{"id":9286,"date":"2023-05-01T14:45:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T14:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/"},"modified":"2023-05-01T14:45:18","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T14:45:18","slug":"10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Bad Habits That Are Destroying Your Singing Music Marketing Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#Protect_your_voice_Avoid_these_10_singing_habits\" >Protect your voice. Avoid these 10 singing habits!<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#1_Reaching_up_for_the_pitch\" >1. Reaching up for the pitch<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#2_Singing_outside_your_range\" >2. Singing outside your range<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-2\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#3_Raising_your_larynx\" >3. Raising your larynx<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-3\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#4_Nasal_singing\" >4. Nasal singing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-4\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#5_Tongue_tension\" >5. Tongue tension<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-5\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#6_Spreading_the_vowel\" >6. Spreading the vowel<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-6\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#7_Singing_too_lightly\" >7. Singing too lightly<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-7\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#8_Flipping_to_falsetto\" >8. Flipping to falsetto<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-8\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#9_Too_much_vibrato\" >9. Too much vibrato<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-9\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#10_Over-practicing_a_song\" >10. Over-practicing a song<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#How_to_fix_it-10\" >How to fix it<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/01\/10-bad-habits-that-are-destroying-your-singing-music-marketing-blog-2\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protect_your_voice_Avoid_these_10_singing_habits\"><\/span>Protect your voice. Avoid these 10 singing habits!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span>Let\u2019s be real here guys: singing takes commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>No matter how dedicated you are, maintaining a good practice routine day in and day out is tough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It gets easier!\u00a0 But doing it every day is the hard part. And over the course of your singing journey, some bad habits are bound to creep in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Today, we\u2019ll discuss 10 bad habits I\u2019ve seen singers fall into over my 10+ years teaching 1,000+ students.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Some are physical; others are mental and psychological. But all can cause serious damage to your voice if left unchecked!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Reaching_up_for_the_pitch\"><\/span><span>1. Reaching up for the pitch<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>When first learning <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/how-to-sing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>how to sing<\/span><\/a><span>, a lot of singers want to <\/span><span>reach up<\/span><span> with their voice to hit high notes. Like the high note is a cereal box on top of the fridge, and they\u2019re on their tippy toes trying to grab it!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This makes sense. High notes are hard to reach, and singers feel like they have to \u201cdo something\u201d to push their voice to hit them. They may raise their shoulders, raise their eyebrows or push up their larynx (or voice box).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>But this does NOT help <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/how-to-hit-high-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>hit high notes<\/span><\/a><span>. That\u2019s because high notes are created by stretching the vocal cords in your throat. This stretching speeds up the vibration of the cords, producing a higher pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>That\u2019s all it is. A stretching. There\u2019s no up or down, higher or lower about it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Next time you try to hit high notes, don\u2019t reach up! The vocal cords don\u2019t move up or down, so there\u2019s no need to raise your shoulders or anything like that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Instead, imagine yourself on top of the note.<span> Rather than pushing upwards and straining your voice, approach the note from above and come down on top of it.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Singing_outside_your_range\"><\/span><span>2. Singing outside your range<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>There are six main <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/voice-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>voice types<\/span><\/a><span> we use in contemporary voice training. You know them!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>From lowest to highest, they are:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Bass<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Baritone<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Tenor<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Alto<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Mezzo<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Soprano<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Each voice has its own range of notes, and discovering your vocal range is an essential step in your singing journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But, believe it or not, lots of singers haven\u2019t explored the entirety of their vocal range. Singers will stretch and strain their voice to hit high or low notes rather than learn how to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/expand-vocal-range\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>expand vocal range<\/span><\/a><span> the right way. More on that in a moment\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-2\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Take your highest note, and subtract a fifth from it. If your highest note is G5, subtracting a fifth would put you at C5.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Likewise, find your lowest note and move up a fourth or fifth from that. If your lowest note is G2, start at C3.