Enrich your natural voice resonance: chest voice practice pieces and tips for improvement

GibbsNEW!Shiina Ringo

Shiina Ringo – Gibbs

A heartrending love ballad Ringo Sheena created at age 17, it’s characterized by a dynamic arrangement that erupts in the chorus after a quiet opening.

It’s a masterpiece that portrays her passionate feelings for her boyfriend at the time.

Since it’s not a song meant to be sung in falsetto, belt it out in your natural voice from the start toward the chorus.

Take a solid breath and sing while releasing your voice on the exhale as if projecting it far away—you should find your voice comes out comfortably.

First, don’t worry about pitch; focus on experiencing the feeling of letting your voice out to the fullest.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

SakurazakaNEW!Fukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

This is one of Fukuyama’s signature ballads, a million-seller with over two million copies sold.

It was written as the theme song for TBS’s “Uinnan no Hontoko! ‘Mirai Nikki V’,” and has become a classic spring song that sings of bittersweet feelings and gratitude toward a former lover.

It’s often sung by people who are good with low notes or struggle with high notes, and the key is to sing without straining your throat.

If you sing as if you’re speaking, you can hurt your throat even in chest voice, so you need to properly resonate the vocal cords and sing in chest voice.

Try placing a finger in the hollow between your collarbones and your palm on your chest, and project your voice from there—you’ll likely find it easier to produce your chest voice.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

Under the same skyNEW!ayaka

Minna sora no shita (BEST Version)

Written in 2009 as the theme song for Kao’s “ASIENCE” commercial, its lyrics—centered on the themes of the will to live, strong determination, and gentle bonds—together with a powerful vocal performance resonated with many people.

Since Ayaka skillfully switches between a richly resonant chest voice and a clear, transparent falsetto, songs with a slightly quicker tempo than a typical ballad are recommended for practice.

By firmly focusing on diaphragmatic breathing, you’ll be able to take deeper breaths and produce a more grounded, solid voice.

Try singing crisply while engaging your abdomen.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

catNEW!DISH//

DISH// – Cat [Official Live Video 2019]

Written and composed by Aimyon and released in 2017 featuring Takumi Kitamura’s heartrending vocals, the song became a massive hit after his one-take performance on THE FIRST TAKE in 2020, and has since become a signature track with over 200 million streams.

Kitamura is known for his chest-voice singing, delivering powerful high notes in full voice rather than falsetto.

For male singers, the range can be quite high, so explosive power is important.

Try to project as if you’re sending the sound far, without shouting.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

As many times as you likeNEW!DREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – “Nando Demo”

A “tear-jerking cheer song” known for Miwa Yoshida’s passionate lyrics and uplifting message, it was the theme song for the third season of the drama “Emergency Room 24 Hours” and was also used in a Sumitomo Life commercial.

It’s a classic and one of DREAMS COME TRUE’s signature songs, often sung by many people at karaoke.

In particular, “Nando Demo” has an upbeat feel and gives the impression that it should be sung clearly and briskly.

Since the vocal range is a bit high, I think you won’t hit the high notes unless you really lift your eyebrows while singing.

Try singing as if projecting into the distance, with your energy slightly amped up.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

It’s nothing.NEW!makaroni enpitsu

Macaroni Empitsu “It’s Nothing,” MV

This is the band’s biggest hit, surpassing 500 million total streams.

It’s a gentle ballad that sings of the preciousness of everyday life and unadorned love, and it won the Excellence Award at the 64th Japan Record Awards.

The vocalist Hattori, who admires Unicorn, sings with little use of falsetto, so if the range suits you, singing in chest voice should feel natural.

In particular, the chorus should feel great to belt out in chest voice, so try projecting firmly without worrying too much about pitch.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

Riding on the back of a silver dragonNEW!Nakajima Miyuki

Riding on the back of a silver dragon

This was the theme song for the 2003 drama “Dr.

Coto’s Clinic,” and it centers on the passion and anguish of a doctor confronting life.

The chest voice features Miyuki Nakajima’s signature powerful, resonant mid-to-low register, characterized by singing with solid resonance in the chest.

“Ride on the Back of a Silver Dragon” starts in a low range and gradually moves into higher registers toward the latter half, so it’s necessary to keep resonating in the same place throughout.

To prevent the pitch from dropping, try lifting your eyebrows and imagining the sound coming from your temples; this will help you produce both low and high notes with ease.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem