Vocal Exercise

Learn to sing with vocalists exercises for singers aimed at the complete beginner and as "jargon" free as possible. They have been split into different sections which include breathing, fitness, pitch (ear training), posture and vocal exercises to allow for extra information to be added. Each section also contains links to related articles and external links to resources, lessons and further advice on each subject.

If you are a complete novice start with our article on Singing Practise which explains why singers need to practise with suggestions on practise length.

Breathing Exercises
One of the cornerstones of learning to sing is knowing how to breathe correctly and learn to control your breathing so that it is used to optimum effect when you sing.

When we are born our breathing is naturally correct, babies can breathe, yell and scream with optimum effect because they use their lungs without conscious thought. As we grow older, some people become lazy in their habits only using the upper part of the lungs, taking a shallow breath instead of a normal one.

To understand how correct breathing and breath control works, first you need to understand the process that it uses to operate.

Ribs, Lungs and OrgansSurrounding your lungs is a muscle system called the diaphragm which is attached to the lower ribs on the sides, bottom and to the back acting as an inhalation device. When you breathe in the muscle lowers displacing the stomach and intestines. When you breathe out the diaphragm helps to manage the muscles around the lungs (abdominal muscles) control how quickly the breath is exhaled.

If you breathe out quickly, the diaphram does nothing but when you breathe out very slowly the diaphragm resists the action of the abdominal muscles. A singer learns to use this muscle system to control the breath as it is being exhaled.

Hold a finger close to your lips and breathe out slowly, the breath should be warm and moist and you should notice the action of the diaphram as you exhale. This is the correct amount of breath used when singing normally. A singer does not need to 'force' or 'push' air through the vocal chords to produce a good strong sound, doing so creates too much pressure against the chords, preventing them from operating correctly which can cause damage to the voice.

The stomach area should move naturally inward toward the end of the breath, the stomach should not be 'sucked in' as it prevents the diaphram from working effectively. Instead the abdominal area should remain expanded to the level it was when you inhaled and allowed to gradually decrease naturally at the end of the breath.

This is where the 'control' comes into play - the singer expands the lungs by inhaling and 'controls' the amount of air expelled when singing a note by allowing the muscle support system to remain expanded - this doesn't mean the stomach is pushed out, rather that it is blown up like a balloon when the air goes in and the singer slows down the natural rate at which it goes down. In most people the breathing is shallow and only the top half of the lungs are used - breathing correctly uses the whole of the lungs so that more air is available, the singer then uses the natural action of the muscles (diaphragm and abdominals) surrounding the lungs to control the amount of air that is exhaled when singing a note.

Good breath support during singing and speech requires, good posture, abdominal breathing and breathing during natural pauses. Breathing and correct support does not require great physical strength - although having toned abdominal muscles helps, even a child can learn how to breath and support their voice correctly. Remember....the diaphragm doesn't exhale for you - just helps to control the amount of air exhaled.

Ear Training
So....... what is 'Pitch' and how can you identify it?

Notes on a piano produce a fixed sound when played which do not go up or down but gradually fade away. Many instruments including the human voice are capable of producing infinate numbers of fixed sounds between any two notes on a piano with only tiny differences between them. However, all instruments and singing voices normally only use the particluar notes of the piano.

When guitarists tune their guitars, they are trying to find exactly the one fixed sound they want - other notes in the music will be played in relation to this one note.

For instance playing the note A on a piano then a note to the left (G) - the second note is lower than the first. When playing the note to the right of A (B) the second note is higher. The word 'Pitch' refers to the height or depth of sound.

The term singing (or playing) 'off pitch' denotes that the note that is being sung is not 'in tune' with the recognised norm (the exact fixed note that a musical instrument is tuned to. Keyboard players use middle C which is the C nearest to the center of the keyboard/piano, guitarists use E as their base tuning and orchestral players use A above middle C).


Learning Lyrics
Learning the Words

It's important to understand that everyone has their own way of learning - what may work for one, may not work for another. There are several methods that can be used to help you learn the words to songs, try each method and combine one or more styles until you find what works for you.

Visual learners find it easier to have a printed copy to learn from and writing or typing out the words several times helps them to memorize the lyrics.

Auditory learners learn best from using practice tapes or practicing with an accompanist. 'Hearing' how the song is performed and singing along to the music provides a guideline for the singer which helps them to memorize the words.

Kinaesthetic learners find imitation, practice, touch and movement the best way to learn. Associating movements with the song can help to provide imagery, although more repetitions may be required as people who use this method have the most trouble memorizing music.

