How to understand the “voice crack” and make it your friend.
Arguably the most feared element of singing, the “voice crack” or "vocal crack" could fill even the world’s best singers with dread. In this article I will explain why your voice cracks, how to stop your voice from cracking, why it could be your best asset as a singer and how you can finally stop fearing it and make it your friend.
You know what it’s like: you're happily singing away to this week’s favourite tune (it’s not just me whose favourite song changes weekly, right?) and suddenly “crack!”. Your voice completely caves in, makes that awful screeching sound, stopping you completely in your tracks.
If you’re anything like I was in my early singing days, this has happened to you more than a few times. It’s embarrassing, unnerving and can destroy your confidence - even if you’ve been singing for a while.
So how can you go from dreading your voice cracks, to making them your friend? Furthermore, why should you?
Why your voice cracks when you sing
Your vocal cords are made up of muscles and fibres that vibrate when air passes through them as you vocalise, to create sound. As your vocal cords vibrate they move closer together. When you want to vocalise a high pitch, they vibrate very close to each other; when you create a lower pitch, they are further apart.
When your voice cracks, all that is happening is that you are losing control of your cords, causing them to clap together, thereby creating an uneven, screechy sound.
It’s not necessarily that the note is too high; it’s just that you have reached the part of your voice where your chest and head registers meet.
When you have strong vocal control you’re much less likely to push or force your voice and you’ll experience voice cracks far less often.
How to stop your voice from cracking.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the ONLY safe way to avoid voice cracks is to learn proper singing techniques with a singing teacher.
A good singing teacher and voice coach will understand how your voice works and take you through technical exercises that will help you to navigate your tricky mid-range and create much smoother singing - and build your confidence at the same time.
The Good News…
While you don’t want your voice to crack all the time, and without purpose, you can use your vocal crack as a guide to understanding how your instrument works. Make it your friend and you will quickly learn where you need to pay special attention when you’re learning the techniques that will help you use your voice more effectively and improve your vocal health.
This is how I have helped my students to welcome the voice break, rather than fear it and cringe every it happens. Make friends with the voice crack use it as a tool for learning.
Famous Voice “Crackers”
Very skilled singers are able to make cracking part of their sound. Singers like Sia and Jessie J are notable for there excellent vocal control, even extending the length of the crack when they control where it happens.
This video shows Sia’s brilliant vocal skills and best voice cracks.
Sia voice cracks https://youtu.be/pOGzecladJ0
So now that you know that your vocal crack is not your enemy, you can learn how to stop your voice from cracking uncontrollably, learn to use it as a tool and even go on to use it as a highly advanced vocal effect.
Stay hydrated :)
If you hate reading and prefer to skip to the end, this is what you missed:
Your voice cracks when you reach the pitching area where two vocal registers meet.
There are a variety of ways you can strengthen the area and navigate the vocal crack.
You can also stop fearing your vocal cracks and make them your friend.
Your vocal cracks:
~ Show you where your voice changes registers
~ Help you build vocal control
~ You can use them as a guide to whether you’re using the right techniques correctly
~ Can be controlled and used as an effect.
Watch this video: