Expand Your Repertoire by Extending Your Vocal Range

Would you love to be able to hit those high notes?

Do you have some favourite songs you really want to be able to sing but you avoid them because some of the notes fall outside of your own vocal range?

While our vocal range is to some extent predetermined, for example, if you have a naturally low voice it’s unlikely you’ll be replicating the talents of Kate Bush any time soon, it’s certainly possible to extend your vocal range somewhat, opening up opportunities to potentially expand your repertoire.

Proceed with Caution – Don’t Overdo It

We will discuss some ways in which you can broaden your vocal range, but first a word of warning.

Pushing your voice too hard can actually be harmful.

Any attempts to increase your range need to be done with care.

Your voice is a valuable tool and it needs to be well looked after.

Never push yourself too far, and don’t spend too long on range-extending vocal exercises.

Little and often is the key here.

Top Tips for Extending Your Vocal Range

Learn these tried and trusted safe methods to get the very best vocal range possible…

Remember to Warm Up Your Voice Before Singing

It can be tempting to launch straight into a song, but if you don’t warm up your vocal cords, you won’t get the best out of your voice.

It’s also important to warm up so you don’t strain your vocal cords, so get into a routine of warming up with some humming, trilling, and scales.

Your singing tutor will teach you a selection of good warm-up exercises, and you’ll also find plenty of great tutorials online.

Learn the Best Breathing Techniques

The way you breathe has more of an impact on your vocal range than you may think.

When we consider breathing exercises with regard to singing, we tend to think of lung capacity, and the ability to sustain our notes, but by learning the best breathing techniques you can actually begin to extend your range as you sing with your diaphragm and gain better control of your voice.

Stand Tall – Good Posture Is Important

You can also ensure you’re getting the maximum potential from your voice by standing up straight.

When you’re hunched up, you’re limiting your lung capacity and breathing abilities.

Stand tall and straight.

Keep your shoulders back and your head held high, but don’t force it, it should be a natural position.

Standing tall and true will allow the sounds to effortlessly resonate from your body more clearly and with greater power.

Chill out – relaxation is key to a greater range

You won’t sing at your best when you’re tense, and so by relaxing, you may be able to increase your range and have more success hitting the high notes.

Incorporate gentle stretching exercises and neck rolls into your pre-performance routine.

Get in the habit of warming up your body and your voice. It’s excellent for getting the most out of your voice, and it’s a great way to banish tension and nerves too.

Perform Range-Extending Vocal Exercises Regularly

Everyone has their own vocal range. Some performers have naturally high or low voices, and it doesn’t mean that you’re not a great singer if you don’t have a wide vocal range.

There are many professional singers out there who have achieved fame and fortune with a limited vocal range.

So if you struggle to sing along to Cindy Lauper or go low with Barry White, don’t worry, it’s important to accept and embrace your own style, but there’s always room for improvement.

By regularly performing range-extending vocal exercises, you could well extend your range by a little, or a lot!

Speak to your singing teacher about exercises such as octave slides and sirens that can easily be done on a daily basis, and over time, it’s likely you’ll find your vocal range broadens.

Look After Your Voice

You’ll only achieve the goal of increasing your vocal range if you take good care of your voice.

You can enhance your singing voice by living a healthy life and making a point of protecting your vocal cords.

To give yourself the very best chance of boosting your range, be sure you keep well hydrated, get plenty of good quality sleep, and watch what you eat and drink, avoiding foods that are particularly spicy, and mucus-inducing dairy products.

Don’t shout or push your voice.

If you find yourself yelling, rein it in, as raising your voice can damage your precious vocal cords.