The best methods for learning the words to a song are repetition and 'Mnemonics' which is another word for memory tool. Mnemonics are methods for memorizing information that can be difficult to remember. A simple example is the '30 days hath September' rhyme. The principle of mnemonics is to use as many of the best functions of your brain as possible to store information.

Learning songs that are written in a foreign language can also be achieved by using the same methods. It also helps to hear the song performed by an artist singing in their native dialect. This aids the student in achieving the correct pronounciation and diction. Learning the meaning of the words will make them easier to recall and helps the singer to perform with more feeling.

Don't put off memorizing until the last minute! When performing there are lots of distractions and if you are dancing or moving its easy to forget the words you should be singing! At first you need to concentrate hard to recall the lyrics so the more you repeat them the easier it becomes. You should keep at it until recalling the words becomes automatic, then you will ensure that even if you suffer from nerves or are distracted on stage you will remember the song!
Lyrics Exercises

Choose a short phrase then talk and sing the words repeatedly until you can sing it without looking at the music. Repeat this with the second phrase then put them both together, repeating from memory, keep doing this until you can repeat the whole song. When a large amount of songs need to be memorised for a theatrical show or opera performance, learn the ones you like the least first!

1. Read and repeat the words in short bursts - little and often is more effective than trying to cram it in over several hours.

2. Make notes about the songs theme and imagery.

3. Make a tape of yourself speaking and singing the lyrics.

4. Speak and sing the rhythm of the song.

5. Write or type the words whilst repeating them.

6. Associate foreign words with ones you already know.

7. Learn the words whilst playing a practice track in the car or when doing odd jobs.

8. Learn the lyrics in reverse order (last verse first) and repeat the words at various times during the day.

9. Repeat the song every day, singing or saying the words out loud.

10. Use vivid, humorous and exaggerated images or symbols to help associate the words

11. Associate each word with an image, combining these to create a journey through the song.

12. Memorise the words without the music then put it together with the music.

13. Try to 'hear' the song and the words in your head whilst watching tv or listening to another song.

14. Your brain keeps working at night so run through what you have learnt before you go to sleep.

15. If you have a practice tape, play it at low volume as you are falling asleep.

16. When learning 'harmonies' or 'backing vocals' record a tape of your part alone and one with all the other singers parts. Practice to your part then along with the other singers parts.

17. Practice a verse whilst doing something repetative (like washing up!)

18. Keep copies of the song everywhere! In the car, bathroom, by the telephone and practice the words whenever you can.

19. Carry a portable tape player and headphones with you where ever you go - listen to it on the bus, during tea breaks and during lunch breaks.

20. Reward yourself with a treat when you have successfully memorised the words and can sing it through in front of friends without referring to the words.

Once you have learnt a song, review it often to keep it fresh and reinforce the memory.
Tips for Readers

There are some singers who have real problems memorizing lyrics, to the point that they just cannot sing the song without referring to the words. Perhaps the singer deputises for others and requires a larger than usual repertoire of songs.

Whatever the reason the singer feels they need to have reference material on stage, there are a few things that can be done to avoid appearing amateurish and unprofessional.

Learn to 'read ahead' of the music. Quickly scanning the words ahead of the point that you are currently at allows you to look at the audience whilst singing - instead of at the music!

Try not to look at the words or sheet music unless you are really stuck! If you only need to look at the words occassionally for reference, put the music stand or sheet music at the side of the stage. Wander over between songs to take a quick look, keep talking to the audience or take a sip of water whilst you do this so that it appears natural and not as if you are really brushing up on the words!

Learn to 'improvise' or replace the words with your own if you forget the originals - it's not as professional and if you are performing a well known song then members of the audience will notice, but singing something rather than stopping altogether is more likely to 'jog' the memory and help you to pick up the song at a point you remember (like the chorus).

When using a music stand, avoid putting it right in front of you. Place it as far away from you as possible to the side most comfortable for reference and angle it slightly towards you.

If you are short sighted and unable to avoid placing the stand right next to you, lower it so that the audiences view is unhampered. Write the lyrics out in large print and place them in plastic 'anti-glare' pockets. You can purchase ready made folders with these attached in most stationary shops.

Try using 'Cue Cards' - one singer I know writes the first word or line of each verse and chorus onto a large card that is placed at the side of the stage. Reading the line enables her to remember the rest of the verse or chorus.

Cue Cards can also be used for audience participation - if you have real problems learning the words - write them out in large print onto a card, place them on a stand angled slightly towards the audience and invite them to join in!!