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The range we get \u2014 C3 to C5 \u2014 is a fantastic two-octave range and a great range for a tenor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Need help finding your range? Use my free <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rangefinder.ramseyvoice.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Rangefinder App<\/span><\/a><span> to find your range in only 6 seconds!<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Raising_your_larynx\"><\/span><span>3. Raising your larynx<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>So far we\u2019ve looked at two bad habits that cause vocal tension. But what physically creates tension?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Well, a BIG one is raising the larynx.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The larynx is the hollow organ in your throat that houses your vocal cords.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>Singers often raise their larynx to hit high notes. They\u2019ll push their larynx and squeeze their vocal cords inside, producing a tight, nasal sound.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-3\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Yawn.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Seriously! A high larynx is the posture your throat makes when swallowing. To lower your larynx, do the opposite: yawn.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Try singing a simple phrase in the middle of a yawn and feel that vocal tightness wash away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Nasal_singing\"><\/span><span>4. Nasal singing<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>As mentioned above, raising the larynx results in a tight, nasal sound.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But nasality can also creep into your singing even if your larynx is relaxed!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Nasality happens when the soft palate (tissue in the back of the throat, near the roof of the mouth) drops and the singing tone is forced above the soft palate and into the nasal cavity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-4\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Take your thumb and first finger, and gently and intermittently pinch the upper part of your nose as you sing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The more vibration in your nose, the more nasal your singing. If your singing is too nasal, pinching your nose will cause your tone to change slightly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Adjust your tone and try to sing through your mouth instead of your nose, and reduce nasal vibration. If you\u2019re singing correctly through your oral cavity, you shouldn\u2019t hear any difference when pinching your nose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Tongue_tension\"><\/span><span>5. Tongue tension<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Almost all articulation of vocal sound comes from the tongue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>However, a lot of singers will do funny things with their tongue \u2014 especially, they\u2019ll raise their tongue to the roof of their mouth during high notes. This produces a lot of tongue tension.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-5\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Check your tongue tension by feeling your digastric muscle. That\u2019s the muscle beneath and behind the chin, right around the top front of your neck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Put the tip of your thumb under your chin and slide it back until you feel that bouncy, smooth muscle directly under your tongue. Next, swallow. If you\u2019re in the right place, you\u2019ll feel the muscle press down against your thumb.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Finally, when you\u2019re singing, you want this muscle to be totally relaxed. So we don\u2019t want any tightness in the digastric like when you\u2019re swallowing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Check with your thumb and look for points in your singing when the muscle hardens. Try to relax your tongue and keep your digastric muscle soft and spongy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Spreading_the_vowel\"><\/span><span>6. Spreading the vowel<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Vowel sounds are created by openings and closures in the vocal tract. Usually, it\u2019s a specific kind of tongue shape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Many singers want to spread the vowel wide, meaning that they stretch their mouth in ways they wouldn\u2019t if just using their speaking voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The result is a flat, strained and weird-sounding vocal tone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-6\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Sing like you speak!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Really! Sing the vowels like you would speak them normally, with the pitch adjusted to the tune of the music. Don\u2019t stretch or widen any vowels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If this is giving you trouble, try what I like to call the \u201cHome Alone technique.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Press your hands on both sides of your mouth, and sing a few simple phrases. Feel the edges of your mouth and make sure your mouth doesn\u2019t spread past your fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Singing_too_lightly\"><\/span><span>7. Singing too lightly<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Many singers \u2014 especially those with a higher <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/vocal-range\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>vocal range<\/span><\/a><span> \u2014 will sing too lightly in the bottom part of their voice. The result is a lot of strain during high notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Why is that?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Well, typically, if the bottom part of your voice is unsupported, you\u2019ll strain as you go to hit high notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Basically, instead of singing more fully in the chest voice, this means they\u2019re using too much head voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/head-voice-falsetto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Head voice<\/span><\/a><span> is the breathy, lighter version of singing- generally in the top part of the singing voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But when singing, it\u2019s crucial that your voice stays full and strong at all times, no matter your vocal range.