False and true vocal folds ①: Choki voice
Control the false and true vocal folds separately, producing Choki steadily even on its own.
▶ Tutorial video in production
Start practicing with the explanation and audio examples below.
False-vocal-fold explanation video in production
You can practice with the key points and audio examples.
Why practice this?
If false-vocal-fold practice feels difficult, repeatedly reviewing previous lessons may be more effective than moving on.
Let’s try another new false-vocal-fold exercise!
Exercises and key points
How to practice false and true vocal folds ①: Choki voice
Practice producing Choki directly, without breathiness, whenever you want.
First, make Goo “mmm” with the false-fold buzz, smile with delight to change to Choki, stop the voice once, then restart directly on Choki.
Next, make Goo “ee” with the false-fold buzz, smile with delight to change to Choki, stop the voice once, then restart directly on Choki.
Finally, make Goo “eh” with the false-fold buzz, smile with delight to change to Choki, stop the voice once, then restart directly on Choki.
Hmm, I cannot quite do it. What should I focus on when practicing?
At first, restarting on Choki may drift toward Goo or Paa. Keep the false folds in the position you found when switching to Choki, and start the voice slowly.
Many people lose the Choki setup if they take a breath during the pause. At first, try pausing without breathing. Once familiar, challenge yourself to reproduce Choki even after taking a breath.
Are there common mistakes students make while thinking they are doing it correctly?
A common mistake is restarting with a breathy voice by relaxing the true vocal folds. Think of this as seeing how much you can change Goo’s tone just by smiling with delight. Excessive volume also prevents many people from finding Choki, so practice the initial Goo at about 30–50% power.
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.