9 Vocal Techniques for Singers

Do you want to achieve a better tone and improved sound?

On this page, from River Recording Studios in Southampton

Vocal techniques for singers are the tools by which you’ll reach new heights in the studio and at gigs. They include the basics of warm-ups, breath control, humming, diction and scales, as well as the more advanced vibrato, falsetto, belt and whistle register.

Read on to find out how you could polish your performance and take your act to the next level.

Vocal techniques for singers

If you want to win competitions and achieve success, techniques need to be a part of your routine and skill-set. You may not need to use all of them and some are only suitable for certain genres or types of vocalist. But it’s important nonetheless to understand each one and how they can impact your sound.

Why is vocal technique important?

Your voice is an instrument but also a muscle and a part of you. This means it can’t be fixed at your local instrument shop if it gets damaged. Usually serious damage to your vocal cords will require medical attention. This is why you need to give it extra thought and care to keep it in good shape. This is achieved through good technique and lifestyle.

Damaging habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking will really inhibit you from achieving your potential. It can also make singing really uncomfortable and isn’t sustainable if you plan on singing day after day.

What are some vocal techniques?

These first few techniques are simple and can be done quickly, as a warm-up prior to a show or gig. However, we do recommend that you don’t always fall back on just speedy exercises at the last minute. Spend time and put the work in and you’ll notice much greater results than if you don’t.

#1 Breath control

The most basic and essential technique for singers is breath control. While your breath isn’t heard, it is the bedrock of the sound you make. Breath control is the difference between hitting a high note well or screeching. It’s also what enables you to hold onto a note for a long time.

Make sure your shoulders are not rising when you breathe. If they are this indicates shallow breathing. As a result, you’ll likely get an initial blast of volume followed by very little else as your breath quickly runs out. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Your breathing should start much lower down with your stomach & diaphragm muscles expanding like bellows. If your stomach goes in when you breathe in you’re doing it the wrong way round!

Lie on the floor, relax & breathe normally. You should notice as you breathe in, your stomach & rib cage rise (inflate). Then as you breathe out they become smaller again (deflate). Visualise these areas filling up like a balloon. See how much breath you can squeeze in – it’s more than you might think. Remember to start low, but inflate all the way into your ribs, up to your armpits and down into the very bottom of your belly.

#2 Warming up the face

Vibrate your lips together so that they make a buzzing sound. Alternate the pitch for a few seconds each time, going higher and lower. Once you’ve mastered this, use scales, sliding up & down as high & low as you can & even use them on the melody of a song you’re learning. You’ll know it’s been working when you feel your lips tingling afterwards.

Practise Santa’s catchphrase with a breath in-between – ‘Ho ho ho’ then a quick breath. Make sure the stomach is going in and back out, so it’s pulsing on each ho. Practice this in slow motion to help develop better control of your breathing. Think of squeezing a tube of toothpaste from the bottom up to keep that steady flow. You can use a count, to keep track of your progress and even out that flow, both in and out. You can also use ‘ha’ and ‘he’ and move onto singing as well as speaking it. It’s especially important to warm-up your voice before a recording session.

Singing techniques to sound better

This next one is perfect for the shower, or when getting ready to go out. As with many of these exercises you can incorporate it into your daily routine to save time when you’re too busy for lots of dedicated singing practice.

#3 Humming

This is one of the safest ways to sing as it doesn’t risk damaging the voice. A good strong hum is not only a warm-up technique but one that can be used during songs in a segue section. Make an “mmm” sound in your spoken voice like you’re agreeing with something or have just had something tasty to eat. You should feel a gentle vibration in your throat & on your lips. Once you’ve mastered it & it feels really comfortable hum through various scales. Do this with broken up notes, 1 per note “mm mm mm” & also in 1 long “mmmmmmm” smoothly across the notes.

Avoid starting on an “H” as this indicates you’re overusing breath & make sure your tongue stays down & doesn’t start pulling to the back of your throat. This is a handy exercise for when you’re on the go too. Hum when you’re out and about – walking, driving, or even on the bus. Not only will you be warming up your voice, but you’ll also be giving off a very jolly vibe too!

#4 Scales for range

An oldie but a goodie. Scales are the bread and butter of vocal techniques and indeed all musical techniques. Start around a middle C and work up and down the octaves. Keep your throat open and your jaw relaxed, don’t squeeze the notes, but let them flow.

Try the ‘fire engine’ or ‘siren’. You might feel a bit silly trying this, but it’s a great voice exercise for singers. You make the sound of a fire engine on an ‘Ng’ sound, beginning with the low notes, going up through your range and back down again.

#5 Diction

It’s vital an audience can understand what you are singing so make sure you don’t get lazy with enunciation. Add consonant exercises to crisp up your diction, they also help with breath control as they will create stops in the airflow at different points within your mouth & throat.

There are many variations to choose from but B, C, D, F, G, M, N are very effective. A simple trick is to do your vowel exercises, but add one of these consonants at the beginning. Work through one at a time, paying special attention to those that you find trickiest. (That’s a great tip in general: if you find something particularly difficult, that’s what you should work on most, rather than shying away from it because it’s tough). Tongue twisters are a great way to sharpen your diction, so it’s worth learning a few or making up your own.

Vowels have a major impact on anything you sing too. They are the sounds that are sustained & showcase the unique tone of your voice. So they need to be controlled effectively to sound great and sing to your full ability.

Complete vocal technique

Next, we’ll move onto more advanced techniques. Please don’t attempt these without the help of a singing teacher, unless you already have considerable experience and have spent a lot of time working on the basics.

#6 Vibrato

Vibrato can naturally occur when your voice is under strain. This is because your larynx is struggling to hold the pitch on its own and naturally tremors. This can sound great, especially in an emotional performance. However, this typically happens when there is a lack of control. It is far better to be in control of your vibrato then rely on putting your larynx under strain.

Vibrato is produced through variations in your larynx and diaphragm. This can be mastered when you build up more control over your larynx and diaphragm. A common mistake for singers is to shake their head or their chest to produce vibrato. You should be able to do it with no movement and with complete control over your muscles.

Start off with a slow vibrato and minimal variation in pitch. Sustain any note and slowly vary the pitch with your larynx and diaphragm. As you get comfortable, go slightly faster until you have a professional sounding vibrato.

#7 Falsetto

This could give you access to a whole other octave. You’ll need to think of placing your voice at the font of your face when you sing and you must lose any tension. Take several big overdramatic yawns, give your face and throat a little massage and blow through your lips like a horse. This will get everything limbered up ready to go. The falsetto sound is breathy and flute-like.

#8 Whistle Register

This is the highest register of the female voice and has a shrill timbre, with a whistle or flute sound. Women of all voice types can use the whistle register, but as with falsetto, it must be done properly.

The technique is unlike most others we use in singing, as it involves constricting the throat rather than opening it. You’re looking to let the tiniest bit of air out – like a squeak – and you don’t have to aim for a ‘big’ sound.

#9 Belt

Get a balance of chest and head voice. This is the belt technique and to achieve it you need to access the power of the chest voice that we spoke about earlier, but bring in the vibration of the head voice at the same time. Practise scales on an ‘Eh’ or ‘Nae’, and emulate the sound of a precocious child while anchoring your feet hip-width apart and firing up your core.

This technique is commonly used for power ballads and musical theatre, so if you sing in either of these categories, this is for you. But otherwise, not everyone needs to learn how to belt. Many pop and indie artists adopt a softer, gentler tone now, But if you do want to sing loud and proud, give it a go.

How can I improve my vocal techniques?

Singing every day helps your voice develop. If you want to get better, daily vocal techniques for singers will improve your performance. Songs alone won’t cut it. With regular daily exercises, you’ll produce notes and sounds you might not otherwise get to practice, going outside of your normal vocal range. It’s the equivalent of vocal gymnastics. However, as with the Olympic gymnasts you see on TV, it doesn’t come without effort.

Take it slowly if you’re a beginner. If you suddenly start singing for 3 hours a day you might damage your vocal cords. The muscles won’t yet be robust enough to handle that amount of vocal exercise. Keep your practice down to around 20 minutes a day for a few months until you strengthen your voice. Experienced vocalists can exercise for half an hour to 40 minutes and then move into singing songs. You should build your voice up over time, starting off with these vocal techniques for singers.