Spot Fixing Your Voice

By Jeannie Deva

October, 2010

I�m sure most everyone has had the experience of singing most of a song well but has run into a problem with just a certain section or phrase. While I have created a number of possible remedies depending on the specific difficulty the singer had with a particular song, here�s a remedy that can assist all singers.

How to �spot fix� a problem area in a song

Isolate the vowel sound (not vowel name, but vowel sound) for the notes and phrase or word that is giving you the problem. Example: �life�: the vowel is �I� but the sound of it (in the context of the song) is a blend of �A� (apple) and �Ah� (wand).

To discover the vowel sound, say the word and sustain the vowel for a while before you end the word. Listen to yourself. You want to find the sound you naturally use for the vowel.

The Exercise

1. Say the word: �Fly�. Now sustain it and listen to the sound you are using for the vowel �y.� You will most likely find you are saying it like this: �flah�-ee. When you sing the word �fly� you can sustain the �Ah� or, depending on the style of music you�re singing, change the �Ah� to the �Ee� and sustain that vowel sound. It�s up to you, but needs to fit stylistically. I�m sure you�ll hear the difference.

2. Sing with any melody you wish: �fly me to the moon.� As you sing the word �fly�, go to the �Ee� vowel. How did this sound to you? Now try it again and use an �Ah� vowel sound.

3. Try singing this phrase with your own made up melody. �I want to fly�. Sustain the last word. Do it again. On the word �fly� start off with the �Ah� vowel and sustain it. See how you like that compared to quickly going into an �Ee� vowel sound.

4. Apply this to your song. When working this out in a specific song, you may want to sing the phrase first with a single vowel such as an �Ee� (as in the word �seem�) or and �Ah� (as in �wand�). Then sing the phrase and work out for yourself what the vowel sound is for any word or syllable that is not totally �on� in pitch or ease of delivery.

The Sounds of Your Voice

Vowels with their given pitch (melody note) are the sounds of our voice. Even in speaking this is true � with the difference being that our spoken notes are random as opposed to a melody where each note has a definite relationship, one to the next.

If you have clarity of the sounds you use when you sing, you�ll synchronize your efforts with the functions of your instrument (your body) and it will work better for you. You are painting with sound and the vowels are your primary colors.

It is a pleasure helping you �raise the bar� on your vocals! My Contemporary Vocalist book and CD series provide you with more understanding and exercises to sing easily across a wide range with confidence in any styles of your choice.

Jeannie Deva