Don-

Let's just go back to the question that started this particular series: How to sing in the higher ranges of the bass range, that is, to the F or G above middle C? I will try an analysis from the Reid perspective. Whether you buy it or not is up to you.

In your note of 27 Aug 08 you say you can go up to the B flat below middle C but above that its uncomfortable for you. In your note of 28 Aug 08 you say you can sing the G above middle C in falsetto.

There's something interesting going on here because you should be able to take your chest register up to the E above middle C (so Reid would say). Some questions in my head: Are you pulling your larynx down as you go up? Are you singing with a fixed or tight lanryngeal position all along your range (there should be some natural movement—but not much)? Are you singing in a voice too large for you?

You say you have a falsetto. (Let's leave aside questions of falsetto vs. head register; Reid would say they are the same. Let's take Reid for now.) How high can you take it: C or D or even E above C above middle C? We would have to make sure that you can sing it ("oo" vowel, soft, breathy) without bringing in the chest register (metallic, sharp edge). Can you sing this pure falsetto one note at a time down to F above middle C? Ok, back up again to C or D. Sing a falsetto "oo" vowel, then without changing the shape of the throat, change the vowel to an "ah." The same thing one note at a time down to the F above middle C. Now start again at high C from ""oo" to "ah" but now gradually crescendo on the "ah" without bringing in the chest. Keep the shape of the throat the same.

Now try doing the "oo" to "ah" with crescendo down to the D above middle C without bringing in the chest. It's ok if you can do this only until the F above middle C.

Now, let's go down to the A below C below middle C. On a medium soft "ah" take an octave jump to the A below middle C without changing the shape of the throat. The octave jump should be as soft as you can make it (no scooping). Instead of the octave jump "ah" you can sing "hah". It may or may not go into falsetto; just kept the higher A soft. If the higher A shifts to falsetto that's ok. Move up one note at a time, medium soft lower "ah" (firm chest sound, though) to soft higher "ah." The "ah" should be the same vowel sound at both ends. You can go up to the G below middle C. Then move the octave jumps downward. Then start over again on the falsetto side.

There's a logic, albeit Reid-ian, to these exercises. First you isolate the falsetto (high "oo"). Then you strengthen it along its range ("oo" down to F above middle C). Then you gradually bring in a little chest ("oo" to "ah"). Then bring in even more chest ("oo" to "ah" then crescendo on the "ah") but making sure the head predominates. Then you bring the chest and head together, making sure the chest doesn't overpower the head (octave jumps, medium soft bottom "ah" to soft octave "ah" moving up into head register range (above F above middle C). Note the basic tools of Reid: Vowel sound, pitch, and volume.