Become a Karaoke Jockey - reading the lyrics from the screen is expected!

Sight Reading
10 Free Sight Reading Tips

Ten amazing free secrets help to sight-read any sheet music notation for piano, by Howard Richman the author of Super Sight-reading Secrets at Sound Feelings. This free information provides self-study tools and solutions on reading music like a professional. Sight reading takes time to improve, as with any self-improvement program, but these helpful tips will show you how to get there faster than you ever believed possible!

1 Develop Your “Relative” Sense of Touch.
Acquire the skill of playing so that you don”t need to look down at your hands. Without looking at the keyboard, glide your hands so you feel the two and three black keys (like Braille.) When you need a C, D, or E, feel for the “2s.” When you need an F, G, A, or B, feel for the “3s.”

2 Develop Your “Absolute” Sense of Touch.
Always sit in the same place. Middle “D” is recommended because it creates a symmetrical pattern in both directions.

3 Practice Finger Technique Without Looking at Your Hands.
A creative way to do this is to play your scales and arpeggios in the dark. This will add confidence to your sense of touch.

4 Learn the Four Groups of the Lines and Spaces:

Lines in the Treble “E G B D F”
Lines in the Bass “G B D F A”
Spaces in the Treble “F A C E”
Spaces in the Bass “A C E G”

5 Practice Only the Rhythmic Information.
In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct pitches.

6 Practice Only the Pitch and Fingering Information.
In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct rhythm.

7 Play Easy Pieces up to Tempo.
Force yourself to keep going no matter what. Don”t worry about mistakes. This helps you to look ahead.

8 Play Difficult Pieces Super Slowly.
Don”t dare make even one mistake. This helps to develop accuracy.

9 Look For Patterns in Music.
Don”t be afraid to look way ahead for a second just so you can anticipate what will be easy or difficult. Patterns are easy. If you detect a pattern then you can devote your concentration to other things.

10 Study Music Theory.
Professional sight-readers never read every note! They get a sense of the overall chord and “fill-in” the blanks. With a solid knowledge of music theory, this becomes natural and immediate.

Vocalises
List of vocalises plus vocalise books and other books providing vocal exercises for singers klik

Vocal Health
Singers health related articles & advice with links to medical resources, diagrams and descriptions of common medical ailments encountered by voice users e.g., Hoarseness, Gerd, Nodes....
Colds, Flu, Hoarseness and Voice Loss

There have been several questions about what to do when contracting viral infections and the subsequent hoarseness and voice loss so I thought it would be helpful to include a section here for anyone suffering!! I am Not a Doctor or Medical Practitioner and advise professional attention should always be sought, however as a regular sufferer of Flu, Laryngitis, Pneumonia, and Bronchial complaints I can provide a few tips!! Regardless of the infection contracted or even if you experience hoarseness and loss of voice through strain/stress the following should aid in prevention and/or recovery.

1. Drink plenty of Water.

2. Avoid Tea, Coffee, Cream & Alcohol before singing as these can have a dehydrating effect.

3. Take Vitamin C tablets or eat fruits/vegetables rich in Vitamin C to aid your bodies natural defenses. Hot Lemon & Honey or Blackcurrant both contain vitamin C and anti-viral properties and fresh ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties - grate a little ginger and add it to hot water, sweeten with honey if required.

4. REST!!

5. Severe, violent coughing can injure the vocal folds. Cough Syrup and Lozenges can help, Vocalzone are good and reliable sources have informed me that Slippery Elm lozenges and other products are used by some singers to soothe the throat in the US. Triogesic Tablets relieves conjestion, prevents coughing and is available from most Chemists although it should not be taken with any other paracetamol products or decongestants and should be avoided by pregnant or nursing mothers and Dextromethorphan based products also help to suppress coughing although some people may experience dizziness.

6. Hot Water Steam Inhalation, with or without a few drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint or other Essential Oil helps to clear the sinuses. Many proprietry brands like Karvol, Olbas Oil and Vicks Vaporub use aromatherapy oils as their main ingredient but you should be careful using these products as menthol can have a drying effect.... use sparingly.

7. Do NOT attempt to Sing and avoid Talking until all medication is finished to allow the inflammation an opportunity to reduce.

8. On recovery start with some gentle humming for 5-10 minutes at a time and slowly build up to a few vocal exercises in your mid-range gradually expanding the range over several days. The rate of recovery will depend on the severity of illness and how experienced a singer you are. Any recurrance of hoarseness stop and rest the voice for another couple of days.


