Warm-ups · Beginner · Every style
NG siren into AH
NG (the end of "sing") keeps the back of the tongue up and the soft palate down: the easiest path for a siren. Opening to AH on the top note keeps the same placement as the mouth opens.
How to do it
- Hum on "ng" and slide up a fifth.
- Open to "ah" on the top note without letting the sound drop back.
- Walk down to the tonic on "ah".
Remember Open the mouth, keep the buzz.
| Numbers | 1 5 3 2 1 |
|---|---|
| Sargam | S P G R S |
| Solfa | do sol mi re do |
| Notes | G D B A G |
| Sung on | ng ah – – – |
Where it comes from
More warm-ups
Lip trill · five-note scale
The buzzing lips hold back a little air, which takes the load off the vocal folds.
Lip trill · slides on a fifth
A slow slide up a fifth and back stretches the folds smoothly from note to note, with the lips doing the work of steadying the air..
Lip trill · octave and a half
Up the chord past the octave, then down the scale: the long line carries the voice through its register change on an easy sound.
Hum · five-note scale
Humming keeps the lips closed and the sound buzzing in the face, so you feel where a good tone lives before you open the mouth..