How to Learn Vibrato in Your Singing Voice

Anyone who has listened to opera singers has noticed how powerfully and masterfully they use vibrato in their voices. A common perception is that vibrato is an artificial extension of the singing voice that is extremely difficult to develop. In fact, while using it effectively may require extensive training, vibrato is a natural feature of the singing voice that tends to develop on its own when poor habits are eliminated. Here's how to get on the right path if you are a beginning singer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

How to Learn Vibrato in Your Singing Voice

1. Make certain you have adequate breath support when you sing. Before you produce a tone, fill your lungs completely. The diaphragm should expand to allow air in, but don't think of your lungs as being just in front; many singers have achieved good results by consciously expanding their lungs from the back as well. To develop good breath support, try filling up your lungs with air, and then, without producing sound, just allow the air to escape as slowly and evenly as possible, like air escaping from the mouth of a balloon.

2. Once you feel in control of your breathing, take a good breath and try singing a sustained note on the syllable "ah." This syllable keeps your throat open--it's important to keep your voice relaxed. The vibrato should develop naturally with a little patience.

3. If you need to give the process a boost, try repeatedly pushing in and releasing the diaphragm quickly with your fingertips. Don't force it.

Tips & Warnings

• To help relax and open the throat, some singers find it helpful to think of the sound as flowing into the throat rather than out of it. To check your throat for proper openness, stand before a mirror, say "ah," and make certain the uvula lifts itself. When it does, learn to duplicate the feeling when you sing.
• It's important to emphasize that you should never try to force vibrato; doing so will produce an unnatural sound.

Resources

• Become a Singing Master