Books for Singers
Audio books and books for singers on singing including exercises, history, theory and advice for beginners to advanced vocalists and performers.

Fitness Exercises
Physical Exercises for Singers, article on physical fitness for singers includes simple exercises and links to related resources
Fitness Q & A

Q. Does height or weight matter?
A. NO! Although it is better for your health and stamina to be at the right weight for your height and age, there are singers of all shapes and sizes. Lack of breath support and/or range can be caused by dramatic weight gain or weight loss but is usually regained with re-training & exercise.

Q. How fit do I need to be to become a singer?
A. Singers can use quite a lot of energy on stage depending on the type of show they are presenting. It is advisable to be reasonably fit. Take care of your health and do exercises in moderation. You don't need to be a fitness freak, but you do need to have enough stamina to last you through a whole performance. Anything that improves the body helps the voice.

Q. How can I improve my stamina? swimming image
A. Swimming is excellent for helping to improve stamina, fitness and breathing control. Like every type of physical exercise you can start slowly and increase the amount you do as your fitness improves.

Q. So what exercises are good for singers and why?
A. Any aerobic exercise including walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, tennis as these help to develop heart, lung strength and endurance. Co-ordination exercises like Yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Tai Chi etc., are good as they help to develop body awareness and aid in relaxation.

Q. I enjoy weight training - is this good for singing?
A. The main problem with muscle conditioning exercises (like sit ups, crunches) is the possibility of tension in the neck and shoulders. If you are aware of this problem and don't overdo the training, plus balance it out with a session of relaxation or co-ordination exercises then you should be fine.

Q. I can't do aerobics - any suggestions?
A. One of the exercise systems that helps to improve your flexibility and muscle tone without jumping around is Callanetics. It works on the principle of using very small movements concentrating on various muscles and areas of the body. Some of the exercises are based on stretching and relaxing. Similar techniques which have been suggested by associates are Pliates and the Alexander Technique. There are books and video's available in most major bookshops and libraries. These may not be suitable for some so check with your doctor.

Q. What exercises should I avoid?
Avoid any exercises that encourage or lead to shallow breathing, neck or shoulder tension. Give yourself at least a couple of hours between exercising and singing. Avoid strenuous exercise on the day of a performance unless you are fit and know what you are doing!


Posture Exercises
Advice on posture with exercises to help singers achieve correct posture to improve their singing and movement.
Posture and movement for singers are an integral part of any tutors teaching. Part of being able to sing well includes the ability to be aware of your body, identify and correct problems that arise due to incorrect posture. This is where a singing teacher becomes essential as they can observe your movements during singing and provide you with immediate corrective advice.

This does not mean that your posture needs to be perfect!

Standing naturally ensuring the head, neck and shoulders are relaxed is the correct posture for singing.

Whilst most people do this automatically, there are others whose posture has become lazy, or who have developed bad habits that can inhibit their singing which is why we've provided some guidelines, do's and dont's and exercises to help improve your posture.

Please Note:- This does not mean that you will not be a singer if your posture is less than perfect or that if you suffer with a disability that you cannot sing. Posture is not a substitute for vocal talent, just a means of improving your control and providing your voice with optimum conditions for reaching its potential.
Posture Do's and Dont's

Anatomy Man Do.....
Be relaxed and natural
Keep your movements fluid
Keep your chin level
Keep your knees loose
Keep your head up
Keep your shoulders sloping and relaxed
Keep your toes pointed forward with your weight on heels and soles
Keep the front of your neck loose - don't stretch it
Keep abdominal muscles relaxed
Keep your back muscles relaxed
Smile!

Don't.....
Drop or hunch your shoulders
Move stiffly or jerkily
Drop or tuck in your chin when trying to sing low notes
Stretch your head upward when trying to sing high notes
Strain or push your abdominal muscles

Exercises for Improving Posture

The exercises below are used by schools and deportment teachers to help models, actors and singers achieve correct posture. This age old practice has been used for years and are designed to help you become more aware of how your body works, therefore enabling you to move fluidly and correct mistakes as you feel them happening. Take them at your own pace. Master one exercise before moving on to the next. Don't rush or try to do too much in one day.

Please Note: Whilst the following exercises are easy and safe to do people with disabilities, back pain or any physical disorders should consult a physician before attempting any form of exercise.

For these exercises you will need:

A long mirror (preferably full length)
A largish book of medium weight
Wear comfy loose clothing
Wear flat shoes, trainers or bare feet.
A flat long surface i.e., hallway or enough room to walk several paces.
A friend who can observe and make constructive comments & notes.
Patience & a good sense of humour!

