Hi again everyone,

I'd like to ask a question about singing low notes. I've noticed that most of the discussion here is about singing high notes. As I said in one of my previous posts, I'm just interested in singing for enjoyment; I have no intention of becoming a professional.

Anyhow, a few weeks ago, I went out for karaoke with some friends and I sang the tired old song "Danny Boy". I believe the karaoke CD had the song in the key of C, which means that the lowest note in the song is an A2.

On my highest notes, it seems that I must shout to avoid my voice breaking into falsetto. However, even going just down to about A2, my voice became so quiet that I could barely hear myself above the instruments.

I have the same problem even worse with "Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso". The lowest note is A2 and it's a very short note; I feel like my voice is failing me at this note.

What I understand is that the air passageway is much larger on the low notes than on the high notes, but for such short notes, I can't imagine pushing a ton of air.

When I started out, my breakpoint was about at E4 and I've managed to push G4 practicing the transcending tone.

Any suggestions?

Don't let the low notes fall in your throat. You still need to mix the sound with chest and a tiny bit of head resonances to help the projection. Also, make sure you are still using your support.

I've also extened my low range by applying the techniques from my book, Raise Your Voice. You don't need a tone of air for any note. Low notes are still about breath support, placement and resonance.

JV

I know on Brett Mannings site, he talks about when going lower think about up, and when going higher think down.

It definitely helped me alot with my lower range.

Record yourself a -lot- is still some of the best advice, IMO.

I've been working on my lower range as well, and while sometimes it's still difficult to get the 'sensation' of when it's still solid, recording myself gives me a very clear picture of exactly when it's happening, and I can generally tell what I need to work on from hearing it.

jlk7jester
nice tip but i didtn undersatnd. can you say again
in a different manner?

by the way go to lisa popeil's website - www.popeil.com
each week she puts a video with tips for singing.

Well are you firmilar with "nay nay" and "mum mum" exercises? You would use the mum sensation as you go higher in range and the nay as you want to go lower. This keeps your larynx from rising too mcuh when going high, but also when going low it keeps it from dropping too much. It keeps your larynx stabilized more therefore giving you a greater range in both directions.

Even as your low in chest and in vocal fry, you should be thinking lighter and trying to aim up into the head.

I disagree with jlk7jester ....it can be confusing to talk about not raising your larynx on high notes and lowering it on low notes...Because it´s physical impossible to reach the notes in your high and low range if you dont raise or lower your larynx...but do apply the nay nay or "twang" as I would call it...twaning helps the vocal cords to become more "firm" and therfore increasing volume...