Vocal Warm Ups By Voice Type

To get the most out of this warm-up, use an SOVT (semi-occluded vocal tract) sound, such as humming, lip-trilling, or singing through a straw.

Vocal Exercise by Register & Voice Type

Chest Voice Focused Exercise

This exercise is designed for singers who are not familiar with the sensations and sounds of the chest voice. Use a bracing sound like “BIN” or “GO” to encourage a ‘thicker’ or ‘more connected’ chest voice. If you feel tense, strained, or uncomfortable in any way during this exercise, switch to a dark, relaxed, even lazy “WOAH” sound. If discomfort persists, stop singing. Bring it up in your next lesson for further instruction.

Head Voice Focused Exercise

This exercise is designed for singers who are not familiar with the sensations and sounds of the head voice. Use a soft sound like “WEE” or “HEE” to encourage a ‘thinner’ or ‘less connected’ head voice. Allow the sound to be breathy and soft to encourage the head voice. Once you can sing softly, you can work to solidify the sound by switching to a cheeky “BEEN” sound. If singing this scale becomes uncomfortable, bring it up in your next lesson for further instruction.

Heavy Mixed Voice Focused Exercise

This slow ascending arpeggio is meant to work out the middle of your range in a “thick”, “heavy” mixed voice capacity. Start in chest voice and hold the top note of each arpeggio to linger in and strengthen the heavy mixed voice. Use a ‘masky’ “WAY” or “MY” sound. The goal is to maintain some ‘chesty’ qualities, while thinning out slightly to a mixed voice. This means backing off the top note, but not flipping into head voice entirely! This requires focus and balance. If you find it difficult to find a heavy mixed voice sound, bring it up in your next lesson for further instruction.

Light Mixed Voice Focused Exercise

This slow descending arpeggio is meant to work out the middle of your range in a “thin”, “light” mixed voice capacity. Start in head voice and fall down to a gentle mix. Use a soft “YO” or “ME” sound. The goal is to maintain some ‘heady’ qualities, while thickening up slightly to a mixed voice. This means locking into the bottom note but not flipping into chest voice entirely! This requires focus and balance. If you find it difficult to find a light mixed voice, bring it up in your next lesson for further instruction.

Belting Exercises