Most Important Thing in Knowing How to Sing Better – Learn to Control Your Larynx

Amongst the best ways to learn how to sing better orimprove your singing, one of the key factors is ridding your larynx of tension. More commonly known as the ‘voice box’, the larynx is really a small box containing the vocal cords. Composed of cartilage, the larynx is surrounded and supported by muscles. The larynx has a KEY role in producing the tones of singing. Using it, sound is created according to the following sequence of events:

• The brain makes the vocal-cords ready when you decide to sing
• They then begin to fold closed.
• Air arises out of the lungs
• Air passes the vocal-cords, making them vibrate

Were you to take a look at a picture of a larynx, you would notice the trachea tube that runs up to the vocal cords, above which are the epiglottises. The force of the passing air that makes the vocal cords vibrate is subglottic pressure. It’s easy to feel your larynx by gently putting a finger to the bottom of your throat. The larynx moves up when you swallow and down when you yawn. As the larynx lowers, the throat opens, so air flow is unrestricted, just right for creating rich, solid tones. Making the Best Tones Subglottic pressure and larynx position both have a direct effect on your singing. If you want to learn how to sing better, you MUST control the air flow reaching the vocal cords and make sure your larynx is in either of the lower or central positions. If the larynx is tense, the vocal flaps might close completely when subglottic pressure arises. When this occurs, the flaps will burst open when the pressure is sufficient. This can make a strange sound, very similar to clicking, before a tone is even made. This is known as a glottal attack. As you start to sing, the onset of the tone produced by the oscillating vocal folds is known as the attack. The name makes it sound much more fearsome than it truly is. You don’t really want pressure to attack those vocal cords of yours; however you do want the air to flow smoothly. To make the best possible tones, remember that:

• Persistent glottal attack damages the vocal cords
• incorrect posture can mean that they don’t close properly and air escapes
• A larynx pushed up will produce a nasal-sounding tone.
• If the muscles around the larynx are tense, the vocal cords will not function properly, resulting in a poorer tone.
• Breathy-sounding singers have an excess of air passing through their vocal cords.

Obviously, the larynx has an important role in the quality of the sound you emit. Maintaining Control We don’t normally regard our vocal cords as a thing under our control, however even a thing as basic as the angle of your head can alter the cords’ ability to open and shut properly. This alone is one reason to concentrate on having GOOD posture. If you want your larynx to remain in the “down” position, keep your head up straight so that your neck is aligned with your spine. Relax and don’t tense your jaw. Making the muscles surrounding the larynx tighter can tighten the vocal cords. Learning how to sing and improve your singing encompasses much more than merely forming better notes. A good singer understands how the components of the body work together, and this includes the larynx.