Written by Maggie Gelin, Vocal Coach
Maggie guides singers to find their true voice using her unique Sing Your (Self) To Freedom Formula, crafted from years of experience. Studying under renowned mentors in both England and the United States, Maggie imparts invaluable techniques learned from instructors who've shaped famous artists like Michael Bublé and Josh Groban.
In this article, you’ll discover three amazing exercises to train and strengthen your head voice, allowing you to sing high notes with more power and ease, without straining. If you’ve struggled with head voice before, these exercises will help you develop more control and confidence. Let’s dive in!
P.S: because this topic includes some specific audio example, I invite you to check out this video on which this article is based off.
Why head voice is important
Many beginner singers avoid using their head voice because it might sound airy, breathy, or shaky. This can lead to a vicious cycle where you avoid head voice, making it even weaker over time. It’s important to train your head voice to avoid limiting yourself, especially when it comes to hitting those high notes. By working on your head voice, you combine the power of chest voice with the range and flexibility of head voice, giving you more versatility in your singing.
Common mistakes to avoid
Before diving into the exercises, it’s important to recognize two common mistakes:
Avoiding head voice: Beginner singers often avoid head voice because it doesn’t sound as strong as they’d like. But this leads to weaker head voice over time.
Not transitioning between registers: Many singers rely too heavily on chest voice and don’t transition into head voice soon enough, leading to strained and limited high notes.
Recognizing these mistakes is the first step toward fixing them and becoming a more confident and trained singer.
Exercise 1: The "Oh" sound
The first exercise is a simple “Oh” sound, which helps you engage your head voice in a light and relaxed way. Here’s how to do it:
Place your fingers at the corners of your mouth to guide the shape.
Sing an "Oh" sound, keeping it light and avoiding any straining.
Focus on keeping your breath support steady.
This exercise should feel easy and natural. If you feel tension, it’s possible you’re still using your chest voice. Go back and try again, aiming for a light and airy head voice.
If you actually want to hear how this exercise sounds, click this link to the video lesson.
Exercise 2: The "you" sound
Next, we’ll work with the "You" sound on a pitch, but with a dramatic, opera-like style. Here’s the key:
Keep your mouth vertical and open wide.
Sing “You” in a way that feels exaggerated and operatic.
This helps create space for the sound and prevents tension around the larynx. Practice this slowly, keeping your sound focused in your head voice.
If you actually want to hear how this exercise sounds, click this link to the video lesson.
Exercise 3: The "yeah" sound
The final exercise is a harsh "Yeah" sound, where we bring the sound forward to the front of the mouth. This bright, sharp sound adds power to your head voice:
Feel the sound resonate at the front of your mouth, not the back.
Keep it as bright and forward as possible.
This sound might feel a bit itchy on your tongue, but that’s a sign that you’re engaging the right muscles. Repeat the exercise, focusing on keeping the sound sharp and bright.
If you actually want to hear how this exercise sounds, click this link to the video lesson.
Putting it all together in a song
Now that we’ve practiced the exercises, let’s put them into a song. In the video, we work with “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, using the head voice to sing the high parts. Sing along and apply the cry technique to each line, focusing on staying in your head voice rather than pushing your chest voice too far.
For example: “You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing...”
Sing this entirely in your head voice, aiming for a smooth, effortless sound. As you practice, try raising the pitch higher and higher to challenge your range.
Consistency is key
These exercises will strengthen your head voice, but like going to the gym, consistency is key. You won’t see results overnight, but if you practice these exercises every day, you’ll notice significant improvement in a few months. Keep returning to this post and the video to reinforce your practice.
As you can see, training your voice in the right way is the only way to experience vocal freedom.
When you’re ready to learn the right vocal techniques and get specific exercises to help you along the way, then I invite you to join my free, upcoming training covering exactly that! Click here to join the free training!
Read more from Maggie Gelin
Maggie Gelin, Vocal Coach
Maggie guides singers to find their true voice using her unique Sing Your (Self) To Freedom Formula, crafted from years of experience. Studying under renowned mentors in both England and the United States, Maggie imparts invaluable techniques learned from instructors who've shaped famous artists like Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. With a decade of coaching, she witnesses remarkable transformations in her students, guiding them past insecurities to sing with newfound freedom, proving that singing goes beyond a skill—it's a path to embracing life fully.
