Why do some singers sing FLAT!?

You know the moment - you’re listening to one of your favorite songs, live, and the peak note is approaching the climax of the phrase, and as soon as the singer gets there, despite their focus and hope, its…..FLAT.  The whole song seems to depend on that note, that beautiful note that without its perfection just doesn’t seem to be complete! Tragedy!

So, what can we do? As singers, as teachers, we have to understand WHY some singers have pitch issues. To look at the entire picture of pitch issues, I would need to start another blog, but for now, I’m going to focus on the singer that already has developed ear training skills, and just occasionally, or on certain pitches in their range, sings flat.

The science of it comes down to friction. Like your basic tire that isn’t pumped up enough, it has drag and is too thick to get speed. Higher pitches require THINNER vocal folds (less friction!). They also require SHORTER vocal fold vibration. When a singer (unconsciously) over-thickens the cords through various means and faulty mental concepts, they struggle to maintain the EXACT measurement in thickness and length for the pitch requirement. 

There are two main culprits that influence the cords negatively in this adjustment, (usually caused by poor teaching and habits.)

1-Forcing all the airflow TOO FORWARD. The forward method does not allow the airflow/soundbeam that is being created at the vocal glottis to reach high enough in our sinus cavities (notice I said high enough, not wide enough).. ALL pitches and vowels must begin to move up and back in the sinus/head cavities as the pitches ascend. Without this coupling system of registration and resonance, the pitch will always suffer. LIFT and allow the resonance to be utilized. (I refer you to the Caesari Diagram for a brief guide, which shows a LOW vs. HIGH pitch.)

2-Pushing breath. The breath is the mover of the cords, but the resonance and registration are what create pitch and volume! Pushing/adding more breath will only THICKEN the cords, inhibiting the THINNING required as we ascend the scale! Despite popular belief, it is with the most minute breath possible that we are able to create pitch. The cords support themselves with the body of muscle systems and cartilages that surround and operate them. The breath moves the cords, simply, and gently by encouraging the vibration. Anything beyond that will disrupt the registration, and therefore pitch. 

So, accurate pitch requires a gradual shift of resonance adjustment and a minimum amount of breath. Your vocal cords will thank you by integrating these concepts and habits that will maintain their health and sustenance for decades.

Happy practicing!