Please Read This BEFORE Giving Up on That Hard Note
I get it. You’ve tried to hit it a dozen times. Maybe closer to a hundred times.
And nothing is working.
It’s pitchy, it’s strained, it’s cracking, it’s JUST. NOT. HAPPENING.
I also know you probably want to give up on trying to get this and binge watch Netflix instead. You’re only human.
But please let me tell you something that might heal some of your frustration.
If I was only able to communicate ONE THING to singers just like you, it’d be this:
There are no hard notes (in your range), only something GETTING IN THE WAY OF IT.
Every day singers tell me “I can’t sing this note”, “But my voice can’t do that” and “It’s on my break so it’s awful”.
And they firmly believe that’s the truth.
Because right now, it is. That note isn’t jumping out all shiny waving its jazz hands.
But it could. Because…
If the note is in your range then you vocal cords can make it happen for you.
It’s what else you’re doing that’s getting in the way of that note coming our cleanly, easily and with resonance.
So who are the main technical culprits?
because your thoughts and feelings (e.g. nervousness) have a big impact too
insufficient breath support/fuel
tongue tension
lack of helpful vowel modification
Pfft Kim, that’s it? One of those three things?
Seems too good to be true right?
But really, these three (kinda big) puzzle pieces tend to be the secret.
Once you've got these on lock and you understand how they work, you can tweak your approach to that "hard note" pretty easily.
Empowering right?
✨ How you train the breath and how you use it as fuel is going to allow you to get the note.
✨ Training the tongue to stay relaxed and not “hit” the note for you (either by tensing, hovering, pushing or retracting) is going to free it up and amplify the resonance.
✨ How you shape the vocal tract (mouth and throat) is going to determine how easily it comes out and the colour it has.
So are you touching base with each of these things in your lessons and/or practice sessions?
If the answer is no, let’s get you started.
How to get started
THE BREATH
Start with the inhale (aim to feel a little expansion at the belly, the back and the ribs).
Add some vocal function/breath management exercises (keep those ribs out to create some resistance and air pressure).
Imagine projecting to a spot ahead of you and using the breath to get you there (how far away will depend on the volume you’re after).
How are you starting the note (the onset)?
Can you hear breathiness before the note starts (like an added H)?
Or a harsh glottal attack?
What happens if you aim for a clean or glide onset instead (breath and vocal cord connection happening simultaneously)?
THE TONGUE
First, check whether or not the tip of your tongue naturally rests behind your bottom teeth when you sing all your vowels (Ah, Eh, Ee, Oh and Oo is a good start). This is where he needs to live (it’s his safe space).
If you think that’s where he usually sits, it’s time to check on what he’s doing with the rest of his (very muscular) body.
Grab a mirror. Stick your tongue out just a little so it rests on your bottom lip. Sing the line of the song on a “Mah” staying in this position. Do you notice your tongue wanting to move/wrestle around? If so, continue with this exercise, aiming to get him 5% less active each time.
Then try to prouncounce the lyrics as best you can keeping the tongue in this position (really it’s only your lips able to articulate on this one).
And finally move the tongue back into your mouth and sing the lyrics. You should notice more freedom if you’ve been over-using your tongue to hit those notes.
VOWEL SHAPES
Again check on the position of the tip of your tongue. If it’s all good to go, find the vowel you like most (that feels the easiest) and the vowel you like least (that feels the hardest).
Notice what changes between the two on the same note.
Does your tongue want to tense? Or raise/flatten?
Does your soft palate want to lift/lower? Does your jaw drop or lock? Do your lips spread?
What happens if you model the tricky vowel off the easy one?
Do the same thing but compare what the shape of your mouth feels like when you sing that same vowel/word on a lower note and when you go up to a higher note.
Does anything change? And does it feel any easier if you DON’T LET IT MAKE THAT CHANGE?
The truth is, we do weird stuff when we’re worried about a “hard note".
We try too hard and strain.
We hold back our airflow.
We let our tongue go crazy.
We over-lift our soft palate.
We push a panic button right when we need things to go smoothly and it’s incredibly frustrating.
But FIXABLE.
You just need to figure out what your particular flavour/s of panic button pushing are and work on them.
I hope that’s given you a few ideas on how you can put this into action.
How you can become your own vocal detective and get more clarity on what clicks and what doesn’t.