Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Explaining Vowel Modification #1: Why it’s Important
“Please explain vowel modification to me like I’m a 5 year old.” Vowel modification helps you get a good vocal tone, so you can raise your singing to the next level. It’s an essential technique to master if you want to reach your full potential, because singing is all about vowels. Keep reading to learn more.
This post uses technical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
Explaining Vowel Modification #2: How Does it Work?
“Please explain vowel modification to me like I’m a 5 year old.” Okay, let’s talk about how it works.
Vowel modification has a critical role in sculpting the sound of your voice.
- However, not all vowels will be equal.
- Some vowels possess a strong, open sound, while others have a thinner, closed sound.
- Vowel modification helps you make the most of your voice by adjusting the shape of your lips and the height of your tongue to create a vibrant sound.
- For example, when you go higher in your vocal range, you’ll need to adjust your vowels for maximum resonance.
Many theories exist about how vowel modification works.
- For instance, some voice teachers suggest that you should always shift toward more open vowels.
- However, the key to vowel modification is to realize that all the vowels sit on a continuum.
- So, you’ll need to hear all the subtle variations that lie in between the basic vowels.
In other words, you need to learn to hear more than just the usual short and long vowels.
- Thus, experimenting with your lip shape and tongue height will help you develop the skill to find the best version of each vowel for each note.
- Once you can do this, you’ll hear an immediate difference in your singing.
These posts will teach you the skills you need to sing with a strong tone:
Each post breaks down the vowels into basic categories. There you’ll work on singing through the vowel continuum for each category of vowel. In addition, the posts have sing-along soundtracks that help you learn to sing in tune as you practice your vowels.
Explaining Vowel Modification #3: Final Thoughts
“Please explain vowel modification to me like I’m a 5 year old.” Vowel modification is a powerful singing tool that you can use to help you perform your best.
If you match your vowel with your note, you’ll attain the maximum resonance for that note.
- In other words, your notes will sound awesome!
- When you change the space in your mouth to match a note, chambers in your face will vibrate at the frequency of the note.
- This reinforces the pitch, which makes the note sound louder, stronger, and better.
- Thus, knowing how to make fine adjustments in your vowels allows you to refine your tone.
Vowel modification will enhance the songs you sing and leave your listeners wowed.
Related Posts
- Sing in Tune Like a Rock Star
- Is There a Difference in Difficulty for Singing Specific Vowels?
- Do You Need Help Learning How to Harmonize?
- Singing in Tune with Vowels
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
Need Advice for Teaching a First Year High School Jazz Pianist?
“What advice do you have for a pianist in jazz band?” Piano in middle school and high school jazz band can be challenging. Jazz is chromatic and modulates often. This means that piano teachers will have to have a plan of attack. Click if you need advice for teaching a first year high school jazz pianist. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms
Do you want to know how song structure, musical phrases, musical structures and forms work? Musical structures and forms in instrumental music works differently than popular song structure. However, motifs and musical phrases works pretty much the same in either type of writing. In this post, we’ll talk about all that plus the difference between motifs and leitmotifs. Read more to get music structure examples for both songwriting and instrumental music. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
Why Doesn’t My Hands-Separate Piano Practice Help with Hands-Together Playing?
Do you get frustrated when your hands-separate playing doesn’t seem to help with playing piano with both hands? Find out what determines how hard it’ll be to play with both hands and what you can do about it. Click to answer the question, “Why doesn’t my hands-separate piano practice help with hands-together playing?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
Singing Sixteenth Note Rhythmic Syllables
Have you gotten down reading the easier rhythmic syllables, but want to learn more? As you progress, you will hear that the added rhythm makes performing melodies much more fun. Read more to learn about singing sixteenth note rhythmic syllables. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More