Weak, Uncoordinated Larynx Muscles And Pitch Control

Let's talk about laryngeal limitations for a moment. The number one concern that beginning singers have is the requirement to “sing-in-tune.” Let's see what this means. When you sing a note, or make a vocal sound of any kind, the vocal folds make two basic kinds of adjustments. The first adjustment involves the two vocal folds moving together (approximating or adducting). The second adjustment centers on the vocal folds acquiring specific lengths and tensions during singing.

The approximation of the vocal folds, as well as their assuming the correct lengths and tensions, occurs at the same time. The first allows for the sub-glottal pressure to vibrate the vocal folds in order to make sound waves; the second determines the frequency of the sound waves—its pitch. The length and mass of the vocal folds has a direct influence on how quickly they vibrate: compared to naturally long vocal folds, naturally short vocal folds possess less mass, and consequently, vibrate more quickly—at a higher frequency—and produce a higher pitch. This accounts for the fact that men—who, compared to women, have longer vocal folds—also have lower pitched voices. Women, who generally have shorter vocal folds, have higher pitched voices.

When someone sings “in-tune,” she is able to make her vocal folds stretch to the right length and tensions to correspond to the note or notes the singer hears internally. When someone sings out-of-tune or “off-pitch,” this simply means that the vocal folds are not attaining the right length and tensions to correspond to the desired note or notes. If the vocal fold adjustment falls below what is required for the pitch, the singer will sing “flat”; if the adjustment is above what is required, the singer will sing “sharp.” All the various vocal fold adjustments are controlled by coordinated muscular action in and around the larynx. This being the case, wouldn’t it make sense that exercises that improve the strength and coordination of the pitch-controlling voice muscles, also correct pitch problems?

Image source: Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock