Vocal-fold thickness
Learn how the vocal folds work, their thickness and degree of closure. Distinguish Goo, Paa and Choki voices to build a foundation for a wide range and mixed voice.
▶ First, watch the movement in the video
Check the technique, then move on to the explanation and audio examples.
Why practice this?
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!”
To see this exercise demonstrated in a video, watch below!
If you prefer to take your time reading, continue with the article below!
Benefits of practicing the vocal folds
What benefits does vocal-fold practice have?
It builds a foundation for expanding your range and producing a well-resonating voice.
These are very important parts, so keep practicing them!
What do the vocal folds do?
Do you know how the voice is produced?
I have only heard that it is made by the vocal folds…
The V-shaped part in the diagram below is the vocal folds. They are about 2 cm long.
Wow, they are quite small!
Yes. That is why even tiny movements can produce many different voices.
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.
For an overview of how moving the vocal folds and other throat parts affects singing, watch the video below.
To sing across a wide range
Here is a question. Ta-da!
For an average male voice, 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: A4, also called hiA. How many times per second must the vocal folds meet to produce that high A?
That came out of nowhere… Per second? Maybe about 30 times?
The answer is… drumroll…
About 440 times per second!
What?! That many?! Does the number change when the pitch changes?
Yes, exactly!
High notes require the vocal folds to move more times per second than low notes.
Wait… Does that mean I should blow harder and make the folds collide more forcefully for high notes?
That is one possible way, but it quickly leads to various problems…
In theory, a strong blast of air can briefly produce a high note. But then the neck, jaw and other parts tense excessively to keep the vocal folds from being overwhelmed by the pressure. This forces you into a very tiring state of throat constriction. Continuing that way can lead to a limited range, hoarseness, extreme fatigue, inconsistent condition, nodules or polyps, among other problems.
So for high notes, it is important to use a small amount of air and a degree of vocal-fold closure that works with that small airflow, rather than pushing out lots of air.
Exercises and key points
How to practice the vocal folds
Let’s practice distinguishing three voices: (1) a rough, crackly voice, called Goo; (2) a very breathy voice, called Paa; and (3) a voice between the two, called Choki.
What does learning these three voices help with?
These voices represent: (1) Goo: strong closure using many parts, including the vocal folds; (2) Paa: extremely light closure with the folds just barely touching; (3) Choki: closure between Goo and Paa, involving as few parts other than the vocal folds as possible.
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.
How do I make the Goo voice?
To create firm vocal-fold closure, briefly hold your breath, then make sound while keeping the folds firmly closed. Listen for a strong, buzzy edge. The key is not to release too much air. If this is difficult, try exhaling fully and, without inhaling again, using the same method. Alternatively, after exhaling fully, make short “eh, eh, eh” sounds to find the buzzy quality.
How do I make the Paa voice?
Exhale and add just a little voice, maintaining a breathy, whisper-like sound. Try to produce it with as little effort as possible.
When adding voice to the exhaled air, make sure the audible breathiness does not disappear.
How do I make the Choki voice?
Smile with genuine delight while making the Goo voice, and it will shift toward Choki. Imagine a favorite food, person or animal to bring out that grin; a polite smile or merely raising your mouth corners makes the change harder. Choki sounds rounder, as though the rough buzz has been removed from Goo. Practice distinguishing Goo, Choki and Paa at the same pitch.
If Choki is difficult, for now simply aim for a tone halfway between Goo and Paa. As you gain control of other parts, their unwanted interference will also decrease. A later advanced course, planned for future implementation, will include Choki-focused practice for separating false-vocal-fold movement.
Got it!
Try making the sounds by copying the audio examples.
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.
The recording starts directly with Choki. We recommend starting with Goo and smiling with delight to gradually bring your tone closer to the example.