DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUSTAIN A NOTE

Sustaining (holding) a note may seem to be one of the simplest any singer does. It’s when a singer chooses a pitch, sings it, and holds the sound. Although there are many choices you can make to hold a note. Each of these choices creates a different melodious effect. The way in which a singer sustains the notes will affect their sound, emotional impact, dynamics, and musical expression. Learning to master these building blocks gives a singer the freedom to express and communicate their emotions behind the song.

Sustaining Notes

To sustain notes means to hold a certain pitch for a specific length of time. While the singer holds the note, they also coordinate breathing, phonation, reverberation and musical intention. The singer can also change the dynamics, tonal color, add vibrato, or increase intensity.

Sustaining a Solid (Steady or straight) Tone

A straight tone is with controlled pitch stability. All singers sustain a note with a consistent pitch, dynamic, and tone. When sustaining a note it is important that your pitch remains firm, no rise or fall. Close out the word before you run out of air. Running out of air will cause a singer to go flat. The basic approach to sustain a note is helpful for:

• Controlling breath
• A stable pitch
• Airflow (exhale) control

Using Vibrato

Vibrato is the fluctuation or fluttering of a note adding warmth and variation around a central pitch. Instead of holding the note solid or completely still, your voice makes tiny controlled movements with the note.

It’s important to never force vibrato, it will happen with good vocal technique, and efficient vocal fold coordination while relaxed. There are exercises to strengthen and control vibrato.

Using Crescendo

A crescendo is part of dynamics, going from soft to loud. While singing, gradually increase the sound while holding the note. This will create emotional intensity. Crescendos are very effective when a singer is building to a pivotal lyric or movement. It’s important to do this without pushing additional air or creating tension in the throat.

Using Decrescendo

This is the opposite approach of crescendo, you are decreasing the sound from loud to soft. Using decrescendo while singing will create a softer, more delicate ending. This technique allows the note to gradually disappear, instead of a sudden stop.

Emotional Changes While Holding Notes

A singer changes the emotional nature of the sound. If a note begins delicate and intimate, it can become passionate, fierce and then chill at the end.

The note being held can change through many tonal colors of a voice. The brighter sound could be perceived as exciting, while a darker sound may create a more sinister feeling.

Releasing a Note

It’s not just about holding a note, it also about how to end the sustained note. A singer should end the note cleanly. The best ways to release a note is cleanly, which means closing out the word without loss of breath, a smooth fade, or transition into another word. A singer should avoid a sudden drop because of limited breath or constriction of the throat when ending a note. Think of the note being released instead of dropped.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of ways to hold a note and each technique gives the singer different ways to express the song. Contact a vocal coach to learn how to hold a note steadily with proper technique. The key to it all is vocal control!