember, the breath starts in the center of the solar plexus, moving outwards, i.e. sideways.
To help the diaphragm relax, try to get the feeling of “smiling” with the diaphragm as you breathe in.
This helps avoid constricted breath, strained vocal cords and a tense body. An image that can be helpful when practicing a clear note is that of a ping-pong ball kept absolutely still on a jet of water.
As we breathe in, the diaphragm relaxes, then works to produce an even, controlled breath, keeping the note clear and focused at the back of the mouth. Use a small amount of air to do this, a focused stream of energy.
If the note is sounding strained, you’re probably doing one of the following:
Tensing or sticking out the neck.
Sticking out, and/or tensing the jaw. Remember, the tongue is doing the work for you, not the jaw.
Placing the tongue too far forward, or else bunching it up in the mouth – remember that when the note is propelled into the mouth, it then becomes an “acoustic cave”, so the shape in the mouth needs to be very focused.
Pressing down on the larynx at the back of the mouth. You should be able to feel if you’re doing this, but you’ll also hear it in the voice. It’ll either sound too breathy, strangled or strangely “froggy”. It helps to remember the image of the tongue going straight back, “two big muscles” (really one, but it helps to think of them as two) under the tongue creating the “round shape” at the back of the mouth, everything focused and in balance.
One little trick that can be helpful to find the pure note is to first of all push the tongue down at the back of the mouth, thus pushing down on the larynx. Then gradually raise the tongue incrementally at the back of the throat, making a “ghuh” sound. When you reach the center of your voice, i.e. the tongue is raised enough that the pressure if off the larynx, you should hear it in your voice and also feel it at the back of the mouth.
Another way to not only find the pure note, but to also imprint the techniques into the body is to sing them. The same student who coined the “deadmouth” phrase also came up with this idea, and I think it’s really helpful. So, for example, you’d sing:
“I’m breathing with a nice relaxed diaphragm, back relaxed, knees relaxed, body relaxed under the string, looking straight ahead. My head is balanced on my spine, my voice connected to my breath. My jaw is relaxed and slightly back, and completely relaxed. The tongue is doing all the work for me, two big muscles under the tongue pulling the tongue straight back, and then creating the round shape at the back of the mouth. The tongue is arched at the back of the throat, so that it feels like I’m smiling at the back of the throat, everything balanced. I’m controlling the flow of air from the diaphragm, and I know that it only takes a small amount of air to sustain a pure, clear note. The note is sitting…”etc.
Also, remember to do all of these exercises quietly at first, gradually getting louder until you’re in full voice. Use your intuition for this. You should be able to hear a clearer, purer tone. Once it gets to really “feeling right”, increase the volume.
Another thing to remember, once again, is that the subconscious is still at work, finding ways to make life easier. Finding a path, over time, that works better than before. Once that path is clear, it’ll start going to the “right place” automatically. For example standing with better posture. You might have to work a bit to get there, but it’ll be worth the effort.
Everything needs to happen at the same time, working together as one, for it to really work. And you’ll know when it’s working because you’ll hear the difference. It’ll feel and sound right.
And when you find that pure note, it can really help to think of it as “floating” at the back of the mouth, nothing to do with you. Once again the Zen paradox of singing: you recognize the place easily because you’ve been there many times before, but you don’t hold on to it in any way. Create the sound, and then let it go, ready for the next note.
Related articles:
Level 1
Create your own singing lessons
Practicing a new song – the basics
How to practice with the vocal exercises
The high notes
The jaw – Do’s and Don’ts
Focusing the breath
Focusing the note
How to breathe properly
Let yourself suck!
Level 2
Give yourself a grounding cord