All movements should be fluid and breathing natural.

Place the mirror in a position at the end of the hallway or room where you can see the whole of (or at the least the top half) of your body.

Stand facing the mirror. Study how you stand and compare with the Do's and Dont's above and make adjustments to your posture if necessary.

Stand at the end of the walk space and walk naturally towards the mirror observing your movements and posture as you walk. Compare with the Do's and Dont's above and make adjustments to your posture if necessary.

When walking your weight should be mainly on the balls of your feet, so your heels just lightly touch the floor, with the majority of movement from the hips and legs. The upper body should remain straight, relaxed and not 'swing' from side to side.

Even if it seems that you are standing and moving with the correct posture it is difficult without an impartial, experienced observer who will notice bad habits that may appear normal to you.

The following exercises will not work if your posture is incorrect!! 5 to 10 minutes practice a day will help you to achieve better posture, the ideal is to reach a point whereby your posture and movements become automatic and unconcious.

Exercise 1

Place the book centrally on the top of your head.

Turn your head slowly to the left, return to center then repeat the exercises turning your head to the right. The head movements should be smooth with eyes ahead, chin level, head, neck and shoulders relaxed. If the exercise is done correctly the book will remain in place. Tense up, drop the jaw or move jerkily & the book will fall! Repeat this exercise until you can do it several times without the book falling off.

Exercise 2

Stand at the end of the walk space and place the book centrally on the top of your head.

Walk normally towards the mirror, observing your posture as you walk. If your posture is correct and your movements are smooth then the book will remain in place - if not it will fall! Repeat this exercise until you can walk the length of the space without the book falling.

Exercise 3

Stand at the end of the walk space and place the book centrally on the top of your head.

Walk normally towards the end of the walkspace, turn and walk back towards the starting point. If your posture is correct and your movements are smooth then the book will remain in place - if not it will fall! Repeat this exercise until you can do the exercise without the book falling.



Vocal Singing Exercises
Singing lessons, Advice and Exercises for beginners with links to online singing exercises and articles for intermediate and advanced singers.
Free vocal singing exercises online complete with midi scales to help you practice, plus singers articles and links to sites offering vocal exercises.

When you have mastered your breathing, the following free singing exercises will help you on the path to improving and understanding your voice.

The key to a good rehearsal is to ensure that you achieve the following before starting:
Abdominal breathing
Good posture
Breath during natural pauses
Keep your chin level
Keep your knees loose
Keep your head up
Keep your shoulders sloping and relaxed
Keep your toes pointed forward with your weight on heels and soles
Keep the front of your neck loose - don't stretch it
Keep abdominal muscles relaxed
Keep your back muscles relaxed
Avoid holding your shoulders lifted and puffed out
Relax and SMILE.
If your having a bad day or feel tense and stressed, this can affect your practices and performance. To help achieve consistancy do a few Relaxation Exercises before your rehearsal. If it all starts going horribly wrong, take a break, relax or do something else and try again later.

Stand with your shoulders relaxed, arms by your side.

Breath in slowly.

Sing one note, holding the note for as long as you can without becoming short of breath.

Do NOT suck in your stomach!

Repeat the exercise with different notes using doh, ray, me, far, so, la, te, doh.

Use different mouth shapes and vowels like "ooh", "ee", "a" and "aah"

Try singing up and down a scale (called an arpeggio).

Sing short notes (known as Staccato) as well as long ones.

Practice along with our free online midi scales!!
Vocal Scales - Click Here

animated mouth Sing phrases to improve diction: Examples:-
'I really love to sing' (going up the scale)
'Do,re,me,fa,so,la,te,do'
'La, Lo, Le, Lo'
'Ma, Mo, Me, Mo'
'Ta, To, Te, To'
'Hi, He, Ha, Ho, Hu'
'Qua, Quo, Que, Quo'
'Fluffy Floppy Puppy'
'Lolli, lolli, lolli, lolli pop'
'Bring back the boys big brown blue baseball bats'
'Sally saw silvester stacking silver saucers side by side'
(c-e-d-f-e-g-f-a-g-b-a-c--b-d-c up the scale then down the opposite way)
(suggested by Erica Zweig posted to Vocalist Newsgroup.

To feel the difference between raised and normal positioning of the larynx, place your fingers gently on your throat and try to talk as if you were a child or use 'baby talk'.

Record your efforts, notice the notes that do not sound right and concentrate on those until they do! Listen to the difference in your recordings over the next few weeks practice sessions to hear the improvement in your voice.

