The million dollar question.
Have you ever wondered how some singers out there can sing over 5 / 6 or even 8 octaves??
If you find it hard to believe, listen to the following examples:
and -
The truth is that physically and anatomically speaking, we all have an extremely wide vocal range.
So what stands between us and our potential vocal range?
1. Uncontrolled constrictions
what is it?
before I explain what it is, it's important to understand that in order to sing high/low notes the vocal cords MUST be able to stretch/shorten to vibrate at different speeds.
Uncontrolled constrictions (u.c.c) describe the moment when a group of muscles in the throat called constrictor muscles tighten pretty firmly around the vocal cords preventing them from stretching/shortening and vibrating at different speeds.
when it happens we may feel that a note is 'unreachable' or a sense of discomfort in the throat.
this imaginary ‘ceiling’ we hit at the top of our range is - u.c.c
why does it happen?
Uncontrolled constrictions reminds me of a seat-belt in a car that tightens around you in case of a car crash. This belt is there to protect you, even if it might hurt you in the process.
when we use our voice correctly, the constrictor muscles constrict to help us shape the vocal tract, however, if we use our voice incorrectly, they will over-constrict to protect the vocal cords and signal us that we're doing something wrong.
if you experience u.c.c when you sing, I would recommend getting the help of a vocal coach/teacher that can identify the problem and help you solve it.
Good vocal technique enables us to enjoy a wider vocal range and the more we refine our vocal control, the wider our range will be.
2. Mindset!
Some people get nervous when they are about to sing high notes.
The thought of a note being ‘high’ or ‘low’ may trick us to believe that is should be hard to produce.
It is true that the higher we sing, the more precise we need to be with breath support and the manipulation of the vocal tract, however, when learning to apply that, higher pitches should feel as comfortable in the throat as those in our speaking range.
Emotions and thoughts have a direct connection to our voice and a big impact on it.
For example getting nervous before a high or powerful note or being scared that the voice might ‘break’ can trigger the supporting muscles and the respiratory system to lock, which will trigger uncontrolled constrictions and make it harder to sing.
Letting go of the perception of high notes being high and low notes being low can already make a difference.
Working on expanding the vocal range is more about eliminating inhibitions which block access to it rather than trying to create pitches you might think don’t exist in your voice. Achieving accurate breath support, avoiding tension in the jaw and tongue, using vowel modification, and lifting the soft palate are some of the factors you want to learn to control for wider vocal range.
I hope this realization already puts a lighter angle on this subject.
Fun nerdy fact!
Did you know that before language was invented, humans had to communicate their thoughts and feelings only through vocal gestures and sounds?
We imitated animal sounds: the super high tweets of the birds, the low-pitched grunts of a bear, and many other nature sounds like water, fire, wind etc.
With the development of spoken language, we needed our voice less and less for communication and as a result, the human vocal range shrunk drastically to about 1 to 2 octaves on average!
Maybe try to communicate with vocal gestures only for a day or two and see what happens :)
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