What to Do to Expand Your Vocal Range?

Are you disappointed because you have a short vocal range?
Don't despair. Expand your scale by using these proven
approaches, and before long you'll be learn singing high and low notes with poise!

   Identify Your Natural Range

   If you really want to expand your vocal range, you first have
to know where you're commencing from. The most typical vocal
ranges, from highest to lowest, are: soprano, alto, tenor,
baritone, and bass. Almost all women fall within the top three
ranges, and almost men fall within the bottom three.

   To identify your natural vocal range, begin by singing
a middle C in a normal tone of voice. Use a keyboard or
online tuner to help you, if required.

   Now move down the vocal range in half-steps right until you
can no longer sing the low notes easily. Go back to
middle C and repeat the exercise going up until you get to
the highest note you can comfortably sing.

   If you are a natural soprano, you can easily sing
notes from middle C (C4) to high A (A5). An alto can
naturally sing notes between G3 and F5. A tenor ranges
from C3 to A4. A baritone singer has a naturally vocal
range between notes G2 and F4. A bass range consists of notes
F2 through E4.

   By finding your real vocal range, you can set
realistic goals for increasing your scale.

   Practice Constantly

   They say practice makes perfect, and they're correct!
Like any instrument, you will only learn your voice if
you practice usually. Sing as long as you can every day
without straining your throat.

   Every day, try to sing notes that are just slightly
outside your comfort zone. Go a bit higher and a little
lower each day. Extending your vocal scale will take time,
but it will go more easily if you practice as much as possible.

   Develop a Mixed Voice

   Every vocalist has a natural "break", or a point on the
scale where they toggle from their chest voice to their
head voice. You can make this sudden change much smoother by
getting a "mixed" voice.

   Sing up your vocal range until you hit the last note
you can easily sing in your chest voice. The notes
around that point on the scale are the one you will
practice singing in a mixed voice.

   Once you've mastered your mixed voice, or middle voice,
you will be able to transition more or less seamlessly up
and down the scale. If it takes greater than than you'd like,
don't be bothered; plenty of successful recording artists are
still trying to find their ideal mixed voice.

   Do These Vocal Exercises

   Begin at the low end of your vocal break. Sing the note
in your chest voice at a regular volume. Sing the word
"whom" and think how the note vibrates in your throat.

   Now sing the next highest note, also using the word
"whom". You will see the resonation move from your throat
to your mouth. Move up to the next note and feel where it
vibrates.

   Try to keep your volume consistent throughout the
exercise. Stay within and just around your break scale,
and practice transitioning from your head voice back down
to your chest voice.

   After you've practiced for several days, you will
notice that your transitions are more seamless. Keep at
it, and you will expand your vocal range into a whole new
octave while keeping good tone and control.

   Don't forget to warm up beforehand! Your vocal chords,
like any muscle group, require to be warmed up before you
exercise them. Warming up will prevent vocal strain and
will help you create the best quality notes.