One of the number one causes of poor singing has been identified as tension buildup in the part of your neck called the larynx.

The larynx is what is most commonly known as the voice box and the term voice box was coined because the larynx is very much shaped like a box and it is where your vocal cords reside. For those interested in the physical detail, the larynx – or voice box – is made up of cartilage encased in muscle. Glad we got that out of the way!

As you have probably guessed by now, the voice box is the part of your body that produces sound and also tone, which makes it a very important piece of equipment for a singer.

Your sound is formed as follows:

• You make a decision to sing and the brain initiates a command that gets the vocal cords ready
• Folds within the vocal chords close-up
• Air then expands up from within the lungs
• The air then forces itself against the vocal folds, creating a vibration.

If you get an opportunity to take a look at an image of the larynx, you will notice the trachea tube connected to the vocal cords contained in the larynx, and above that the epiglottis. The process of air causing the vocal folds to vibrate is called subglottic pressure.

By placing your fingers at the base of your and singing you can actually feel the vibration occurring. Now swallow – you will feel the larynx rising up and away from your fingers. Now yawn – the larynx has descended again and is placing pressure on your fingers. When the larynx is low down – as it is when you yawn – it means that the throat is in an open position with a free passage for the air to flow. This unrestricted air flow produces the best sound and tone.

Creating the Best Tones

The position of the larynx – high or low – together with the subglottic pressure can both have a direct impact on your singing. If you want to learn how to sing better, you most definitely will need to have control over the passage of air to the vocal cords and be able to keep your larynx in the lower or at least the central position.

If your vocal chords tense up, there is a good chance that the vocal flaps could completely close due to subglottic pressure buildup. If this occurs, the vocal flaps will suddenly open due to excess pressure. The name for this is a Glottal Attack and it sometimes results in a strange sound, something akin to a clicking noise, even before any singing has begun.

The name glottal attack sounds quite nasty however its not as bad as it sounds – but you do want to eliminate it, because it can damage your vocal chords if not corrected. The main thing to remember is that you don’t actually want any buildup of pressure in your vocal cords – what you do want is a smooth flow of air.

Keep the following in mind when trying to produce smooth tones:

• Glottal attacks can cause damage to the vocal cords if not corrected
• Incorrect posture can lead to vocal cords not properly closing and allowing air to escape
• A larynx that is high in the throat will generate a nasal sounding tone
• Too much muscle tension in the area surrounding the larynx will be the cause of poor tone
• Singers who sound breathy have too much air flowing over the vocal cords

You should be clear by now that the vocal chords plays a big role in the quality of tones you produce.

CLICK HERE to Learn How to Create Pure, Warm Tones and Escalate your Singing to a Higher Level!

Maintaining Control

Most of us don’t normally consider our vocal cords as something we have the ability to control, however even things that seem quite innocuous such as the positioning of your head can greatly impact on the larynx ability to open and close properly. That is just one more reason why posture is so important when singing and everyone can improve their posture. Think about that for one moment – simply by perfecting your posture you will sing better! How easy is that? Well it is this easy…..

To keep your larynx in the down position, hold your head up straight so your neck is in line with your spine. Keep your jaw relaxed and not tense. Tightening the muscles around the larynx will likely cause a tightening of the vocal cords. Also make sure you open your mouth – this sounds obvious, however many singers fail to heed this advice and wonder why they have no volume and tone coming from their throats. Opening your mouth a little more also pushes the larynx down in your throat making it easier to generate the correct tone and volume you are looking for.

Learning how to sing better involves a lot more than just forming notes. Good singers understand how the body’s components work together, and that includes the larynx.

Tags: How to Sing Better, improve singing, sactomusic, sing better