How to Expand Your Vocal Range Safely.

Understand Your Current Range

While most people don’t think about their vocal range, a greater range provides freedom when choosing songs and expressing yourself through them. The notes that you can sing comfortably will likely expand, and that is where you want to start. Your current range is a great starting point, not a set limit.
By singing scales that are simple and that don’t push you too far you will be able to recognize where your pitch begins to become less stable and less secure. This gives you your range to build from.

Warm Up Gradually

As your vocal cords change from a resting or speaking state to the demands of singing, it’s important to make that transition gradually. Warm-ups can include simple scales, lip trills, or gentle humming. These exercises will prepare your voice for the challenges you present to it, especially when it comes to the highest and lowest notes. Beginning to sing high notes without first working up to them can be straining and harmful for your voice.

Use Gentle Vocal Exercises

There are a number of ways to build your range: starting with high, low, short patterns, or scales on vowels. Make sure that your body is relaxed as you do this. The goal is to build strength and awareness in your voice without engaging tension in other parts of your body, including your neck, jaw, or shoulders.
As you work on these exercises, it helps to repeat them often. While it’s nice to work on range building, it doesn’t have to be a marathon. Building up a consistent habit will get you to results sooner.

Give Your Voice Time to Adapt

As you continue to practice, you will become more secure in the higher and lower parts of your range, and your pitch will become steadier. You will also learn what kinds of adjustments you are making in order to sing difficult notes. Often times, tension in the shoulders, neck, or jaw can occur subconsciously when singing notes that feel like a stretch. You might find that you are pushing more air or that you have a tendency to tighten your jaw. Recognizing this will be critical for developing ease and control at extremes of your range. Remember that some tension and strength in the body is helpful for singing, but the goal is to remove unnecessary tension.

Build Range Through Technique

Keep in mind that your range will naturally vary depending on how your voice is feeling. Sometimes a higher or lower note will be more difficult on one day and easier on the next. It will also depend on how hydrated you are and how tired your voice is. If a note becomes particularly difficult it can help to take a break and come back to it later, with fresh energy and focus. And always remember that you shouldn’t be singing a note that causes pain or discomfort. If a note is causing discomfort and that discomfort doesn’t leave, stop singing that note until it’s comfortable again. Your goal should be to build your vocal range in a way that creates a strong, healthy relationship with your instrument.
Your range is built through technique and strength in order to create a balance between strength and relaxation. Simply reaching a high note does not mean that you can sing that note. Your voice should feel comfortable when you reach it and the pitch should be as stable and even as the notes in the middle of your range. As you work on the extremes of your range, make sure that you are building your technique and control so that they are easy to access. It’s important to engage your support for breath control and pitch stability and make those techniques into habit as you explore new territory.