Today’s blog is all about the three main vocal registers singers use: Chest Voice, Head Voice and the Mix Voice.

Vocal registers are like gears in a car, as you ascend in your vocal range you shift from one gear to the next gear. The singer notices those shifts and changes in resonance and where they feel the vibration. The key is to avoid engaging or "helping" the voice by raising the larynx, lifting your shoulders, getting louder, or similar actions.

Being able to smoothly transition through your registers is essential in achieving a smooth and even voice.

Chest Voice: It’s the lower end of your vocal range and it’s where our speaking voice typically lays. If you put your hand on your chest and count to 3, you feel a vibration in your chest. It’s not that your voice is there but the low frequencies vibrate in your rib cake so you feel that buzz.

In chest voice, your vocal folds are short and thick and in terms of muscle involvement, the TA muscle (Thyroarytenoid) is dominant.

Head Voice: It’s the upper end of your vocal range and it’s where our voice sounds typically lighter and higher. If you make an ‘owl sound’ on /ooh/ you will find that it buzzes in your head which is where the register gets its name from. In your head voice, the vocal cords are thinner and stretched out and in terms of muscle involvement, the CT muscle (Crycothyroid) is dominant. This is the muscle that tilts the Cricoid cartilage down to extend and stretch the vocal folds in order to achieve a higher pitch.

Mix Voice: As you transition from chest voice to head voice you will want to transition through your mix voice. This registers blends both registers and takes you through the ‘passagio’ or ‘1st bridge’. For female singers this are is around A4 or Bb4 and for male singers around E4 or F4 though some singers might feel the shift already on Ab4 for female and Eb4 for male. Think of it more as an area than a sudden change, if you feel a sudden change you probably missed the part where you start mixing already.

When done correctly, the mix voice gives you the power of the chest voice with the ease and range of the head voice.

The Importance of the Mix Voice

Why is the mix voice so crucial? Simply put, it allows for versatility and control. Without a well-developed mix voice, singers often experience a noticeable break or “crack” when moving from chest to head voice. This can make the voice sound uneven and limit the types of songs you can sing comfortably.

Tips for Developing Your Mix Voice

Start by speaking on the pitch: Think of speaking a syllable such as ‘gee’ or ‘mee’ and ascend on a scale. You will transition from your chest to your mix and to your head voice but by thinking of speaking, it will help balance your larynx position and distract you from noticing that the pitches are going up. Focus on keeping the sound connected and smooth, without flipping into falsetto.
Explore different syllables: See if the above mentioned exercises is easier on different vowels and syllables. If you find a syllable that works well for you, see you if you can transfer and apply the feeling to a different syllable. Change either the vowel or the consonant but not both initially.
Lip Trills: Lip trills and humming can help maintain a connected sound as you transition.
Relax: Singing shouldn’t be painful or strenuous. If you notice pain or discomfort in your neck and throat, relax, reduce the volume, and think back of part 1 where you focus on speech. We typically don’t strain when we speak and shouldn’t we when we sing.
Work with a Coach: A vocal coach can provide personalized exercises and feedback to help you find and strengthen your mix voice.

Happy Mixing!

Author: Radina V.

Vocal Registers & The Mix Voice