JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum Chest Voice?

I recently had an audition (no news on if I got it yet or not) but I asked if he could pick one that that I could work on to improve myself what it would be.

He replied, "You have the falsetto down to a T..you can hit that like mad...work more on finding your chest voice and that will enhance your already great voice."

My question is: How do i find my chest voice? Exercises or do I need voice lessons? Public/Private lessons?

Thanks and look forward to the responses.

Hi, raeleur,

If you've got a good falsetto, you have something great!

The best singing voice is a "mix" of head and chest voice...I recommend the Seth Riggs Speech Level singing method.
http://www.sethriggs.com/

This guy is the real thing. I studied this method years ago. It saved my voice...AND taught me to strengthen my mid range, as weel as increase my range.

Happy Singing!

Emily

"Chest voice" means your low range. Does that help any?

I'd listen to Emily--she's a pro. Vikki Flawith here may have some ideas too. She's a vocal instructor.

Linda

Gee, thanks, Linda! I appreciate the support!

I agree about Vikki...She knows a lot about vocal training, and gives wonderful professional advice.


The main thing to remember is:

-- If you are singing properly, it should NOT hurt in any way.

-- If you over use the voice at the expense of little or no technical training, you can PERMANENTLY damage the vocal cords.

Every singing voice is different. Some can take lots of strain with no apparent problem. I'm not like that at all! I have to do a lot of preventative vocal exercises - on a daily basis-- to protect and strengthen my voice.

There are vocal teaches that trained with Seth Riggs called "Seth Riggs Associates." If you can't find one in your area, then I would recommend considering his book called Singing for the Stars, which inculdes the vocal exercises and a CD or tape in it...

Can you imagine an athlete playing their sport with NO training?!?
People sometimes assume that singing takes no training.
Most famous singers today have vocal coaches and instructors.

Good luck...PLEASE take care of that voice

Emily

Thanks. I have been checking into it. Only bummer is their isn't a nearby (not in this state) instructor. Only, Dallas ain't to far away.

Here are a few tips that might help. Your head voice is the high range sung from the head. Your chest voice is sung from the chest. It is mid to low range. If you put your hand on your breastbone you can feel the vibrations. Try singing a high note and gradually making it lower or vice versa. There comes a point when you suddenly feel the vibrations in your chest that is the start of your chest voice. That is the area you need to work on. It may take a while to find the vibrations and develop the feeling.
Vocal training can help most singers but is not always necessary. Some people are naturally gifted and can sing to a good standard without any coaching and may want to develop their own style. As was pointed out there is a danger that you can damage your vocal cords singing incorrectly. This usually comes with overstraining eg. trying to sing too lowdly or notes your range cannot reach. Most folk know and feel when they are straining it usually comes with a slight burning sensation in the back of the throat. Do not continue to sing in this fashion. A good tip is to record yourself singing different types of songs. Play it back and it should be clear as to what areas are your strengths and weakness. Practice to improve the weak areas.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about vocal training. SOme vocal teachers are simply good at marketing. Some toss around a lot of famous names, and others claim to ahve the only technique that works. I had all of those for years, which is why I was pleased that the Seth Riggs teachnique- which is really just sensible exercises - gave me a brand new start and helped me to take better care of my voice. Because you can't "see" the vocal cords, it isn't easy to "know" if you are hurting the voice. Sometimes, vocal problems don't show up until a singer is singing a lot.

I agree with Jim about the unpleasant feeling you can get when not using proper technique.

The way I see it - is that vocal technique...when taught by a qualified vocal teacher- can provide tools which increase and improve a singer's range, tone and expression. Look at all of the opera singers who are still singing well into older ages!!

And, yes, there are many singers that probably never had any training.
Unfortunately, the vocal cords are one of the mosre fragile and vulnerable parts of the body, as they are not "protected" by filtered air and are at the mercy of the singer's health and environment.

As you can see, this is a subject dear to my heart and vocal cords !

Emily

I have contacted a vocal coach that uses the Seth Riggs technique and is certified to teach it and am arranging to begin training with him.

You are right about the sensitivity of the vocal chords. Which is why I would rather avoid all the hard knocks lessons of getting training and go with something/someone that has proven themselves/their technique.

Great news! Good luck with this!! Please keep us posted.

Happy Singing !

Emily

Most definitely...Won't be happening till around September..but will certainly keep y'all informed of the progress or lack there of(well ya never know). Though I don't see it not progressing positively. I am going to get a track laid down before and after the lessons to compare the 2.

radeleur,

That's a great idea to get a "baseline" recording...The way I see it....vocal techinique is simply a tool for increasing your creative options. And...it also preserves your voice.

Good luck!

Emily

Hey, just curious... Does anyone know if Seth's methodology and program are similar to Roger Love's? I bought Roger's book on singing, which came with a CD, and have had really good results with it. Roger talks a lot about the "middle" voice. Anyone had experience with both Roger's method and Seth's?

I'm not into stage singing since I never got serious about the band thing.
But a professional singer from a metal band where I grew up said that he sung from the gut.
That the stomach has fewer muscles to strain the body through a set.
I could'nt really say otherwise since he was a stage singer and I was'nt.
I would think that that gut method would put more strain on the body because of the fewer muscles to absorb the strain.

I would like singing anything from Radar Love, Roxy Music, to Nirvana songs.
And the only way I could sing them is out of my chest.
I could'nt make the sound another way.
Of course Ozzy is more of a nasal singer.
Nasal singers I notice have that falsetto voice.
I sound like a wacky chipmunk character when I try to sing nasal. All I can do is push up from my chest to my throat.
I was tested at a 5 octave range, yet I could never keep my voice above 3 for too long. Even when I practiced.
There are singing methods I would'nt mind checking out.
Every little bit helps.

Matt

Well, one of my prerequisites was that I wanted the personal face to face relationship. It is way to easy to fub or candy coat ones progress without some outside observations or at least that is what I have found.

My other personal opinion (okay so I actually have a bunch..lol) but I think every songwriter should learn to sing. If not for pursuing an actual performer career at least for the benefits of health longevity of the voice and for the opportunity's that open-mics allow.

I also find it easier to write music and lyrics if I can be in relatively close key to the mood of the music and lyrics especially considering most of the stuff I right has a very emotional content.

A good way of keeping finger on pulse is to record the same moderately difficult song at regular intervals for comparison say once a fortnight. Any improvement is noticeable when you play it back. "You do not notice a kid growing until WOW all of a sudden he is a man."

Well, I thought obtaining the rights to do a vocal cover of Styx -= Come Sail Away (just because I can sing the hell of it already and it is a tough song vocally) but figured one I wrote will be sufficient.

I did "Come Sail Away" on Karoake at a bar.
I love the meaning, but I did'nt have Dennis DeYoung's high register.
I got a standing O.
But it was toward closing time, and the patrons were most likely in the bag.

Styx has'nt been Styx without Dennis DeYoung.

For anyone that thinks Styx is just a pop band, Styx was at the forefront in the American hard rock scene, and Dennis DeYoung was the bands founder and main songwriter.
John Curulewski was an underrated guitarist.

Matt

I have done it in at the start of the night and the end and have received standing O's as well. When I was a kid, I used to sing in to the wall when I was going to sleep so it echoed back and I could adjust tone/key. Got pretty good at it...still like to work on material where there is a direct echo to base against the recording...and the hot water sure feels good at the same time too...ROFL