VOCALS
THE HIGHER THE RANGE, THE BETTER THE SINGER? | Renée Maranan
Does having a higher range actually indicate better technique? If a singer can hit notes way up into the rafters, does that automatically indicate that they have greater skill or talent?
I’ ll cut to the chase: sometimes it does. But not always. This article will explain why.
HOW DO WE HIT THOSE HIGH NOTES WITH OUR VOICES? First, in order to sing high pitches, the vocal folds need to stretch and thin. It’ s similar to the way that guitar strings work— the thicker the strings, the lower the range. We hit high notes by stretching and thinning the vocal folds, which requires coordination and flexibility.
However, that’ s not all there is to it. We also support intonation by shaping the vocal tract in specific ways, amplifying resonances that can make those higher notes easier to produce with power, precision, and the desired aesthetic qualities required by the song. We engage different muscles along the vocal tract to make this happen, and this also requires coordination and flexibility. The right muscles need to be engaging and positioning themselves correctly, at the right time, and with the right amount of exertion, in order to achieve free and efficient voicing, especially at higher pitches.
Another factor in singing high notes is applying the appropriate amount of breath pressure. Too little, and the notes tend to fall flat or sound weak. Too much, and the notes end up sounding distorted, noisy, or weighty and under pitch. The right amount of air pressure can lend power to high notes, whereas too little or too much can actually diminish the intensity of the sound. Insufficient and excessive air pressure can also lead to a number of compensatory behaviors, like squeezing or straining.
A BIT OF NATURE, A BIT OF NURTURE Voices, just like humans, are shaped differently. Some voices are big in physical size, while others are small. A large instrument, with naturally thicker vocal folds and a larger larynx, will naturally have a deeper range. A smaller instrument with lighter, thinner vocal folds, will naturally have a higher range. Comparing two voices with different physiological builds would be like comparing a full-sized dreadnought guitar with a concert ukulele. We might prefer the sound of one versus the other, and one instrument might be better suited to some songs than the other. But it would be hard to definitively say that one instrument is superior— they’ re just different instruments. The same is true with the human voice. Some voices have natural flexibility and lightness; others have natural depth and warmth. Of course, there are some who are born with a natural gift for singing. But we can recognize giftedness while also appreciating that every human voice is different, and every singer has value regardless of the type of instrument that they were born with.
That being said, while every voice will have its own physiological limitations and predispositions, the art of singing is ultimately the practice of skill-building and execution. A lot of what we do as singers can be learned, practiced, and cultivated, and the same is true for expanding a singer’ s range. A singer can learn how to coordinate their voice for increased flexibility. A singer can be trained to use articulation and posture to help facilitate freedom in their upper range. A singer can practice vocal technique that promotes balance between breath and muscle so that they can be proficient at managing their air supply in a way that is supportive rather than inhibitive of those higher notes.
A singer’ s range is ultimately determined by both nature and nurture. Some of it depends on how the singer’ s instrument is naturally shaped, but some of it is also determined by how that instrument has been cultivated over time.
A PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE ON VOCAL RANGE Simply put, we are all born with unique instruments, predisposed to certain abilities and limitations. Rather than thinking of our range as a measure of success as singers, we can think of our range as a snapshot of where we are at the moment. We can use range assessment to discern our current abilities and strengths as singers – not just to determine what we can’ t do, but also to determine what we can do, and what tends to bring out the best in our current sound. And as our bodies and minds continue to evolve and grow, so can our voices. So I would challenge any singer to practice curiosity about their range today. Dare to wonder if there may be some unexplored potential in your singing. In my 25 years as a voice teacher, I’ ve rarely seen singers become disappointed in themselves when they start imagining and even believing that they could be capable of more.
Got a singing question? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan. com with“ WM Vocals Question” in the subject line!
Renée Maranan Renée Maranan is a vocal instructor, voice teacher trainer, and life coach, with over 25 years of experience working with singers, vocal instructors, and performers from all over the world. For more vocal help, visit her www. reneemaranan. com or follow her on Instagram(@ reneemaranan).. www. ReneeMaranan. com Instagram @ reneemaranan
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