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-7\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Practice some good old-fashioned chest voice!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Place your hand on your chest and say the phrase you\u2019re trying to sing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If you\u2019re using proper chest voice, you\u2019ll feel a vibration against your hand, including during the higher notes of the song. If you feel very little vibration, the balance of head voice and chest voice is off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Flipping_to_falsetto\"><\/span><span>8. Flipping to falsetto<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Many singers have a vocal break and flip into <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/head-voice-falsetto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>falsetto<\/span><\/a><span> when transitioning to the top of their voice. This break occurs when the vocal cords shift from thicker to thinner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ideally, you want to keep your sound <\/span><span>connected<\/span><span> from the bottom of your voice to the top and back. Breaks should be barely noticeable, and falsetto should not be needed for most high notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-8\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>A good exercise to smooth out vocal breaks is what I call the \u201cbratty nay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Sing a simple 1.5 octave scale in whatever key you\u2019re comfortable with, say C:<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>On each note, say \u201cnay\u201d like you\u2019re a bratty little kid in a game of tag.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The \u201cnay\u201d sound trains your vocal cords to open and close evenly as you move from chest voice to head voice. This is the key to unlocking your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ePJImWCk1Tg&amp;t=612s&amp;ab_channel=RamseyVoiceStudio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>mixed voice<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Too_much_vibrato\"><\/span><span>9. Too much vibrato<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Vibrato is the trembling or shivering of the singing tone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It can be natural or manufactured.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But too much <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.com\/how-to-sing-vibrato\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>vibrato<\/span><\/a><span> \u2014 vibrato that\u2019s too wide and too wobbly \u2014 is a tell-tale sign of a poorly trained singer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s like oversalting your food. Exaggerated, overstuffed vibrato might sound cool but gets really old really fast!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-9\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>DON\u2019T add vibrato to every single note. Try using vibrato ONLY in these situations:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Words with sustain, the ones you hold a bit longer than the others in a phrase<\/span><br \/>\n<span>Words with significance, key words that you want to pop out and grab the listener\u2019s attention<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ideally, you\u2019ll only use vibrato on notes that are BOTH of these.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The last word or syllable of a phrase is often sustained; this can be an ideal spot for some tasteful vibrato.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Over-practicing_a_song\"><\/span><span>10. Over-practicing a song<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Many singers will practice their favorite song over and over and over again. It\u2019s understandable; we all have <\/span><span>our song<\/span><span> that we love above all others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But here\u2019s the thing. When a singer over-practices a song, they often also over-practice bad habits associated with that song. They keep digging themselves deeper into that hole.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_fix_it-10\"><\/span><span>How to fix it<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Record yourself singing and check to identify specific problem areas within that song. Use a vocal exercise to identify issues and improve those problem areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Don\u2019t be afraid to ignore lyrics! Say you\u2019re flipping to falsetto. Use the \u201cnay\u201d exercise to smooth out the specific lines of the song where that\u2019s happening.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Once you\u2019ve improved in that area, return to the song and add the lyrics back in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><span>Conclusion<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Whether you\u2019re a veteran singer or starting out, I hope this article will help you overcome roadblocks you may be facing and build your confidence as a singer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>I promise that, if you put in the time and effort to ditch these bad habits, it will serve you well throughout your singing career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Feel free to check out my <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ramseyvoice.samcart.com\/products\/master-your-voice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Master Your Voice<\/span><\/a><span> course for more tips and tricks on singing without straining.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/10-habits-destroy-singing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 Bad Habits That Are Destroying Your Singing<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protect your voice. Avoid these 10 singing habits! Let\u2019s be real here guys: singing takes commitment. No matter how dedicated you are, maintaining a good practice routine day in and day out is tough. It gets easier!\u00a0 But doing it every day is the hard part. And over the course of your singing journey, some bad habits are bound to creep in. Today, we\u2019ll discuss 10 bad habits I\u2019ve seen singers fall into over my 10+ years teaching 1,000+ students. Some are physical; others are mental [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-marketing-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9286\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}