Anyone Can Sing | Take A Minute To Sing Episode 9: Singing Consonants

Take a Minute to Sing Episode 9: Singing Consonants

This lesson deals with the “singing consonants”. A singing consonant is one where a tone can be held out like it is on a vowel.
Most consonants like “c”, “d”, “f”, “g”, “h”, etc. can’t sustain a tone, and are important to help distinguish words.

The singing consonants are:

“L” – the tongue touches on the upper ridge behind the teeth
“M” – both lips come together
“N” – the tip of the tongue also goes up to the upper ridge, but there is less room in the back of the mouth
“NG” — the back of the tongue touches the back of the soft palate
“R” — the tongue cups or curls slightly

Practice making these sounds on a tone, then rehearse them on a word, first by anticipating them and then holding the vowel that precedes them.

Here are some examples:

“Well”….. “WEHLLLLL”, “WEH——L”
“Him”….. “HIMMMM”, “HIH——–M”
“Win”….. “WINNNNN”, “WIH——-N”
“Sing”….. “SINGGGGG”, “SIH———NG”
“Her”…… “HERRRRRR”, “HUH——-R”

Now try this exercise on the word “Sing-ing”:
Sing the word “sing” on a C and go up a fifth interval to G for the “ing”.
Keep going up fifths moving up half steps like C-G, Db-Ab, D-A, Eb-Bb, E-B, F-C, Gb-Db, and G-D.

Always pay attention to your voice; best to work with a professional teacher when possible, and always take a minute to sing!