Vocal Scales
Midi scales with text instructions for vocalists to practice their singing online.
Internet Amp Instructions

Apologies folks, we are encountering problems with the Internet Amp Player and have removed it to prevent visitors browsers crashing. There are two other players available - please use one of the alternatives until we get this issue fixed. Click Here to try our alternative player or try out the new FLASH PLAYER !! (opens in a new window). Javascript must be enabled on your computer for these players to function.

Singing Exercises & Scales

* Stand with your shoulders relaxed, arms by your side.

* Breath in slowly.

* Start with the Scales singing Ooh, Eee, Aa, Aah to each scale.

* Sing one note, holding the note for as long as you can without becoming short of breath.

* Do NOT suck in your stomach!

* Repeat the exercise with different notes using doh, ray, me, far, so, la, te, doh.

* Use different mouth shapes like "ooh", "ee", "a" and "aah" - Practice to OEAAH.

* Try singing up and down a scale (called an arpeggio). Practice to each of the scales listed below.

* Sing short notes (known as Staccato) as well as long ones - Practice to Staccato.

* Record your efforts, notice the notes that do not sound right and concentrate on those until they do!

* Listen to the difference in your recordings over the next few weeks practice sessions to hear the improvement in your voice.


We have provided a full list of scales A to G including sharps/flats. The following is a list of midi files for you to practice online.

Each of the midi scales has 3 Octaves (apologies to those who require higher or lower than this) pick the most comfortable or you can practice to all three if your range reaches to that extent. DO NOT OVERSTRETCH YOUR VOICE - if you cannot reach a note do not attempt to push your voice or you may damage your vocal chords.

Practice each scale using one shape at a time i.e., Ooh - then repeat with Ee, Aa, Aah.

A Scale - 3 Octaves of the A scale.
A#/Bb Scale - 3 Octaves.
B Scale - 3 Octaves of the B scale.
C Scale - 3 Octaves of the C scale.
C#/Db Scale - 3 Octaves.
D Scale - 3 Octaves of the D scale.
D#/Eb Scale - 3 Octaves.
E Scale - 3 Octaves.
F Scale - 3 Octaves.
F#/Gb Scale - 3 Octaves.
G Scale - 3 Octaves.

Ohh, Ee, Aa, Aah - 1 Octave split into 2 bars of each note including sharps/flats - sing the whole section with all the shapes starting with Ooh for 2 beats, then Ee, Aa, Aah for 2 beats each which will complete the 2 bar section, continue through the whole exercise.

Staccato - 1 Octave split into 2 bars of each note including sharps/flats - begin with one shape i.e., Aah and sing all the way through then repeat with each shape.

Practice all of the above with various mouth shapes & sounds and take note of how your voice sounds with each, the position of your tongue and the feeling it creates in your body. Watch yourself in a mirror and ensure that you remain relaxed whilst you practice - do not tense your neck, shoulder or throat muscles during these exercises.

Practise these every day if possible - Once a week is the minimum you need to exercise your vocal scales but we recommend you use a daily routine which includes breathing exercises and relaxation - this can be achieved in an hour so theres no excuse!


Vocal Software
Includes articles and reviews on vocal removers, vocoders, vocal effects plugins, spectograph frequencies and harmonics plus online and downloadable spectographs.
Spectographs or Spectral Analysers offer you the opportunity to see what fundamental & overtones a singer produces in real time or by comparing recorded sounds. Download and try it out singing various pitch, vowel and volume combinations! There are several freeware and shareware programs listed below, plus information on frequencies, harmonics and links to tutorials. You will need a microphone to use these programs (any cheap computer microphone will do).

Free Spectograph Software

Armadillo
Sofware for real time analysis of musical sounds for Power Macintosh with 16 bit sound. The primary objective of Armadillo is to provide a convenient way to quickly analyze musical sounds on an inexpensive computer without the need for specialized hardware. The site provides 3D graph sample displays for the Phase Vocoder Analysis, Real Time Fourier Analysis of a Voice, Tuning Window, example .aiff files, users manual and step by step guides.

This free real-time spectral analysis program is a small 268K in size, available from their website: http://ben.music.uiuc.edu/beaucham/software/armadillo/

FFT Properties - Spectram Analyser
PC based report oriented real time Scope/Spectrum analyzer. It features parametric windows, peak interpolation, rich set of peak marking features, on-line wavelets decomposition, higher order spectral analysis, cross and auto correlation, cepstral analysis, cross spectral analysis, FIR filter designer, decimation and interpolation, advanced printing and high quality charts.

Fastest Fourier Transform in the West
FFTW free GNU software is a C subroutine library for computing the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) in one or more dimensions.

Gram 6 Spectograph software
A dual channel audio spectrum analyzer for Windows 95 which can provide either a scrolling time-frequency display or a spectrum analyzer scope display in real time for any sound source connected to your sound card.

It also allows recording and playback of sounds, and can provide very high resolution spectrum analysis of wave files with a wide choice of frequency bands and frequency resolution and either linear or logarithmic frequency scales.

Spectrogram is ideal for any purpose related to sound spectrum analysis including: analysis and identification of biological sounds, analysis and identification of human speech, analysis of musical performances, tuning of musical instruments, evaluation and calibration of home audio systems, ham Radio audio reception and tuning, analysis of radio interference including atmospheric, electromagnetic effects.
Right Click link & 'Save As' to Download Gram 6 (442 kb). The authors website: http://www.monumental.com/rshorne/ (no longer available or moved?)

Sound Software Spectrograph 1.0
is a small utility that displays a frequency/amplitude graph of sound in real-time from the microphone or line-in.

A spectrogram or voiceprint, is a picture in which:
The brightness of a position represents the amplitude of a frequency component
The vertical axis represents frequency of sound
The horizontal axis represents time

Features:
Smooth scrolling display, selectable brightness, maximum frequency, scroll speed, resolution and palette color scheme. Sampling from 8 kHz to 44.1 kHz

Requires: Windows 95/98, Full-duplex sound card & Microsoft DirectX 6.1 or higher

Click Here to download freeware program winspec.exe (124.08KB). The authors website: http://www.soundsoftware.fsnet.co.uk - Sound Software - (no longer available or moved?).

SpectroGraph 1.0 for iTunes
SpectroGraph is a simple freeware visual plugin for iTunes for Mac OS X that displays a graph of the frequency content of a sound. Visual plugins are supported from version 1.1 on. The plugin is based on the iTunesXPlugIn sample code.

Features: Horizontal or vertical scrolling, color, grayscale display, invert the spectrogram or restart drawing at the left or top at any moment. Click Here to visit the authors site and download.

Spectogram

Up to 24 bit, 96 kHz Analysis.
Compatible with Windows Vista and XP
This Freeware program is a calibrated, dual channel audio spectrum analyzer for Windows that can provide either a scrolling time-frequency display or a spectrum analyzer scope display in real time for any sound source connected to your sound card. Spectrogram allows unlimited recording and playback of the sounds from the spectrum display and can provide high resolution spectrum analysis with a wide choice of frequency bands and frequency resolutions and either linear or logarithmic frequency scales.

The vOICe Sonification Applet - Draw your own Sound!

Explore synesthetic sound & vision
Compose your own music fragments
Create your own sonic sculptures
Teach yourself polyphonic listening
Even learn about vision substitution

Seeing with sound: seeing with your ears!

This fully interactive page allows you to draw your own 64 × 64, 16 grey-tone image and immediately hear the corresponding 64-voice polyphonic soundscape being synthesized on the fly! See and hear how The vOICe mapping works for your input. The 64-channel sound synthesis here maps the image into an exponentially distributed [500 Hz, 4 kHz] frequency interval for a 1.05 second soundscape.

Furthermore, you can view sound waves, sonify existing images, train for audiovisual synesthesia, perform on-line composing, make soundscape animations and create spectrograms.

The vOICe mapping: vertical positions of points in a soundscape are represented by pitch, while horizontal positions are represented by time-after-click. Brightness is represented by loudness. In this manner, pixels become... voicels!

Online vOICe Java Applet - Java applet for online spectrographic sound synthesis and analysis. Includes examples in the area of speech and music synthesis/analysis.
Click Here to use online, download and find more information. (Please be patient it takes a while to load) or visit The vOICe Sonification Applet Homepage


Voice2voice 1.0
"v2v is based on voice2voice VoiceSync's balancing tone generation technology, it uses symmetric a mirror composition of voice formants as a harmonizing sound, it therefore compensates excess tones reducing their power and increases weak ones raising them, the result is a familiar sound very close to nature environments that relaxes and increases your concentration. You can mix v2v tones with your favourite music. voicesync SW tools perform voice analysis and generates voice2voice (v2v) relaxing and balancing tones. Click Here to download 379K freeware from Cnet or visit the authors site Roberto Forcen.

