Professional Tips: Improve Your Voice

Question

What is an exercise I can do to improve my vocal range?

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach

Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

Patrick Muñoz

Voice & Speech Coach

Expert Answer

Stand tall, then bend your knees and then bounce up with your knees. While your shoulders are bouncing, open your mouth and play with your vocal range. You can also play with different voices. Try talking with a high-pitched baby voice and then do a deep, evil voice.

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Question

How can I make my voice sound better quickly?

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach

Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

Patrick Muñoz

Voice & Speech Coach

Expert Answer

Drink some warm water with a teaspoon of honey, lemon, or apple cider vinegar mixed into it.

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Question

What should I eat and drink to improve my voice?

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach

Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

Patrick Muñoz

Voice & Speech Coach

Expert Answer

Make sure to drink lots of water, around 8 cups (64 ounces) per day. You should avoid caffeinated drinks because caffeine can tighten your vocal cords, which makes you sound nasally. Also avoid acidic foods and dairy products since these can affect what your voice sounds like.

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Question

My voice is cracking daily, and I can't sing like I could before. I feel like my range is changing. What do I do?

Community Answer

You have probably reached puberty and your voice is changing. There's not a lot you can do about it, but try working with a vocal coach or watching YouTube videos about expanding your range. It's possible your voice will sound a little awkward for a while, though, regardless of what you do.

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Question

How can I control the pitch of my voice?

Community Answer

Practice! Try one pitch and focus on it until you get it. Then try the next pitch and repeat.

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Question

How can I make my voice loud and audible?

Community Answer

Breathe into your diaphragm. Pushing air from here will give you more strength than breathing from your chest. Avoid tension in your neck and throat which could cut out the sound.

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Question

How can I sing high notes?

Community Answer

Imitate a siren with your voice. This will help you learn to raise your soft pallet and make high notes easier to sing. Take it gradually though, don't go higher than you currently can do without going in stages.

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Question

I sing at a higher pitch, but now I can't sing louder and can't attain the higher pitch. How can I continue?

Community Answer

To maintain a higher pitch, you need to practice by singing those higher notes quite often. Practice daily to regain your pitch, and continue practicing daily to maintain it.

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Question

How do I relax when I'm singing?

Community Answer

Clear your throat, calm down, take a deep breath, and start singing. While you're singing, focus on what you're doing, but try to imagine a relaxing scene in your mind.

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Question

How do I read well in a good voice?

Ameena Asif

Community Answer

Before reading, clear your throat and then read with confidence.

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Question

How can I learn to do lower voices for voice acting?

Community Answer

Practice "fry voice," it's your deepest register, and if you practice it you'll be able to reach lower notes with better projection. There are tutorials on YouTube.

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Question

Any suggestions on how to open up my throat and sing freely?

Community Answer

Getting your muscles used to that position will take some effort, so practice just singing around the house with a widened throat. It is also helpful to drink some hot tea beforehand to relax the muscles. Eventually it will just become second nature to sing that way, as long as you do it often enough.

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Question

How long does it normally take to see an improvement?

Community Answer

It depends on how much you are practicing and how you are practicing. If you practice every day, you should notice some improvement within a month.

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Question

Do all of these methods work for trans women who want to increase the pitch of their voices in order to pass?

Community Answer

We all have something of a cap on our voices that limits how deep and high we can go, but most people haven't tried to work on theirs. It's more than likely you can speak in a higher pitch than you think you can, but you're going to have to work on it as consistently as possible. Any practices involving stretching the pitch of your voice should help you just as it helps singers.

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Question

What is the best way to read for one to two minutes in a one breath?

Community Answer

Practice is key; try starting with really short lines and timing yourself.

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Question

I can't ever have a proper argument because my voice is weak and people just mock my voice, so how do I make it stronger?

Community Answer

Perhaps your breath pressure is weak. Try engaging your abdominal muscles when you speak. Deepen your voice too, to gain authority. Speak slowly, strongly and powerfully.

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Question

I have a Brooklyn accent. How can I modify my voice to improve its sound?

Community Answer

While your Brooklyn accent can be a distinctive part of your identity, you can explore vocal techniques if you wish to modify your voice. Focus on exercises that adjust intonation, consciously refine vowel pronunciations, and control tongue placement for clearer articulation. Observing public speakers or artists from your region who have a more neutral tone might also provide practical examples.

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Question

My voice sounds very nasal and awkward, by friends too say that I have an awful voice. What should I eat or drink to improve it?

Community Answer

Be well hydrated when you sing, so that your throat doesn't hurt a lot and you don't sound croaky. If you have a blocked nose, try to use a medicine, or spicy food to unblock it. But also get an assessment from a singing coach just to be sure your voice is good.

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Question

I am in my eighties and my speech has begun to quiver. Is there an exercise for this?

Yes, this is jaeden

Community Answer

You might want to check out How to Stop Your Voice from Shaking for some exercises and tips.

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Question

How can I effectively convey emotion, vary my volume, and maintain vocal stamina during a long, emotional speech?

Community Answer

To convey emotion effectively, use appropriate facial expressions and emphasize key words. Experiment with volume by practicing how words become more impactful when spoken softly or loudly. Maintain vocal stamina by strategically pausing between sentences or paragraphs, but avoid stopping mid-word, as this can sound unprofessional.

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Question

I feel like I am choking when singing, what is the issue?

Community Answer

You're just probably pushing your limits too far. Try singing for shorter periods and take breaths in between. You could also practice lots, and try to build up your stamina.

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Question

I'm a girl but I have a boy-ish voice, it is very rough. How can I make my voice sweet and ladylike?

Community Answer

Do a daily range practice in a higher range. Try different kinds of approaches. For example, I tend to sound "lady-like" and "sweet" when I have more of a breathy approach.

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Question

When I sing, I sometimes experience a vocal vibration or 'division' in certain sustained notes, which others have complimented. How can I further develop or enhance this quality in my voice?

Community Answer

This vocal phenomenon is known as vibrato. While it often develops naturally as your voice matures, attempting to force it can strain your vocal cords. Focus instead on proper breath support and relaxed singing, which will allow a healthy vibrato to emerge and strengthen over time.

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Question

Whenever I sing, I get tired really fast. How can I sing without having to take too many breaths?

Community Answer

This naturally comes with proper breathing techniques and practice. Your lungs are muscles that need to be worked out like any other muscle. It will come in time with proper practice and technique.

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Question

How can I control my high notes with a good voice quality?

Victoria Mollenkopf

Community Answer

Make your mouth longer as you sing higher pitched notes. This always helps me.

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Question

My voice feels like it's coming only from my mouth, and I've lost the pitch control and vibrato I had at 12. How can I improve my vocal technique?

Community Answer

Developing proper breath support is crucial. Breathing through your diaphragm, though a skill that requires practice, is essential for vocal health and tone quality. To practice, place a hand on your stomach and breathe slowly, focusing on feeling your stomach expand with each inhale and contract with each exhale. Additionally, consistent physical and vocal warm-ups are vital, as they help you relax, build confidence, and ultimately improve your vocal control and sound.

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