Separating the larynx and vowels
Keep the larynx height steady while changing vowels, maintaining a stable tone even when the words change.
▶ Tutorial video in production
Start practicing with the explanation and audio examples below.
Larynx explanation video in production
You can practice with the key points and audio examples.
Why practice this?
This exercise is a little different from the previous ones, but it has many benefits. Let’s work on it together!
Benefits of this exercise
What benefits does this exercise have?
It helps you: ① find lower-effort vocalization for each range more easily; ② learn to use various tone colors within a song.
When speaking, we distinguish vowels—ah, ee, oo, eh, oh—by changing the space in the mouth and throat. People shape that space differently. Some mainly change the mouth opening; others keep it fairly steady and use the back of the tongue or larynx to alter the space.
I see.
Both approaches work perfectly well in everyday speech: your meaning comes across. In singing, however, some ways of shaping vowels make it difficult to coordinate lyrics, vocalization and pitch beyond a certain range.
To address this, learn ways of forming vowels with a different space balance and discover which shapes support smooth vocalization in each range. This exercise also focuses on the relationship between space and airflow: larger airflow can upset vocal balance.
That makes sense! It sounds interesting because it is different from our previous training!
Exercises and key points
How to practice the vocal folds
First, keep your usual laryngeal space and use the Goo voice to change vowels in the order ee → eh → ah → oh → oo. They do not have to be continuous; produce them separately in sequence.
Next, imagine being a giant and keep a large space while using Goo to change vowels: ee → eh → ah → oh → oo.
Finally, imagine being a tiny person and keep a small space while using Goo to change vowels: ee → eh → ah → oh → oo.
Hmm, I cannot quite do it. Is there a lesson I should review if I cannot do it at all?
Review the tiny-person and giant larynx exercises in Intermediate 01–08.
Listen to the examples and try
Keep the volume low and play the examples one at a time to hear the differences between the voices.