Mixed Voice — Singing Demystified

Summary

In this video, Cornelius from Voice Studio East delves into the concept of mixed voice, explaining its characteristics and how it differs from chest and head voice. He covers key vocal techniques like lingual tilt, medial compression, and resonance tuning. Cornelius demonstrates how to achieve mixed voice through vowel shaping and restraint exercises, offering tips for both lighter and more stable sounds. He also warns against common pitfalls such as squeezing spirals and stresses the importance of a well-developed chest voice for effective transitions. The video is aimed at helping singers refine their mixed voice for better vocal coordination and control.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mixed voice is a balanced blend of chest and head voice, providing smooth transitions between the two.
• 😀 The key feature of mixed voice is its restrained quality, achieved through medial compression and lingual tilt, allowing higher frequency vibrations of the vocal folds.
• 😀 Front vowels are typically associated with chest register, while mixed voice relies on back and central vowels (like 'o', 'u', 'uh').
• 😀 A light restraint, similar to holding back a point in conversation, helps to activate mixed voice. Core muscles may engage slightly during this process.
• 😀 If your mixed voice sounds dull, the cause might be insufficient energy or too much compression. Adding a bit of brightness (like a cat meowing) can help.
• 😀 Proper mouth opening, especially for high notes, is essential for effective resonance. A vertical opening is better than a horizontal one for maintaining the mix.
• 😀 Mixed voice training can be enhanced with specific exercises, like singing on the syllables 'n' and 'go', which help stabilize and improve vocal coordination.
• 😀 A 'crying' quality (mimicking sadness) can be added to mixed voice to lighten the tone and make it feel more slippery or smooth, without overusing compression.
• 😀 For advanced singers, narrowing the vocal tract (through techniques like a 'Fingal' voice) can help smooth transitions into the higher registers.
• 😀 Squeezing spirals occur when singers push too far in dynamic range either too loud at low pitches or too soft at high pitches. These can be avoided by using a well-developed chest voice for lower notes.
• 😀 It's important to have a solid chest voice before focusing too much on mixed voice, as it serves as a safety net for lower pitches and prevents squeezing spirals from forming.

Q & A

What is mixed voice in singing?

Mixed voice is a vocal technique that blends elements of chest voice and head voice, resulting in a sound that is more restrained and focused. It involves the use of medial compression and lingual tilt, which allows the vocal folds to vibrate at a higher frequency while maintaining control over airflow.

How does the vocal tract shape affect mixed voice?

Vocal tract shaping is crucial for mixed voice as it helps control the resonance and vowel frontness. Front vowels are more naturally suited to chest voice, while mixed voice relies on back and central vowels, such as 'o', 'u', or slightly altered front vowels, to maintain balance and efficiency.

What is the easiest way to find mixed voice?

The easiest way to find mixed voice is to establish a slight restraint on the voice, similar to stopping yourself from making a point. This restraint involves bringing the vocal folds together slightly and activating core muscles lightly, which helps find the right balance for mixed voice.

What causes a dull sound when singing in mixed voice?

A dull sound can be caused by hypercompression, where too much restraint is applied, or by a lack of energy in the vocal production. If the sound is dull, it might also be a sign of insufficient vocal engagement or lack of twang, which helps brighten the tone.

Why is resonance tuning important in mixed voice?

Resonance tuning helps adjust the vowel frontness to make mixed voice more efficient. As pitch increases, the resonance needs to shift towards front vowels. For lower pitches, back vowels are more suitable. Understanding resonance tuning is crucial for achieving better control and ease in higher notes.

How does mouth opening affect mixed voice?

When singing in mixed voice, a larger vertical mouth opening is generally preferred, especially for higher notes. Avoiding excessive horizontal widening helps maintain resonance and prevents disruption in vowel tuning. A wider mouth opening for higher pitches can help improve clarity without compromising vocal coordination.

What is the difference between cried mix and finalized mix?

Cried mix is a lighter, more agile form of mixed voice that involves adding a slight crying quality to the sound, giving it a more slippery or slidy feel. Finalized mix, on the other hand, is a more advanced technique used for a more stable and controlled sound. Cried mix is typically used for developing agility and brightness, while finalized mix is more for stability and depth.

How can you add cry quality to mixed voice?

To add cry quality to your mixed voice, you can imitate a sad sound by adjusting the position of your eyebrows and adding a slight sadness to your tone. This cry quality helps lighten the voice without over-relying on compression, making it easier to transition between chest and head voice.

What are squeezing spirals in mixed voice?

Squeezing spirals occur when the dynamic range of mixed voice is pushed too far in either direction—singing too quietly at high pitches or too loudly at low pitches. This causes excessive strain and can lead to vocal fatigue or voice cracks. To avoid squeezing spirals, it’s important to maintain a strong chest voice and avoid over-compressing the vocal folds.

Why is it important to have a well-developed chest voice for mixed voice?

A well-developed chest voice is important for mixed voice because it provides a solid foundation for lower pitches, preventing the vocal folds from being overly stretched and compressed. This allows for better control and helps avoid squeezing spirals, especially when transitioning between registers.