Chest Voice vs. Head Voice Your Chest and your Head voice. Depending on where you are singing in your range, these two will be fighting for the right to produce the dominant sound. The key to a great voice that doesn’t sound patchy and doesn’t cut out at random times as you sing a song with a big range in it is having your voice under control. So read on and find out what to do to develop a great sounding voice regardless of where you are singing from!
You are the master of your own destiny...well your chest and head voices anyway!
The biggest problem among singers isn’t being able to hit those higher notes, hold a note for longer, or deliver more volume. It is something much more complicated and tricky: blending or “bridging” their chest voice and head voice.
The head and the chest are the two most common resonating areas. Try placing your hand on the top part of your chest (your sternum, or breastbone) and singing a note from the lower end of your range. Can you feel a slight vibration? Now, try singing in a high pitch. Where is the vibration now? It should feel as if the vibration is in your eyes, nose, even your forehead.
This is because your chest voice and head voice are actually in different registers.
When you produce sounds that resonate in the top of your chest or throat, your vocal cords vibrate along their full length, produce long sound waves of a low pitch. When you produce sounds that resonate in your head, the ends of the vocal cords close off until only one-third their length is free to open and close. As a result they move much more rapidly, producing short sound waves of a high pitch.
You also have a middle voice. This is when about half the length of your vocal cords is free to vibrate. The best singers can move seamlessly between their chest voice, middle voice, and head voice. When you can do this, your voice is said to be connected.
Voice Types
ou can think of the range from head voice to chest voice in this way.
1. Twang
2. Opera
3. Sob
4. Belt
5. Speaking
The top represents the strongest head voice, while the bottom of the list, your speaking voice, is almost entirely a chest voice. Some think of the middle voice as somewhere between #3 and #4—an excited and forceful sob, or a softer belt.
Notice that the “type” of voice does not have a direct relationship to how high or low you are singing. You can sing the exact same pitch with your chest or your head voice. However, each type of voice adds a different quality to your singing.
Mastering the ” Belt Voice”
This is the classic chest voice. If you “sing from your belt” or “belt out a song,” you can feel the sound originating in your chest area. This voice sounds more rich, deep, gutsy, and bold, and is best in lower ranges. Many altos use a belt voice, as the belt voice has a limited upper range.
Listen to the speaking voice onTrack15. Now, listen to the same voice in “belt” Mode:
Can you hear the difference?
Now try it yourself. Can you feel the difference?
You may also notice that the belt voice may not sound as “musical” as an opera voice, because the belt voice has no vibrato. Vibrato is a rapid variation in pitch for the duration of a note. It gives warmth to a tone, but when overused can sound like a wobble.
Mastering the Classic “Sob”
This voice is the classic head voice. You can sing in the “sob” voice by pretending that you are going to cry. It produces a thinner sound than the belt voice, though still deep, and has the vibrato that the belt voice lacks.
Example of a “sob” voice:
You can sing with a sob voice in lower ranges, but it is stronger and easier to use in the higher register. Most women’s singing voices naturally fall into the sob style.
You may find it easier to sing this style if you raise your eyebrows or look up. If you do so, remember not to change the position of your head; remain looking forward.
Coming Up...
Now you can “sob” with the best of them…So coming up its time to learn how to connect these voices and really experience the thrill of a flawless vocal range that you can access during any performance. Keep a look out for our next lesson!
Another Singorama Success Story!
Jennifer Punt
I want to say THANK YOU for creating such an amazing system. I'm so impressed with the versitility of Singorma. It truly is made for beginners and advanced singers alike! I've been singing since childhood, but due to some negative experiences, I started to lack confidence in my singing ability and fear of performing started to creep in. Through the detailed vocal exercises and being able to hear my own voice, using the Mini Recording Studio, I've been able to make the necessary adjustments in my voice, improve my range, fine tune my pitch, and get back the confidence I needed. Thank you so much for bring back my joy in singing!
You have probably heard many singers wishing they could improve really specific things about their voices! Some of these specifics include, having a flawless pitch throughout their entire range, reaching specific notes in a certain song for a special performance, or understanding the basics of harmonising!! Well now you too can access great teaching on all these specific areas and more, thanks to Singorama 2.0 Make sure you check it out and allow yourself the opportunity to achieve BIG THINGS with your voice!