How To Sing High Notes And Hold Them – Singing Tips – Vocal Tutorial – Ken Tamplin
Hey Guys,
I wanted to share with you my experience on how to correctly hold a singing note (or how to hold a high note).
I have seen so many bizarre explanations on this important subject and yet from sources that neither really sing them selves, or display anyone doing what they claim is legit.
In this video, I physically demonstrate long notes myself, at varying degrees of my range, to display actual application on how to hold a note.
As I mention in the video, it can be kind of deceiving and here’s what I mean.
I see internet comments (particularly from the SLS community) “you already know how to breathe… so breathe…”
This is an asinine statement.
Tell that to a runner, an olympic swimmer, a mountain biker, a scuba diver or even someone doing yoga.
They all have different disciplines for breathing and what is required to achieve their level of activity.
It is no different with singing.
For those that really understand the concept, we don’t want to breathe like we speak.
We want to breathe like we sing. BIG difference.
When we speak, (especially when we do it without good diaphragmatic
support) we release a considerable amount of air. (the diaphragm is the main muscle for inhalation and exhalation respiratory response.
When we understand how to compress that air in the lung and glottis, we can use the diaphragm as a sort of “sling shot” to push air. (I call it the “snap” of air)
When we learn to conserve this air, this can be extremely powerful tool in holding a singing note.
As I mention in the video, vibratory cycles are also very different throughout the spectrum of range in the voice.
Lower vibratory cycles require less energy (this is true), but in order to achieve that same volume and resonance as a high note, (because the cords are vibrating slower), they require MORE air to move the folds at the same velocity (volume) than that of a high note (which vibrates much faster).
This doesn’t mean we can’t hold long “low notes.” What I am saying is that in order to hold a low note at the same volume as a high note, it requires more air.
So this is why it is a bit deceiving: It is actually easier to hold a high note when compressed correctly, than a low note at the same volume.
Now, everyone’s range is different, and a low note to one maybe at the higher end of range for another. So this is an over simplification, but I wanted to give you an over all view of how this works.
The key is learning how to manage and control that air with good open throat technique.
I hope you found this information useful.
Here’s to Great Singing!
Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy – Where The PROOF Is In The Singing.
Here is info on the clips featured in this Video:
Still Loving You / Scorpions:
I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know / Donny Hathaway: –
Dream On / Aerosmith: –
Numb / Linkin Park:
Juke Box Hero / Foreigner:
Painkiller / Judas Priest: –
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Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy – Where The PROOF Is In The Singing!
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Can warming up your voice every single day (and getting plenty of water and rests doing so of course) actually help you improve in any way?
your head voice are very strong
Legenddddaaaaaarrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy
u should do singing like kenny loggins danger zone
I see that your adams apple raises high during high notes. Many teachers say that’s a sign of strain and tightening of the throat muscles, how would you reconcile this? Because you can sing really high and sustain (support) the note well without destroy your throat and voice
ufffff painkillers!!!!!! awesome
The power lung is something that a lot of asthmatics use to control our breathing in the case of an attack. My pulmonary doctor taught me how to do it.
Any tips on how to sing Uptown Girl by Billy Joel?
Hello, thanks for all the tips, if you happen to read this, can you answer me just one thing, are you using twang? i learned this recently and really cant figure out if you do it.
Thanks again.
I’m a new subscriber. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Is there a way for me to sing like Regine Velasquez? My voice is pretty low. Love love your dream on cover by the way. 😀
So does your course teach how to hold high notes for a period?
Thank you for sharing these videos 🙂
Hey Ken, could you do a Serj Tankian singing tutorial? He sings very nasally these days, it’s really weird. His voice has changed drastically during his career, I think he would be interesting to do.
Awesome video Ken!
This is a brilliant tutorial!
Mad voice Ken, I’m following and learning thankyou!
can you please cover eagles song I cant tell you why. How he hits those notes.
I would love to hear you do “Tonight He grins Again” By Savatage Jon Oliva has such a unique voice and would love to hear you touch on it.
wow this is cool!
In my opinion this is one of most important lessons. Thank you so much for explaining and that video Mister Ken Tamplin!
You are amazing and are an inspiration to all the people who seek guidance in terms of singing… I really love to listen your cover songs… you really do justice to all the songs🤘
Have you sung any songs from Boston, Brad Delp? Perhaps ‘More Than a Feeling?
I’m still having trouble when compressing air and to holding a long note
Is Barbra Streisand singing correctly. She pronounced her words very clearly.
can you make a “how to sing like John Schlitt” video..from petra?
Mr. Tamplin, do you believe that everyone can learn how to sing?
Your Still my HERO, SUPERBRO!!!!!
Amazing!!!!
Hi Ken I’m trying my best to hit notes if possible by teaching me on Skype?
I have a question. How do i relax when singing. I find Myself often move My head up and straining My voice when singing. And i Can see My throath tensing with the tendons potruding. I feel that the strain is really keeping me from getting better and My tone gets unclear and muddy 🙁
I’m a tenor, and I love high notes, they’re fun-I mean, I’m not ‘great’ but I do try to practice everyday. Head voice / High notes is something I always like to do and when I get it ‘right’ and know it, I feel super proud. heheh! G4 is probably my fav sounding note. 🙂
Is KTVA a program mainly for rock singers? I think I’d be more geared towards R&B or Gospel, maybe Pop, would KTVA work for other genres like that?
I wanna hold a high note like chen from exo one day lol imma try and get it to that level wish me luck
One of the very very very few YouTubers who take the viewers comments into consideration…and also very useful information for aspiring singers
Hey Ken, I really hope you see this comment because I asked this question on several vocal videos and never got an answer. I’ve been practicing scream or distorted vocal for more than a year now and my biggest problem is, when I drink water in between songs, it makes me burp while I’m singing and this is really annoying/frustrating. When I’m singing I can feel some pressure coming up from my stomach and then I just burp in the middle of a sentence which completely ruins the performance. Am I the only one with this problem? Is this a really rare thing? It sure feels like it.
u really inspired me i like all ur videos… thanks for the videos
hey Ken, I had neck surgery about 15 years ago and they had to push to the side my throat/trachea to access my spinal discs from the front I couldn’t speak for a couple days after just whisper and also seemed to have lost my upper range in my voice, can i work around that? does it help to tune down a 1/2 step when singing in a band or playing guitar? I know Elton john said he transposes his songs now In a lower key as he gets older
hi Ken, as always you’re amazing. im so convinced to buy your tutorial but whenever i sing, say 4 songs, my voice begins to get hoarse, like it’s tired. i also get hoarse just by speaking. if this is something curable then i would certainly buy your tutorial. i love to sing! thanks, Ken.
i really like your high voice better than low
i noticed i was doing these tips naturally without realising.
Awesome