How can you develop a strong chest voice?

A strong chest voice is a powerful and expressive tool for singers of any genre. It allows you to project your voice with confidence, depth, and clarity. But how can you develop a strong chest voice without straining your vocal cords or sounding unnatural? Here are some tips and exercises to help you master this vocal mode and register.

1 What is chest voice?

Chest voice is the lowest of the four vocal registers, along with head voice, mixed voice, and whistle voice. It is also a vocal mode, which means a way of producing sound with your vocal cords. In chest voice, your vocal cords vibrate fully and create a rich and resonant tone. You can feel the vibration in your chest when you sing in this mode.

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2 Why use chest voice?

Chest voice is often associated with genres like rock, pop, soul, and musical theatre, where you need to convey emotion and energy. It can also add variety and contrast to your singing, especially when you switch between chest and head voice. Chest voice can help you sing lower notes with ease and avoid a weak or breathy sound. It can also improve your vocal stamina and health, as long as you use it correctly and avoid tension.

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3 How to find your chest voice?

One way to find your chest voice is to speak a sentence in a normal or slightly lower pitch, and then repeat it as if you were singing. Notice how your voice sounds and feels in your chest. Another way is to hum a low note and then slide up and down the scale, keeping the same volume and quality. You should feel the vibration in your chest throughout the range. You can also use a vowel sound like "ah" or "oh" instead of humming.

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Marcus Oborn

Actor • Voice Actor • Vocal Coach
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When preparing to use chest voice, ensure that you have fully prepared the breath system to support the sound. Stretching the muscles around the hips, ribs, shoulders, chest, neck and upper back, will ensure that there is a reduced level of tension on the breath system. Then, spend some time dropping your breath low into your belly with as little force as possible, and then connect your breath to sound by sustaining an outward breath on an S or Z sound. Now you your breath system is prepared to support the sound which will help to ensure that the sound you’re making in chest voice is sustainable long term.

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4 How to strengthen your chest voice?

To strengthen your chest voice, you need to practice regularly and use proper technique. Before singing in chest voice, warm up your voice with gentle and gradual exercises like lip trills, sirens, or humming. Then, sing scales or melodies in chest voice, starting from a comfortable pitch and gradually expanding your range. Use a metronome or a piano to keep track of your pitch and tempo. Additionally, sing along with songs that use chest voice like "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, or "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. To ensure proper technique, use breath support and posture while singing in chest voice. Breathe deeply from your diaphragm, keep your shoulders relaxed, and align your head and neck with your spine. Avoid raising your chin or tensing your throat when singing high notes in chest voice. Lastly, balance your chest voice with your other vocal registers and modes. Don't sing in chest voice all the time, as this can cause fatigue and damage to your vocal cords. Learn how to mix your chest and head voice to create a smooth transition and a versatile sound.

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5 How to avoid common mistakes in chest voice?

When using chest voice, singers should take care to avoid some common mistakes such as singing too loudly or too high/low, with a flat or nasal tone, or with a tight jaw, tongue, or throat. To ensure better results, they should sing with a moderate and consistent volume, within their natural vocal range, with a clear and open tone, and with a relaxed jaw, tongue, and throat. Dynamics can be used to create contrast and expression, while mixed voice or head voice can be used when reaching the upper or lower limits of chest voice. Vowel modification should be used to adjust sound and pitch, and articulation and enunciation can help improve clarity and diction.

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Marcus Oborn

Actor • Voice Actor • Vocal Coach
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Watch out for devoicing, swallowing the sound, and dropping off the ends of your words when heading into chest voice. Remember to keep sending the sound up and out even as the pitch lowers, to ensure that the sound being made is sustainable.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you develop a strong chest voice?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 What is chest voice?

2 Why use chest voice?

3 How to find your chest voice?

4 How to strengthen your chest voice?

5 How to avoid common mistakes in chest voice?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Vocal Coaching

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How can you develop a strong chest voice?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 What is chest voice?

2 Why use chest voice?

3 How to find your chest voice?

4 How to strengthen your chest voice?

5 How to avoid common mistakes in chest voice?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Vocal Coaching

Rate this article

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