Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 4/24/2009

Question
Hi,
My chest voice can only naturally go through the bass range. Even though everyone is born with an aptitude for a specific vocal range like tenor, bass and baritone, my favorite songs are sung in tenor only. I've heard that singing scales are beneficial to increasing vocal range, and I've heard that lowering the larynx is very important. The problem is that when I lower my larynx, I get partially yawny sound. Many people can access the tenor range without having to lower their larynx. Is it possible to extend the range of the chest voice (any number of notes) with scales and without having to resort to lowering a larynx, putting resonance behind the mask, going into head voice, or going into falsetto? If so, is there a specific sound I must use when singing through the scale? Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi there, Derrick...And thanks for writing.

My first question to you is if you are breathing properly.  Are you using your diaphragm as the source of power or are you using your cavities as the source of power - nose, throat, etc.?  If you are breathing properly (not from the chest or throat), you have a better chance at increasing your range and having more power.  

In addition to the breathing, yes, lowering the larynx is important.  But also look at where you are placing the sound.  Where the sound is placed - in the head or the throat or the chest - will determine the sound.  If it is a yawny sound, my guess is that it probably is in the throat.  Try moving the sound to other cavities and see if the sound improves.  

Range is determined by your breathing and by your vocal chords - what they are able to perform.  So the use of breath and the use of scales with that breath should enable you to increase your range without using any mask, head voice, or falsetto.  

Does this help?  Please ask more questions if I have not.  

Wanda