Good Tone Production for Singing

A major goal of serious students of voice is to learn how to produce smooth, even, fully resonant, pleasant tone throughout the range.

Ideal tone is a complex product of breath control, vocal fold function, position of the larynx, tongue, nose, and soft palate, as well as use of resonance in the head and throat cavities, (amongst other functions of the vocal apparatus). Beyond these “basics”, there are many other nuances and intricacies of tone, such as colour, quality, registration, etc., that are best developed with some professional, expert guidance. Tone is far too complicated for me to treat in depth in this article, and far too complicated to learn by merely reading suggestions and advice from others on the internet.

I strongly recommend that you find a knowledgeable, experienced voice instructor who will teach you correct singing technique and improve your overall tone. Opt for a technique instructor who will focus a great deal on your tone development over a vocal coach who will likely spend more time on having you sing songs than on fully developing your technical skills. (Read my article Vocal Coaching or Vocal Technique Instruction? to learn more about the difference between these two styles of teaching.) Working with a vocal instructor who is highly knowledgeable about the science of singing will help you to gain a better understanding of how to use your body to produce a desirable, “perfect” tone. Furthermore, with some help, you can become aware of and eliminate tone production errors, and thus improve breath control, stamina, vocal agility, volume, range and vocal health as a result.

The following subsections will address topics ranging from common technical errors that produce poor tone, why they occur and how to correct them to finding ideal vocal resonance to why our voices all sound different to the role of breathing in tone production to register blending to exercises that will help a beginning student learn to feel and hear correct tonal balance in the voice. (Again, I can’t emphasize enough the inherent inadequacy of this article to help a singer create balanced tone. It is merely intended to provide some information to help guide a singer to a better understanding of his or her voice. A singer who is truly serious about achieving a great vocal tone should study vocal technique with a competent, knowledgeable instructor.)

This article is intended to go in tandem with the Singing With An Open Throat: Vocal Tract Shaping article soon to appear on this same site, which will address other aspects of tone creation, such as ideal positions of the tongue, jaw, lips, soft palate, larynx, etc. and the acoustical science of formants, which add warmth and vibrancy to the singing voice.

Caring for Your Voice, tips on taking care of your voice.

Your voice is a powerful but delicate instrument. With the right care, you can both protect your voice and use it to your best advantage. Start by caring for your voice with this five-step approach.

One: Breathe deeply.
You can speak only as well as you breathe. The voice, after all, is a wind instrument. You need to supply it with ample air in order to power your talk. Before getting up to speak, find a place where you can pause quietly for awhile. Do a few breathing exercises. Take deep (diaphragmatic) breaths to supply your voice with air.

Beginning speakers often hurt their voices because they aren't breathing deeply enough. When you breathe in, your stomach should push out. When you breathe out, your stomach should push in. Place your hand on your stomach when you're practicing your presentation. See if you're bringing air all the way down into your diaphragm.

Breathe deeply even as you make your way to the front of the room. Pause for a few seconds and breathe as you look around the room. Taking even one additional deep breath will help your air supply and give your voice more support.

Two: Learn to relax.
Tension in your upper body diminishes the power of your voice and can cause hoarseness. Over time, it can adversely affect your throat and can lead to vocal chord damage that is sometimes serious enough to require surgical repair. Through vocal warm-up exercises, you reduce tension in your shoulders, neck, and throat. As you exercise, allow your body to breathe naturally. Relax your body and let whatever tautness is there flow out each time you exhale.

Three: Condition your voice.
Try some tender loving care on your voice. Try gargling, which helps assure that your voice is in the best possible condition. This is especially helpful if you happen to have a cold on the day you're presenting. A teaspoonful of salt and a teaspoonful of baking soda dissolved in a cup of warm water make a simple solution that will wash away phlegm, allergens, and other irritants. After you gargle, coat and soothe your throat with a cup of herbal tea or decaffeinated tea, with plenty of honey.

Four: Hydrate.
Drink plenty of water before and during your talk. Talking for long periods can dry out your vocal apparatus, making it more prone to damage and fatigue.

Avoid foods and beverages that impair your voice.

Avoid spicy foods, which can increase the production of stomach acids.

Avoid alcohol, which dehydrates. Alcohol, of course, can also impair your performance (not to mention your judgment.) And avoid caffeine, which also dehydrates. Besides, it's a diuretic, and as such can cause other problems.

Be aware of any medications you may be taking, such as allergy pills, which can dry out your throat. If you must take your medications without exception, it becomes even more important to hydrate before you speak.

Five: Empower Your Voice.
There are several ways you can do this. One of the best things you can do is get a good night's sleep. You'll have more vocal energy and will avoid sounding tired.

Once you've begun speaking, open your mouth wide. You can't have a big sound unless, to put it bluntly, you have a "big mouth." And do use large gestures. Besides helping you to emphasize a point, large gestures from your shoulders actually reduce upper body tension and empower your voice.