5 Secrets to Singing Better High Notes and Building Vocal Strength

In todays article I will be discussing how to sing better high notes and build vocal strength so you can step into your full potential as a singer.

First exposing the common myths, then discussing the physiology of high notes, and finally what you need in place to achieve confident, consistent high notes.

Click here to learn more about the Cole Vocal Method.

Here’s a quick outline of the topics covered in today’s blog:

• The Common Myths
• The Physiology of High Notes
• What You’ll Need In Place to Sing Better High Notes
• Hidden Techniques to Sing Richer High Notes
• Building Real and Lasting Vocal Strength

Let’s dive in!

1. The Common Myths

Here are a few of the common myths sold to singers to sing better high notes and why they don’t work —and worse, can damage your voice.

• “Sing from your diaphragm”.
  • Why this doesn’t work: The diaphragm has no nerve endings and moves involuntarily, so there is no way a singer can control it’s movement.

• “Place the sound forward in the ‘mask'”.
  • Why this doesn’t work: Sending the sound forward is the wrong direction for the singer. In “reaching forward” it tends to lift the larynx destabilizing the voice, leaving you vulnerable to cracking and breaking.

• “Tighten your abdomen to support your high notes…”
  • Why this doesn’t work: Tightening the abdomen pushes the diaphragm upward losing the air in the lungs you need for singing.

• “Lift the corners of your mouth to sing with more tone and reach high notes”.
  • Why this doesn’t work: Similar to the mask technique above, this lifts the larynx destabilizing the voice resulting in a lack of power and accuracy.

2. The Physiology of High Notes

Singing high notes involves the lengthening and thinning of the vocal cords, which requires control over subglottal pressure. Proper breath support and relaxation of the throat are essential to avoid strain and achieve a clear, resonant sound.

High notes are not “higher”. The vocal cords are not vertical in placement but rather on the horizontal plane. Low notes are articulated by the shortening and thickening of the cords while high notes are articulated by the lengthening and thinning of the cords.

In studying vocal technique it is better to take the view that there are no “high notes” and “low notes” for a singer – there are simply notes with long, thin, firm cords and notes with short, thick, relaxed cords.

3. What You’ll Need In Place to Sing Better High Notes

The voice is an instrument inside of the body, and learning how to play it correctly will result in rich and powerful high notes. But continuing to wing it will tend to wear the voice down over time and you eventually end up with high notes deteriorating.

• The right posture and alignment
• Proper breath control for sub-glottic pressure
• Maintaining a relaxed and open throat
• Long jaw
• Space inside the mouth and throat

4. Hidden Techniques to Sing Richer High Notes

Most techniques tout the wrong motions that might get a quick result but damage the voice over time.

Here are the hidden techniques you need to get in place to sing better high notes that are rich and full that you can hit consistently.

• The right posture and alignment
  • Head balanced over the body.
  • Keep your chin slightly down to lengthen the neck and get access to high notes.
  • Keep your chest position high with a flat back to access support from the pectorals and torso.
• Proper breath control for sub-glottic pressure
  • Breathing diaphragmatically into the lower triangle of the lungs.
  • Keeping the air in the lungs at the onset of the phrase, not letting it rush out to maintain breath control and sub-glottic pressure.
• Keeping your throat relaxed
  • Using the support of the “torso” or “trunk” of the body with proper alignment to reduce tension at the throat.
  • Using vocal massage to release the jaw, larynx, throat and neck muscles which constrict the voice and range.
  • Using pressure at the chest to take pressure off of the throat. The “Chest Press” or “Point of appoggio technique.”
• Long jaw
  • Open the jaw long (vs. wide) on vowels to retain laryngeal resistance and access higher notes.
  • Maintain an oval position (jaw) on vowels.
• Space inside the mouth and throat.
  • Keep space at the back of the mouth and throat.
  • Keep the soft palate lifted.
  • Place sound in the C-shape center.
• Direction of sound
  • Think inward, not out – pushing the sound out results in tightening and constriction of range.
  • “Drink the tone” or visualize sound coming towards to you experience more resonance and less push.
• Watch your volume
  • Use the body not the throat.
  • Practice singing high notes without loud volume to perfect them.

5. Building Real and Lasting Vocal Strength

Building a vocal strength is the goal of the technical voice and the result of a good solid vocal technique. Most techniques focus on warmups, the Cole Vocal Method builds the actual core strength of the vocal instrument.

• Building the legato line
• Building the overtone series
• Building core strength

Remember—Technique is the door to great emotion and great performances. Singers need both – technique and emotion. One without the other and the voice will fall flat. Technique is the structure through which you will find your wings as a singer.