Expanding Your Vocal Range and Repertoire

Many singers do not realize their true potential, for the mere fact that they do not know how to expand their vocal range, which in turn makes them believe they are forever locked into doing the same 4 songs every week.

In order to increase your range, you don’t do it by trying more challenging songs, hoping that one day you will hit that power note at the end, or the low baritone tone that makes girls catch their breath.

You do it by vocalizing, creating sounds, tones, humming, keeping your jaw, neck and shoulders tension free. When you are by yourself, in the car, room or shower (the steam opens up the nasal cavity) start to hum up and down trying for a higher or lower tone each time, if you can hum a tone you can sing that tone.

Start with the hum, then without opening your throat, open your mouth, at first it will be very nasally, play around with the tone by reshape your mouth, arching your tongue, dropping your jaw, then move on to opening your throat without loosing the pitch. This technique works with high end and low end expansion. 

Just like the muscles in your limbs, your vocal chords along with the muscles in your neck, and jaw have memory; try to remember how it felt to produce that pitch in order to recreate it.

Remember, high does not always have to be loud, so discipline your projection, show control, do this by strengthening your diaphragm. Lean over, bending at a 90 degree angle, imagine or place a coin on the floor in front of you, while inhaling visualize sucking that coin off the ground, then focus your tone back at the coin with control at varying volumes. 

Continue to run scales, lip rolls, and strengthening your diaphragm, with the combination of several techniques you will see how expanding your vocal range can open you up to a variety of artists and styles.

Buy karaoke tracks in your vocal range

By. Mya Phillips for Starz Karaoke

Selecting Songs Within Your Vocal Range

There so many songs out there to select from; however they are not all for YOU! When you find yourself, straining to reach for that top note or sound like you've swallowed a frog to try the low end. STOP!
Be exceedingly selective on your song choice, the best way to do that is, using a base reference, as an example, if you know you can sing songs by Matchbox 20, consider other groups or artist that fall with in the same category or vocal tone; say 3rd eye Blind, Uncle Cracker, Creed etc. That is not to say you'll be in a position to perform everybody of their song, but you will find more success.
Another thing you may want to think about, in this day and age of androgyny is gender bending. Some women have low voices and find it hard to find song within their range; so try a song that is sometimes done by a man and vise versa, you could need to be creative and change some of the words to fit your gender, which is simple to do on the cuff.
Most vocalists don't actually hear themselves when they sing, so have a pal or two who will be fully fair with you (difficult to find). Though you're able to sing every note pristinely, a song still might not suit your vocal style or even your character, with your friends fair input, you'll avoid coming off as fake or feeble. Some one, who often is a lyrical singer, will really not do well with cutting edge rock or some hip hop.
Just remember in the world of Karaoke, you need to make the experience as nice for the spectators as it is for you, but if your "That Guy" or "Girl" out to have a laugh and have folk giggle WITH you, try your best, pick fun collaboration song and have a great time with it.

Mya Phillips for Starz Karaoke