You always hear them on the radio - singers of the caliber of Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks … the list goes on and on - and you'd like to sing like that too, but you don't know where to start. Do not worry! In this article, you will learn how to develop your voice so that you can bring it out the way they do.
Steps
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with the terminology
Usually the audience defines a "powerful" voice as one capable of filling an entire room. This, however, does not mean singing at the top of your lungs, but rather singing "from the head" instead of "from the chest". The chest voice is the one you usually use to speak and it mainly resonates in your chest. The head voice is the sharpest, most subtle voice that most people use to sing softly, and it resonates most in the head. For the purposes of this article, however, a "powerful" voice will mean a loud voice, and vice versa.
Step 2. Keep in mind that everyone has their own vocal timbre, their own "color" of the voice
In order, starting from the most acute, we will have the following types: soubrette, lyric, spinto soprano, and dramatic.
- Soubrette is a term that denotes both color and vocal range. Soubrette voices (like Britney Spears) usually don't have a very wide range and power, so they aren't particularly energetic.
- Lyrical voices are high-pitched, but more full-bodied than showgirls, and when used correctly they are able to outperform dramatic singers. The voice of opera singers is endowed with enormous power, although it can sometimes be too thin to hear (take for example Celine Dion, if not downright nasal.
- Singers who use a soprano spinto register, such as Christina Aguilera, they shout intermittently in a rather sharp voice.
- The dramatic voices are the strongest and richest of all vocal timbres Laura Branigan she was generally regarded as a singer with a dramatic voice, and was able to sing at the top of her voice for long periods of time and with extremely strong vocal resonance. People with this type of voice can sing with strong power for a long time, and usually manage to overpower the high volumes of orchestras.
Step 3. Once you understand your vocal timbre, it's time to determine what your range is
There are three terms that describe the range:
- The first is alto, and is the lowest of all female voices. Toni Braxton is an alto. Altos can generally sing from F 3 to F 5, although some manage to reach much higher or much lower notes.
- Then there is the mezzo-soprano. Half sopranos usually sing in a range from A 3 to A 5, although - again - there may be variations.
- The most acute of the female voices is the soprano. Usually a soprano sings in a range between C 4 (also known as middle C) and A 5 (or A high).
- These definitions actually come from the classical tradition, and are to be considered only as an indication for modern / pop voices. To find your range, use a piano (or keyboard) and find middle C. Virtually anyone can vocalize middle C. Try to do that, and see how far and high and low you can go. This will give you a rough idea of which term describes your range.
Step 4. Remember, however, that range is not everything, and it is certainly not a parameter for telling whether you can sing with a powerful voice or not
Toni Braxton is an alto, which means he won't be able to reach very high notes, yet he has a very powerful voice.
Step 5. Get familiar with the "mixed voice"
To put it simply, the mixed voice is just what it sounds like - a mix of chest voice and head voice, halfway between the two registers. Learning to use and reinforce the mixed voice takes less effort from your voice when you want to scream, and allows you to do it in a higher pitched way. The mixed voice has a tendency to sound slightly nasal because it mainly resonates in the nasal cavity. Don't worry about it, as long as it's not too much it's not a problem.
Step 6. And now the fun part, sing out loud
Always remember to breathe correctly! If you don't, your voice will sound rather shrill, and therefore not very pleasant. Relax and trust your voice. Try not to force her at all. Singing like this isn't something you can do overnight, it takes a lot of practice. Think like you have to scream over music, without actually having to! As mentioned, breathe correctly and keep the right posture. When you sing with great intensity, the general rule is not to contract your diaphragm too much. When you sing, you should breathe more in the stomach area rather than in the chest area. Make sure your stomach tends to widen as you sing.
Step 7. Remember to breathe
Some people forget to breathe while singing, resulting in them gasping for breath.
Step 8. Relax your jaw
Clenching your jaw too much while singing out loud will greatly impair the sound of your voice.
Step 9. Know that not all voices are able to sing effectively at this intensity, and this is normal
Some of the best singers don't have very powerful vocals, but just like range, power isn't everything. Make good use of what you have!
Step 10. The most important thing to remember is that if you feel pain, stop
Singing must never be a painful experience! If you feel pain while singing, your body wants to tell you that you are doing something wrong, or that you are going beyond your limits. You must never get hoarse (or even worse, totally voiceless) after singing a song, not even after an entire set. If you find that you can't sing at the top of your lungs without feeling some pain or without your voice going off, contact a singing teacher so you can learn the correct technique without compromising the health of your throat.
Advice
- Make sure you sing with high power only when needed, otherwise you will lose the dynamics of the song. Use different techniques and volumes to give depth to the piece.
- Singing out loud is particularly useful for creating vocal climaxes. Whitney Houston always did.
- If you want to take things very seriously, take a few lessons! They will help you avoid long-term damage to your voice.
