Today, we’re going to talk about singing really low. So if you’ve ever felt like you’ve wanted to sing really low, but couldn’t quite get there, it’s my hope that by the end of today’s video, you’ll be singing those low notes with ease. Just like it’s twin video, “How to sing really high” the trick to singing really low is vocal chord position. If you’re interested in learning about singing really high, I will include the link for that video below.
But back to vocal chord position. If we were to peek inside your larynx, we would see that it is diamond in shape and that your vocal chords are stretched across it in a V shaped position. When you sing low, the entire larynx changes shape so that the chords can contract and thicken. When you sing high, the larynx lengthens and stretches the chords to thin out. Kind of like a rubber band. This is why I am always emphasizing the importance of staying relaxed when you sing. So that the larynx can change it shape, and the chords can freely vibrate without any influence from the exterior muscles.
There are 3 sounds that you can play with that will keep your chords connecting for some really awesome low notes.
1. The glottal stop.
This is a very small unit of sound that brings the chords together quickly. Take your time to register the feeling of space or complete relaxation before you being playing with this sound. This will ensure that your compensating muscles stay out of the way, and you are isolating only the chords on the inside.
2. Drinking water sound.
This sound is considered extreme…. so only use it in moderation. But it’s a quirky little sound as if you are pretending to drink water. So close your mouth, and all the space inside your mouth. Isolate your feeling to the larynx, and see if you can vocalize that sound of drinking water. This crazy little sound releases the larynx if it has lifted, as well as allows the chords to connect in a very deep way. So that the resulting tone has more depth to it. But remember, it’s not necessary to do this sound all the time. It is considered extreme as far as vocal chord connections go, so play in moderation.
3. The vocal fry.
This whacky sound sounds like a creaky door opening or closing. It’s the smallest unit of sound that our chords can make. It sounds so crazy to use, because we slow the airflow down so much that we can hear each oscillation of the chord. This is our champion sound for being able to learn really low notes. For our exercise with the vocal fry, we are going to slide from a comfortable low note to an unfamiliar low note. (See video for demonstration.) The instance you feel the tiniest bit of pressure applied to your chords, that’s when you slip into the vocal fry. Keep sliding into new depths of lower notes using the vocal fry to explore and develop that note. The vocal fry will take all that pressure off the larynx, and allow the chords to have the opportunity to explore that new vocal chord position.
There you have it! 3 easy sounds that will show you how to sing really low. I hoped you liked this video! Please feel free to give it a thumbs up, or click the subscribe button below for more singing tips and vocal tricks. If you have any questions, please be sure to leave them in the comments portion of today’s video. I can’t wait to hear from you! Thanks for watching! I’ll see you next time!