How to Fix Breathy Singing: Effective Tips to Get Rid of Breathy Vocals and Sing with Confidence
Are you struggling with breathy singing and wondering how to fix it? Many singers face the challenge of breathy vocals, but with the right techniques, you can achieve a clear, powerful voice. In this guide, we’ll explore how to get rid of breathy vocals and be less breathy when singing. Follow these practical tips to transform your singing voice and sing with confidence.
Understanding Breathy Singing
Breathy singing occurs when too much air escapes your vocal cords while you sing, resulting in a weak and airy sound. This can happen due to various reasons, including poor vocal technique, lack of breath support, or tension in your throat. Understanding the root cause of your breathy singing is the first step to fixing it.
Common Causes of breathy singing
- Incomplete Closure of the Vocal Folds: When your vocal folds don’t come together completely, a small gap allows air to escape, creating a breathy tone.
- Weakness or Poor Coordination: The muscles that bring the vocal folds together might be weak or poorly coordinated.
- Poor Breath Support: Insufficient breath support or an overly forceful exhale can lead to breathy vocals.
- Mutational Chink (Phonatory Gap): Common in adolescent girls during puberty, this is a slight gap at the back of the glottis due to uneven development of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles.
- Medical Issues: Conditions like vocal nodules or polyps can affect the closure of the vocal folds.
- Imitating Other Singers: Mimicking singers with a naturally breathy sound can develop a habitual breathy singing style.
Why Prolonged Breathy Singing is Harmful
Habitual breathy singing can significantly weaken your voice and lead to vocal strain. When your vocal folds don’t fully close, the initial sound produced is weak and lacks the rich resonance that gives singing its power and clarity. This weak sound forces you to push harder with your breath and vocal effort to compensate, which can strain your voice over time.
Furthermore, when excessive air passes through the vocal folds, it dries out the mucosal lining that protects them. This dryness can cause irritation and inflammation, increasing the risk of developing vocal health issues such as nodules, polyps, or chronic hoarseness. Vocal nodules, for instance, are small, benign growths that form on the vocal cords due to ongoing strain and friction. They can significantly impair your vocal quality and may require medical intervention to treat. Thus, addressing breathy singing early on is crucial for maintaining long-term vocal health and avoiding these potential complications.
How to Get Rid of Breathy Vocals:
4 Effective Exercises
Ng Sound Exercise
Pick a note in the middle of your lower register and sustain that pitch on an ‘ng’ sound as in ‘sing.’ This helps achieve full vocal closure. Gradually move up the scale by a semitone and repeat the exercise on other notes.
‘Gee’ Syllable Practice
Singing the syllable ‘gi’ helps train your vocal folds to close fully before producing sound. Practice this regularly to improve vocal fold closure.
Call Technique
Practice speaking energized phrases like “ugh oh!,” “ahh,” “ohh,” “oh no!,” “wow!,” and “no way!” These phrases help balance the vocal folds and achieve full closure. Once you master these in speaking, repeat them on pitch.
Twang Exercises
Twang refers to the bright quality resulting from the narrowing of the Aryepiglottic Sphincter (AES). Practicing twang exercises like a bratty ‘nyeah,’ a meowing cat, a witchy ‘ee,’ a duck ‘quack,’ and a ‘naan’ sound can strengthen your voice, making it stronger and more resonant.
Breathy singing can add texture and dimension to your vocals, but it should be used sparingly. By understanding the causes and practicing these exercises, you can learn how to fix breathy singing and achieve a clear, resonant voice. With dedication and practice, you’ll get rid of breathy vocals and sing with confidence. Happy singing!
