How To Sing Better
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010One of the most efficient ways to learn how to sing better is keeping the tension and stress out of your larynx. More commonly known as the voice box, the larynx is actually like a small box that holds the vocal cords and it is made of cartilage, enclosed and supported by muscles.
The larynx plays an important role in the tones you produce while singing. A sound is created by the following process:
§ You decide to sing and the brain prepares the vocal cords
§ The vocal folds start to fold shut
§ Air rises up from your lungs
§ The air forces itself against the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate
If you take a look at a picture of the larynx, you will see the trachea tube running up to the vocal cords contained in the larynx and above that the epiglottis. The air that rises up and forces the vocal folds to vibrate is known as subglottic pressure.
Place a finger lightly at the bottom of your throat, that is your larynx. The larynx will shift down when you yawn ascend whenever you swallow. The throat is in an open position when the larynx is low. What this means is there is unhindered air flow, that is good for producing strong, rich sounding tones when singing. You can find out more with Singorama. An excellent program.
Producing the Best Tones
The subglottic pressure plus the position of the larynx can both directly affect your singing. To learn how to sing better, you have to control the flow of air to the vocal cords and keep your larynx in the lower or central position.
Once the larynx gets tense, the vocal flaps may shut completely as subglottic pressure is formed. If that happens, the flaps will burst open if the pressure becomes high enough. This can cause a strange sound, almost like a clicking sound, before a tone is even produced. This is known as a glottal attack.
When you begin to sing, the onset of tone resulting from the vibrating vocal folds is called the attack. Its name sounds more vicious than it really is; you don’t actually want pressure attacking your vocal cords, but you do want air flowing smoothly.
To create the very best tones, understand that:
§ Repeated glottal attacks can harm vocal cords
§ Incorrect posture can cause vocal cords not closing properly and letting air to escape
§ A larynx which is forced upwards will result in a nasal sounding tone
§ Tight muscles surrounding the larynx may cause the vocal cords to function improperly, resulting in a poor tone
§ Singers who sound breathy have too much air flowing through the vocal cords
You should by now be aware that your larynx plays a very big and important role in the quality of tones you produce, as well as the general health of your voice box.
Maintaining Control
We don’t normally think of our vocal cords as something we can control, but actually something as simple as the positioning of your head can affect their ability to open and close properly. That is among the reasons why you should also concentrate on good posture.
To keep your larynx in the lower position, hold your head up straight so your neck is in line with your spine. Maintain your jaw relaxed and not tense. Tightening the muscles around the larynx can cause a tightening of the vocal cords.
Learning how to sing better involves a lot more than simply forming the correct notes. Good vocalists know how the body’s components operate in unison, and this includes the larynx.
Read up more at SingingHow for even more tips on singing.