Overtone singing is a vocal cord method used to produce a distinctive sound. So, how to overtone singing to make your performance stand out?
The whole training session includes four steps:
- Step 1: Ease your jaw
- Step 2: Establish your base note
- Step 3: Focus on tongue and lip movement
- Step 4: Practice
This article will give you comprehensive guidance on mastering this skill. Let’s join us and be ready to shine on stage with your overtones.
What Is Overtone Singing?
Overtones give their timbre to the sound that we hear. They’re vibrations that follow natural principles and include the codes that regulate all of the musical instruments.
Overtone singing is a wonderful skill in which one individual may sing two or even more notes simultaneously.
All of the other notes, called “overtones,” come with the initial note, called the “fundamental.”
We don’t notice they’re there when you perceive them together since we only hear one single note.
On the other hand, overtones can work as pure, distinct tones in sync with the split sound.
How To Overtone Singing?
Four main steps help you achieve your goal. We will talk about the warm-up exercises first. They will make you catch up on the following steps easier.
Warm-up
Before starting any singing session, you need to warm up your vocals first. It helps prepare your voice at the best state.
This vocal method includes adjusting your vocal cords with the throat muscles. You’ll give the illusion that you will be producing many pitches at the same time.
It has a very different feeling to it than traditional singing techniques. As a result, if you want to minimize harming your voice, you must warm up beforehand.
The warm-up sessions will also guarantee to offer you the best chance of mastering this new skill as rapidly as possible.
Simply sing a few notes in your vocal range. Begin with rolling your lips, then go on to the “ah” sound, “o” sound, and the “mmm” sound.
You’re able to begin the many stages that create the expertise of overtones after your singing voice has warmed up.
Step 1: Ease your jaw
Make sure that your jaw, as well as lip muscles, are at ease. Allow some space between your bottom teeth and your upper jaw by gently opening your mouth.
Singing along to a drone is a helpful tactic to ease your jaw and mouth. The drone is the one note that keeps playing continuously.
You may find a lot of these practices on the internet. Otherwise, you can make your own with a guitar and a delayed pedal.
This video helps you practice a complete track of drones for every key. Each key changes after every 5 minutes, allowing you to practice chords correctly.
Next, take a deep breath and chant together with the drone during that breath phase. Mimic the note and keep it with you until you inhale.
If you do this for about five breath rounds, you’ve relaxed your jaw successfully.
Make sure to select a note and word that you are confident singing.
You can make “la” and “oo” sounds, which help you to keep your jaw partially open without over-tightening your muscles.
Then, use only your tongue tip to produce an “R” or “L” sound. You should place your tongue close to the top of your mouth but not touch it.
Sometimes your tongue and mouth may contact, but don’t mind. You just need to focus on getting accustomed to keeping your tongue in that position.
Step 2: Establish your base note
Once you’ve felt comfortable with the proper tongue position, you need to establish your base note. This note is different from person to person.
Try to sing a note within your vocal range with no stress in your vocal cords. Remember to keep your tongue in its position.
You can perform overtones by using the note you have chosen. Instead of letting the sound come from your belly, force it out from the chest. It might help if you say “oo” in the loudest voice you can.
It’s also crucial at this point to make sure you’re getting longer enough breaths between the notes.
Prolonged notes are necessary for overtone singing. Thus your breathing should support this.
Step 3: Focus on tongue and lip movement
The next step is to emphasize tongue motion. The underlying tone comes with your base note, but the harmonic overtones have to go in sync with the movements of your tongue.
Begin by rolling your tongue back and forth. Continue to sing the base note with the correct tongue position. Switching between the “R” and “L” sounds with your tongue could assist you in doing this task.
This step is the most crucial. To make a range of sounds, you must progressively alter your lip shape.
Without hesitating, change the “R” and “L” patterns to the “E” and “U.” There should be no sudden breaks in the sound.
Do this step gradually at first, focusing on the sound you’re making. Also, experiment with how altering the shape of your lips changes the tone of your voice for a time.
Step 4: Practice
If you can handle all the techniques above to create anything that mimics overtone singing, you have a raw talent for it. If you haven’t already, you can improve if you stay with it for a time.
It’s time to put the pieces together and try your first performance. Execute each step one at a time, then integrate the approaches. Keep that lip shape and attempt to extend the sound when you detect an overtone.
When it comes to overtone technique, everyone’s skill is unique. It relies on your lip shape and the structure of the vocal muscles. Continue to practice, and you’ll perfect the skill soon.
How To Improve Overtone Singing?
There are several ways to practice the skill. You can try singing in background noise, performing with a loud or chest voice, and changing the notes.
#1. Sing with background noise
The ambient noise will conceal your vocal tones, making your high-pitched tones clearer and louder. You can try practicing while taking a shower or driving to achieve the same effect.
If you can’t hear these overtones at first, don’t worry. The resonance bouncing in your head makes it hard to detect the sounds. Even if you are doing it correctly, such a thing can happen.
#2. Perform with a loud voice
Many inexperienced vocalists don’t put enough force and intensity behind their voices when they start out.
Imagine that you are singing as someone squeezes. This method will help you make the “ooooo” sound correctly. Your voice should be powerful since this will aid in the formation of overtones.
You can decrease the loudness and vocal strength to something more pleasant once you’ve mastered the overtone technique.
The greatest way to sing more vividly is to explore your authentic voice in the real world to get more confident with your speaking.
#3. Practice your chest voice
Head voice and chest voice are two different things. You usually sing at a higher register with the head voice. In this case, you will hear the sound originating from your throat.
On the other hand, a chest voice is “resonant.” You can sense the sound vibrations from your upper chest.
Using the chest voice will make you perform overtones easier. The sound you produce is thicker and warmer.
#4. Change the notes
You can create melodies by raising your lips and altering your base note once you’ve mastered overtones. Open and shut them as though you’re making the switch from an “E” to a “U” sound.
#5. Listen more
We can sing if we listen well. So, you can consider listening as an effective method to improve your vocal skills.
Overtones vary in cultures throughout the world. The Smithsonian Institution offers an excellent collection of movies from various civilizations. It also has some instructional videos for aspiring overtone singers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about overtones. Please check the answers carefully because you may face the same problems in the future.
#1. Is overtone singing possible for everyone?
Yes. Many people think overtones are talents that only some people have. Yet, anyone who can speak has a chance to practice and improve their skills.
#2. Why does my throat feel so tight when I sing?
You may be overthinking the sound instead of concentrating on how you’re going in your current singing circumstance.
You can try singing along with a short recording, even if it’s only a single tone. Then, you could notice that your throat loosens up.
#3. What is the maximum number of notes an overtone vocalist can sing?
A particular vocalization method makes use of the throat’s resonance qualities. A singer can generate two or even more notes at the same time.
#4. Is whistling the same thing as overtoning?
As the gap in the tape indicates, overtone singing is not whistling. Whistling produces sound by causing air turbulence on your lips.
Meanwhile, overtones produce sound by bringing the vocal components into resonance. Whistling, though, utilizes resonance chambers to alter the pitch.
Final Words
We have shared with you some steps about how to do overtone singing. Fortunately, anyone can perform the task. With correct techniques, you can bring out the best result, making your performance more fantastic.
Overtone singing is one of the most thrilling and distinctive vocal genres available. Always bear in mind that practice makes perfect. You will shine out one day.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you for being interested in our post!
