The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55998   Message #873371
Posted By: GUEST
23-Jan-03 - 07:49 PM
Thread Name: Yodeling...how to get started
Subject: RE: Yodeling...how to get started
Yes, going back and forth from your chest to your head voice while holding the 'same' note is 'exactly' what I meant. It's very difficult at first and will force you to concentrate on your pitch control betweeen the two voices. Another technique I learned from a classically trained singer is to go down the scale in this manner: I'll use the key of 'D' as it's in my range(2nd tenor...you'll have to adjust the key for your voice register). Start on an A note(5th fret on high E string on the guitar)with the vowell sound of 'ee'. Drop to an F#(2nd fret-same string)holding the same vowell sound(ee) to a D note(2nd string-3d fret)again holding the 'ee' sound. While holding the note switch to an 'ah' sound in falsetto. Hold for a few seconds then switch to your chest voice while holding the same note and vowell sound. Then continue down the scale to the lower octave D note in your chest voice. The vowell sounds will look like this: EE...EE...EE-AH-AH...AH...AH...AH...AH...AH...AH...AH   The corrosponding notes will go: A-F#-D-D-D-C#-B-A-G-F#-E-D The 3 D's is a row will all be at the same pitch with 3 different sounds. Remember to hold your jaw still while just moving the back of your tongue to get the ee to ah sound. EE -back of tongue up and slightly pressed against the throat...AH-back of tongue is relaxed. Once you can do this simply practice going up by half steps, but maintaining the same intervals, ie starting at Bb(ee-head) to G(ee-head) to Eb(ee-head, ah-head, ah-chest)then down the scale to Eb(ah-chest). What you're doing is descending from the 5th to the 3d to the tonic(or root)...holding the tonic with 3 different sounds then continuing to the lower octave down the scale. You can practice going lower(start on an Ab to F to Db(C#) and so on until you're comfortable with it. What this exercise, also accomplishes is revealing the 'trouble spot' in your vocal range and how you can strengthen it to where it's not as noticeable(to you or anyone else). Then after a while you can add a metronome if you like. Sorry, to have gone on, but sometimes a lengthy explanation is the only way to get it right. 'Lovesick Blues' is one of the first songs I learned and an excellent yodel exercise. Was making a joke, sort of, but Slim Whitman songs are great, too. And 'Night Rider's Lament' just isn't complete without it.