Falsetto, which is derived from the Italian word “fal’setto”, meaning “false” is one of the vocal registers that occupies a frequency-range. It is just above a modal-voice register that overlaps with around one octave.
Falsetto is produced when the vocal cord’s ligamentous edges start to vibrate in part or whole. It is commonly associated with singing and its a phonation characteristic for both sexes.
Falsetto is also described as the upper-register of male voices. It is the male-version of the head voice. The head voice is important for all types of music since it provides singers with easy access to the higher notes.
What Is Falsetto Or Head Voice?
Singing in falsetto or head voice will make more sense once you gain an understanding of how these sounds are produced. The two muscle groups that control the vocal cords are called the cricothyroids and the thyroarytenoids. The cricothyroids stretch the vocal cords out, while the thyroarytenoids shorten them.
The cricothyroids are the muscles that produce falsetto or head voice. This voice range can be compared to how a string instrument works. The tighter and thinner the string becomes, the higher the pitch becomes. The vocal cords do the same thing.
Head voice or falsetto is one of the registers of your voice. Another register that is frequently used in singing is a chest voice, where the thyroarytenoid muscles are mainly used.
How To Find Your Falsetto Voice
To find a falsetto voice, try imitating the way Mickey Mouse speaks. You will discover that the sounds made are higher and have a different quality when compared to the way you normally speak.
Exercises For Finding Your Falsetto Or Head Voice
Similar to any other type of singing “practice makes perfect”. Here are a few exercises to build your skill and familiarity in your falsetto or head-voice range.
-Relax
Your stretched-out and thinner vocal cords cannot work when your body is tense. Look in the mirror and practice your Mickey Mouse voice. As your body starts to relax it becomes easier to produce more sounds in a falsetto voice.
Here are the specific areas that you should focus on relaxing when making sounds in a head-voice range:
- Shoulders
- Neck
- Jaw
- Tongue
-Sing Like A Ghost
This exercise is derived from the common spooky “oOoOOOooOO” high voice that everyone should be familiar with. Practice doing this exercise in a falsetto voice.
– Open Wide
When you sing in a falsetto voice your mouth needs to open a lot more when singing high notes. If you have watched opera singers singing high notes you would have noticed that their mouths are always wide-open.
Speaking in a falsetto-register is usually possible for most all women and men. However, using falsetto is uncommon in most Western speech and is more often employed when displaying humor.