If you’re a singer, there is always an insatiable urge to find the “perfect fix” to any voice-related issue. Unfortunately, it is never that easy! Everyone has their own favorite technique or exercise that they claim works every time. As a result, while there is no one answer, there are an abundance of techniques to try by trial and error.

Here are a few tried and true techniques that can help you on the path to finding your own “perfect fix.”

Breathing

No-brainer, huh? Everyone has to breathe whether they are singing or not, so practicing proper breath control is invaluable for a singer.

An easy way to start is to take a breath in to the count of four (In-2-3-4) and letting your breath out through your teeth, slowly and controlled, with a hissing sound. Confused? Think of holding a filled balloon by the neck and spreading the opening to make that high pitched squeal you probably did as a kid. Same idea, but without the ear-splitting sound. Let your breath out while you count to ten, and gradually work up to adding a few seconds.

What does this do, you ask? Without being too technical, it helps you to learn to control your breath for those long periods in songs when you are sustaining a note. Most of us don’t use our lungs to their full capacity, so a little stretching and working out your lungs will do wonders.

Relaxation

Unless you are a yoga guru, most of us live our lives extremely tense whether we realize it or not. After a day of work, running the kids around, and general stress of living, there is probably a place on your body that carries all that tension. For me, it’s in my shoulders and neck. Give me a stressful situation and I can guarantee you’ll find me with my shoulders up and neck tightened. Defensive stance much?

Anyway, by the time we go to sing, our bodies are so tight that if we are not aware of it, it can greatly affect the quality of our voice. Because your voice is a part of your body, everything else contributes to it. You could be tightening a muscle in your left calf every time you try to hit a high note, and never know that it was causing a ripple effect of tension all the way to your vocal chords.

Solution? Get to know your body and learn to relax. Start by a few basic stretches before singing. Stretch each arm above your head and bend to the opposite side slightly. Roll your shoulders, roll your neck. Stretch your arms out to the side parallel to the floor and stretch them back with your shoulders, kind of like you do when you yawn and get out of bed. Breath deeply and pay attention to your body. What’s it doing? Do you feel tension anywhere? If you do, target that point and work on relaxing it. Not only will this help with your singing, it will help you deal with all the stress of living. It’s a win-win!

Vowels

In speaking in everyday life, we stress consonants more strongly than vowels. Say your favorite expletive out loud (preferably if you’re alone!) and pay attention to which letters you are emphasizing–you’ll hear the consonants. This is fine for speaking as it helps us understand each other clearly. Singing is a totally different matter, as the focus is on vowels. Why? Without getting too technical again, the flow of air that is used in phonation (speaking) is more constant while singing and needs a more open area to flow through.

For example, say the D sound (as in duck). Notice the short puff of air that is forced through the teeth and then stops the sound. Now, say the short A sound (as in apple). Notice how the flow of air doesn’t stop, but can continue. Vowels are the focus in singing. Consonants will follow.

For practice, take a short line from a song, let’s say Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Sing it through once. Then, sing this line using ONLY vowels. You will sound like a mush mouth and it will feel weird, but keep going! Do it several times and then add just the tiniest bit of consonant back in. You’ll be amazed at the difference in feel and sound. Vowels are your friend. Give them the attention they want!

Give it a shot and see what happens!