If you’ve ever done any singing (which I’m sure you have), you’ve probably noticed that, as you move from low to high notes, you reach a point where the voice seems to hit like a ceiling, and in order to continue, you have to push your voice out, or it will break.
This happens because the voice has reached the end of that register, and in order to go higher without strain or tension, you need to know how to shift to another register.
Otherwise, it’s very much like trying to drive faster and faster without shifting from first gear: the engine will be on high RPM and won’t work properly.
There are two main registers in singing: chest register (also called “chest voice”) and head register (or “head voice”).
Most people use their chest register when they speak and when they sing in the lower range. That’s the area of the range that usually everyone is comfortable with. However, the chest voice alone doesn’t allow you to cover your whole vocal range, just like the first gear doesn’t allow you to drive at any speed the car is capable of.
If you want to extend your range, and sing all the notes that your vocal cords can produce, you need to transition to your head voice. This transition happens at the top of your chest voice, right where things start to get hard. Tension building up in your throat is a signal that it’s time to transition to your head voice.
How do you make that transition? In general, the two most important factors in learning how to transition from chest to head voice are:
- Keep the throat open and relaxed (the natural tendency in this area of the range would be to tighten the throat instead)
- Pull back and sing a little softer (again, the natural tendency would normally be to sing louder in the attempt to “break through” that ceiling I was talking about).
Usually, in the beginning the head voice will sound weaker and breathier than the chest voice. That’s completely normal and it’s just a phase. Also, initially the “break” between chest and head voice can be very noticeable. This is because the muscles whose function is to stretch the vocal cords (which allows you to sing higher notes, just like when you stretch the strings of a guitar), aren’t well coordinated and developed yet.
As you practice, it will gradually become stronger and fuller. It’s a sign of good vocal technique when a singer is able to transition seamlessly from chest to head, without any change in the tone. When it’s completely developed, your head voice should have the same tone quality, fullness, and strength as your chest voice.
