This time, we introduce one of the most fundamental and important parts in voice training:
the vocal folds
Let’s find out about them.
You may encounter unfamiliar terms, but for now it is fine to just listen and think, “Oh, interesting!”
Benefits of practicing the vocal folds
Student
What benefits does vocal-fold practice have?
Teacher
It builds a foundation for expanding your range and producing a well-resonating voice.
Teacher
These are very important parts, so keep practicing them!
What do the vocal folds do?
Teacher
Do you know how the voice is produced?
Student
I have only heard that it is made by the vocal folds…
Teacher
The V-shaped part in the diagram below is the vocal folds. They are about 2 cm long.
Student
Wow, they are quite small!
Teacher
Yes. That is why even tiny movements can produce many different voices.
Teacher
When air tries to pass through the gap between the closed folds, the airflow makes them meet rapidly, like repeated claps. The pulses of sound created then are what we call the voice.
To sing across a wide range
Teacher
Here is a question. Ta-da!
Teacher
For an average male voice, the A note (also called A4 or hiA)—the highest note in songs such as Arashi’s “Love so sweet”, Kenshi Yonezu’s “Lemon”, and back number’s “Christmas Song”—is quite high and difficult.
How many times per second must the vocal folds come together to produce this high A?
Student
That came out of nowhere… Per second? Maybe about 30 times?
Teacher
The answer is… drumroll…
Teacher
About 440 times per second!
Student
What?! That many?! Does the number change when the pitch changes?
Teacher
Yes, exactly!
Teacher
High notes require the vocal folds to move more times per second than low notes.
Student
Wait… Does that mean I should blow harder and make the folds collide more forcefully for high notes?
Teacher
That is one possible way, but it quickly leads to various problems…
Teacher
In theory, blowing air forcefully can also produce a high note for an instant.
But then, as if saying “Brace so the strong air pressure does not break down the vocal-fold closure!”, the neck, jaw and other parts become extremely tense and overactive. You end up having to use the very strenuous state called “throat constriction”.
If you keep doing this,your range may stop expanding, your voice may become hoarse, you may experience extreme fatigue or inconsistent performance, and nodules or polyps may develop. These are among the various problems that can occur.
Teacher
That is why producing high notes requires learning to prepare “a small amount of air” and “vocal-fold closure that can work with little air”, rather than using lots of breath.
How to practice the vocal folds
Teacher
Now let’s practice switching between these three voices! (1) A crackly voice, called “Goo” (2) A very breathy voice, called “Paa” (3) A voice between (1) and (2), called “Choki”
Student
What does learning these three voices help with?
Teacher
These voices represent the following states: (1) Goo: strong closure using many parts, including the vocal folds. (2) Paa: extremely weak closure, keeping the vocal folds just at the point of touching. (3) Choki: closure between (1) and (2), involving as few parts other than the vocal folds as possible.
Teacher
Learning to distinguish them builds the foundation for mixed voice*, which helps you sing comfortably across a wide range.
*Mixed voice is often described as a sound between chest voice and falsetto, or a way to produce high notes comfortably. Later lessons will explain it and how to develop it in more detail.
Student
How do I make the Goo voice?
Teacher
To create firm vocal-fold closure, first hold your breath, then make a sound while keeping the folds firmly closed. It has a strong, taut, buzzing tone!
If that is difficult, try: • First exhale all the air from your lungs, then try the method above with that small amount of air remaining. • First exhale all the air from your lungs, then say “eh, eh, eh ” in short bursts while looking for the buzzing sound. These are the approaches I recommend.
Goo voice example
Student
How do I make the Paa voice?
Teacher
Exhale with just a little voice mixed in. If you can maintain a breathy, whisper-like sound, you are doing it correctly. Try to make this breathy voice with as little effort as possible!
Paa voice example
Student
How do I make the Choki voice?
Teacher
Grinning while making the Goo voice will automatically change it into the Choki voice.
I recommend grinning as you picture a favorite food, person, animal or similar happy scene. (A polite smile or simply lifting the corners of your mouth is less likely to change the sound.)
Choki has a rounded tone, as if the buzzy component had been removed from Goo.
Practice making Goo, Choki and Paa with distinct tones, all at the same pitch.
Choki example: the recording below starts directly with Choki. I recommend starting with Goo, grinning partway through, and gradually bringing your tone closer to the example.
Teacher
If Choki is difficult, simply aiming for a tone halfway between Goo and Paa is perfectly fine for now!
As you gain better control of the other parts, their unwanted effects here will also ease, so do not worry. The advanced course, planned for a future release, will also include Choki-specific practice (separating the false vocal folds)!
