Ever feel like your voice just isn’t cutting it? Like when you're talking or singing, it gets drowned out, no matter how hard you try? You’re not alone—this is something a lot of people struggle with. Let’s break down why your voice might feel “small” and what you can do about it.

Common Reasons Why Your Voice Feels Small?

A “small” voice doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you! It usually comes down to a few key things:

Breath Support: Are you exhaling enough to support your voice consistently? If not, this can make it harder to project.
Posture: Slouching can restrict your airflow and make your voice quieter.
Vocal Technique: If your voice feels weak, it might be because your vocal cords aren’t working efficiently.
Resonance: Your mouth, and pharynx are the resonators that amplify your voice. If you are not using those spaces properly you won’t use the full potential of your voice.

Good news—you can work on all of these with a few simple techniques!

Tip 1: Get Your Breath Under Control

Without Breath there is no Voice! If you only use a shallow breath, you’re leaving power on the table. Try this instead:

Sit or stand tall and put one hand on your belly (below your belly button)
Take a slow, deep breath, letting your belly expand (not your chest and make sure that your shoulders don’t go up and down).
Exhale and feel your belly contract while not allowing your ribcage to collapse

This kind of breathing—called diaphragmatic breathing—gives you the power to make your voice louder without straining.

Tip 2: Posture Check!

How you stand or sit matters more than you think. Imagine you’re a superhero striking a confident pose:

Feet shoulder-width apart.
Shoulders relaxed but pulled back slightly.
Chin parallel to the floor.
Don’t lock your knees, singing is movement

When your body is aligned, your lungs can expand fully, and your voice will naturally carry more.

Tip 3: Start Small, Then Increase the Volume

Louder doesn’t mean shouting—it’s about using your voice efficiently. Start with a hum and slowly increase the volume without forcing it. Imagine sending your voice to the back of the room.
Try this:

Practice speaking or singing while imagining your voice hitting a target a few feet away or as if you are singing/speaking to someone who’s in the other room

Tip 4: Add Resonance

Ever notice how some people’s voices just seem to “ring”? That’s resonance! It’s what makes your voice sound fuller and louder. Often times it is enough to avoid tension and locking your jaw. Rather than that, open your jaw more for every vowel. Imagine having a weight hanging from your jaw that pulls down your jaw.

The soft palate (the soft part of the roof of your mouth) plays a key role in resonance. To feel it in action, try smiling and pretending to be surprised. Notice how the roof of your mouth lifts slightly? That’s your soft palate engaging.

When you sing or speak, keep your soft palate engaged to create more space in your mouth. This not only enhances resonance but also boosts your natural volume and clarity.

By combining a relaxed, open jaw with an engaged soft palate, you’ll unlock a fuller, richer sound. Once you find your resonance, your voice will sound stronger without much extra effort.

Tip 5: Practice Makes Powerful

Just like any other skill, building vocal strength takes practice. Vocal training not only trains and strengthens your vocal folds but it strengthens the muscle coordination to make your voice more powerful without strain.

Have questions about your voice or singing? Shoot us an email at contact@vocals-on-stage.com. We’d love to help you out!

Author: Radina V.

I Want to Make My Voice Louder – It’s Too Small!