It's a subtle thing and takes a good deal of training. I highly recommend getting some lessons if you're struggling with it.

When you get it right you will feel that as you start getting quite high, like around the A4, instead of having to push and strain and yell, the voice starts gradually "releasing" and you can ascend higher yet still have that nice chesty tone.

It takes a lot of time to develop and if you focus on doing the exercises the way they are described in the book then you'll start automatically developing it.

If you are still struggling, send me an audio clip on phil.moufarrege@gmail.com and I'll take a listen.

Cheers,
Phil
Grow-The-Voice.com

It' a visual thing. Never heard that about the tilt as described by Seventh son. But the last time they filmed my cords it proved that the wave vibration of the vocal cords coming together and opening always shows a sort of zipping from the back to the front. But it is so fast it is hard to catch. It also show the higher I went after my cords had elongated to their longest length, they did indeed appear to get slightly shorter, such as an actual "zipping" or shortening of the cords. Regardless, I only added it because I was trained by Thomas Appell and he focuses a lot on the zipping. I put it in the book for a visual because I discovered it helped a singer to sing higher by thinking of shorter cords:)

Thanks Jaime. That actually cleared up my confusion alot.

I definitely feel the transition when the zipping occurs. I think this is more than visual.

The vocal cords are already zipping any time you make a sound. It's just that it's kinda harder to get them together above the break if you're not familiar with it. But support and placement are only one part of the equation, you need to do something to make the space between the cords close or else you will just make a sigh.

The transcending tone exercise is all about controlling how tight your cords are on a certain pitch. Now I don't think this exercise is suitable for one who's pretty new but it's more for an intermediate singer.

What you could try doing is "crying" on pitch. Say "wah" like a baby does and practice this on the notes you got trouble with. Don't push it at first, start light and then when you can go heavier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laxyoaHOP1c