Voice Balancing System 1.0
"VBS. Voice Balancing System. Analyses your voice and generates a v2v (Voice2Voice) balancing tones, includes: easy open wav file capability, complete wav file parameter display (samples, samp. rate, etc...) , real time recording, analyses up to 25" of voice with circular buffer management, save recording to .WAV file for later use, sound graph with Pan/Zoom capabilities, musical grid containing power proportional hits of musical notes, bar graphs associated to musical grid displaying totals and octave bars, plays note contained on musical grid, info grid with complete set of PHI (0.618...) based relations of formants.

Full 5 octave FFT display with local scale and Note grid optional display. Radial spectrograph in note/octave and FFT format, Harmonic wheel with musical notes relations. V2V graph containing formants and mirror values (max-v(i)) Formant grid, v2v Tone control generation panel.

Other programs available include:
Notes & Colors
See the colors of twelve musical notes and hear them in different octaves

Voice Params
Analyses main voice parameters including Shimmer (volume variations), Jitter (freq. Variations) and N2H (Noise to Harmonic). Exhaustive studies can be found linking measurements and variation of these parameters with emotional and physical states.

Voice spectrogram
Displays freq. evolution in time and measures the range that contains 50% of voice power, it”s useful to study voice rhythm and ”see” voice with time perspective

PHI analyzer
Counts the number of PHI relations in voice frequency formants and displays a graph with its evolution in time.

Radial spectrograph
Displays accumulated voice frequencies in a radial format providing a convenient depicture of voice freq. distribution, accumulated freq. distribution 'shape' can provide extensive information about the speaker. See the difference between these shapes depending on your emotional state. Spectrum data can be copied to clipboard in a two column table containing (Hz, Power 0..100), enabling pasting from MS-Excel® or any text editor

Harrison Scale
a musical scale based in PI number, more precisely in (2^(1/(2*PI))), instead of 2^(1/12) in temperate one, defining two constants for musical fifth (1.494411510) and fourth (1.338319457).

VoiceRings
Talk and see animated concentric color rings following your voice, colors and number of rings are calculated from frequency and number of voice formants

These are fully functional free programs but if you want to support their development and the authors efforts a donation is helpful. Visit the authors site Roberto Forcen to read more and download these programs for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP.

Wavesurfer
is an Open Source tool for sound visualization and manipulation. It has been designed to suit both novice and advanced users. WaveSurfer has a simple and logical user interface that provides functionality in an intuitive way and which can be adapted to different tasks. It can be used as a stand-alone tool suited for a wide range of tasks in speech research and education, but is also a platform for more advanced applications. WaveSurfer can be extended through plug-ins. It is also possible to embedded it in other applications or to control it remotely.

WaveSurfer 1.0.4 released July 24, 2001

Recent features

Ogg/Vorbis file format support through plug-in
Transcription plugin supports encodings and Unicode
Localization support
New functionality for HTK/MLF files, multiple -mlf options can now be specified
Nicer looking interface on the Mac

Highlights:

Multi-platform - Linux, Windows 95/98/NT/2K, Macintosh, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, FreeBSD, and SGI IRIX
Flexible interface - handles multiple sounds
Common sound file formats - reads, and writes WAV, AU, AIFF, MP3, CSL, SD, and NIST/Sphere
Transcription file formats - reads, and writes HTK (and MLF), TIMIT, ESPS/Waves+, and Phondat.
Unlimited file size - playback and recording directly from/to disk
Sound analysis - e.g. spectrogram and pitch analysis
Customizable - users can create their own configurations
Extensible - new functionality can be added through a plugin architecture
Embeddable - WaveSurfer can be used as a widget in custom applications
Scriptable - hosts a built-in script interpreter

WaveSurfer - an open source speech tool (ps format) (paper in pdf format) a paper presented at the ICSLP 2000 conference in Beijing, China.
WaveSurfer is being developed at the Centre for Speech Technology (CTT) at KTH in Stockholm, Sweden, and is provided as open source, under a BSD style license. Visit Wavesurfer site to download software.

WaveTools
A suite of real-time audio analysis tools for high quality measurements:
Spectrum analyser and oscilloscope (with calibration in dB or Volts)
Signal Generator (tones plus pink and white noise)
Audio Meter / Vectorscope. Oscilloscope - a dual-channel storage oscilloscope Spectrum Analyser - a narrowband spectrum analyser. The display shows level (Y-axis) against frequency (X-axis) Audio Meter - provides stereo peak meters, stereo RMS (average) meters, phase correlation meter, vectroscope and peak hold. Signal Generator - produce test tones from 20 Hz to 20 kHz plus white and pink noise. 1/3-octave band frequencies and musical notes (based on A440) can be directly selected from the menu.