What are some good ways to improve vocal range without a teacher?

Question

I'd say I have a decent range for a guy my age. I can easily hit most of the notes in Faithfully by Journey, but I end up sounding more feminine than I would like to when I do so.

I'm a big fan of singers like Steve Perry and Aaron Gillespie when it comes to the more tenor sound, and Jeff Scott Soto for that more dynamic boom. I'd like to do both styles of singing, but would I go about improving my range to hit higher notes without straining/sounding feminine and keeping a lower register at the same time?

Oh, right, please just don't tell me to keep practicing or get lessons. That answer is not helpful at all and I'm improving my skills at other instruments, respectively.

Answer 1

HI MCI,

Brooke has given you some very good advice,  but I would like to go a step further so you that you are improving and just how much.  You will need a couple of tools to help you.

You will need a chromatic tuner and a metronome and time to practice every day.

Set the metronome @ 76 and turn on your tuner.   The tuner will indicate the lowest and high notes you can produce currently.   Start with the lowest note and try going chromatically from that tone to the next in the following pattern using the metronome @76.  Ex:  If you are starting on C - go......  

C - 2 beats/C# - 4 beats crecendoing from p to ff (repeat)

C# - 2 beats / D - 4 beats (repeat)

D - 2 beats / D# - 4 beats (repeat)   and so on for being able to improve your range going higher.

Next, starting at the higest note you can produce do the exact opposite continuing to the lowest note.  

Always keep your eyes on the tuner to check your accuracy in pitch and also.... the crecendo is very important to the success of this exercise and to improve your range.    

Do this exercise religiously 15 minutes a day or longer if your voice does not get tired.

Keep a journal so that you can chart your progress... which is an important motivator.  Don't expect results in a couple of days... as it is, now your range is limited from one register to the other... give it a good month and keep working for gradual and increasing improvements.  

Good luck to you.  This is a great exercise

Thanks for reading.

Answer 2

Use scales, go up, half step by half step, (it helps to use a piano) and sing, until your range can't go any further, then do the same thing going back down the scale. Do it everyday, the more often you use your vocal chords in this way, the better they will respond to what your are trying to get them to do.

Also, hold your hand up above your head, and let it slowly fall, say "AHH" sliding from your highest note to your lowest note as it drops. Do it again, try it faster or slower, it really works out your range.

Answer 3

Try going up and down major arpeggios, that way your voice only lasts on each note you are trying to build for a short while, gradually building your tessitura or most comfortable vocal range   - most affective when done with a tuned piano