Everyone in the world is born with a fixed vocal range. If you were born a tenor, you are not going to be able to sing baritone since your vocal cords are not made to move that way. However, you can learn to comfortably sing the notes at the bottom and top of your range- which will push your voice to new highs and lows.
To increase your vocal range, you must master the basic techniques of singing such as posture, relaxation, and breathing- then reach for the notes on the ends of your range as you practice.
Practice Scales – Increase Your Vocal Range
The first thing you must do is to find your natural range. The best way to do this is have a voice coach guide you- but you can do it on your own. Get your hands on a piano or keyboard and start by playing middle C and then matching it with your voice.
Do this with the next note up/down and keep going until you find one that you can’t sing without causing strain on your vocal cords. This will give you the bottom and top of your range.
Once you have found your range, practice moving from one end to the other. Don’t linger too long on the notes that strain your throat.
Focus on breathing properly and being relaxed. You should be practicing the scales 8 to 10 times every day.
When you are comfortable with practicing your range 8 to 10 times during a practice, start working on the difficult notes. Continue this until you can sustain the notes for a longer period of time.
Add other exercises to loosen up your vocal cords. If you start to feel uncomfortable, take a break. The more you reach the difficult notes, the easier you will be able to sing them without pain.
Modify Vowels
When you are singing the higher notes, try changing the sounds of the vowels to put less pressure on your vocal cords. Try to round your mouth to an oval shape as you speak.
Allow your jaw to drop and your tongue to loosen. This isn’t useful on the lower end of your range because your vocal cords are shortened.
First, try singing individual words at the top of you range, singing it out loud and keeping the vowel rounded. Then, at the end of the word, open your throat so the vowel ends like it should.
As long as your normal sound returns before the next consonant, listeners will still hear the word properly.
When you are stumbling over a certain word at a tough note in a song, substitute a simpler word, such as “NOOO”. Then, keep practicing the song with the substitution until you are able to put the original word back in.
Master Basic Singing Techniques
Before you start singing, you need to take some time to loosen your vocal cords. This is critical to help you reach the notes on the ends of your range and avoid doing damage to your voice.
Some common warm ups include moving up and down your range with an “oo” or “mee” sound, holding your mouth in an “O” shape, or buzzing/humming. You can also do these same exercises when you are finished singing for a cool down.
Make sure that you are breathing properly when you sing. After all, expanding your range means that you must master the basics. One of these is proper breathing.
Take a deep breath so your diaphragm pushes your stomach out. Then, as you exhale to sing, bring your stomach in so that you are able to maintain control of your tone and sing longer. Keep in mind that more is not better.
Inhaling and using too much air is not going to help you sing higher notes. Simply inhale one breath at a time to allow our vocal cords a consistent air flow and avoid strain.
Pay attention to your posture, as good posture will enhance the airflow you need to increase your range. Your feet should be firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
Your shoulders should be relaxed and your back straight. Your head and neck should be kept upright while you sing. As you reach the notes on the outside of your range, avoid stretching your neck.
Finally, relax your muscles. Many times, a beginner singer will tighten up their body and end up straining their vocal cords to extend their range, but this is dangerous.
Instead, you should stand firm without feeling tense. Never raise your muscles toward your throat as you are singing. Your tongue and throat should stay as loose as possible to reduce your strain and increase airflow.