Practice Songs Helpful for Learning Mixed Voice (Middle Voice) [For Women]
The term “mixed voice.” If you’re interested in singing, you’ve probably heard or seen it at least once.
Many of my vocal training students say, “I want to be able to use mixed voice!” However, I feel that surprisingly few people actually understand what it is.
So what exactly is mixed voice? Simply put, it’s “the voice between chest voice and head voice.” That’s why it’s also called middle voice.
In actual songs, it’s mainly used to cover the high-tone range that’s hard to hit with chest voice, but by changing the balance of how much chest and head voice you mix, you can create a wide range of vocal expressions.
In this feature, I’ve gathered female singers who skillfully use mixed (middle) voice to express their songs.
I’m sure you’ll find plenty to reference when you practice with the goal of mastering mixed voice yourself.
I hope you find it helpful.
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[For Women] Practice Songs Helpful for Learning Mixed Voice (Middle Voice) (51–60)
Can I visit you with cream?zutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
For those who think, “I don’t just want to sing chest-voice mid–low songs; I want to sing falsetto-style songs too,” this track might be perfect.
The overall range is A#3–F#5, and while the bridge has some high notes, if you’re good with falsetto, you’ll find those parts feel great to sing! It’s not a song where you belt throughout, so keep your body relaxed and aim to resonate in your head, singing gently.
Also, since there’s a lot of falsetto, it’s important to clearly decide where to breathe and how to space those breaths.
Being mindful of breathing will also enhance your expressiveness and make the performance much better as a song! In the slightly fast-paced parts of the chorus, rather than enunciating each word sharply, lock into the rhythm.
When practicing, try fitting it to the rhythm first using syllables like “ta-ka-ta-ka-tan-ta.” Then, when you switch to the actual lyrics, sing so that the accents fall in the same places.
Revolutionary Journey – On the WayAina ji Endo
Since Aina the End is famous for her husky voice, I imagine some low-voiced women have included her songs in their repertoire.
“Kakumei Dōchū – On The Way” has great tempo and is a really cool track! There’s a call-and-response section in the A-melody, and it seems like it would be a blast at karaoke—perfect for getting the crowd going—so I’d love for low-voiced women to try singing it! The chorus mainly sits on higher notes, reaching up to C5, but sing boldly without fear—project your voice as if you’re sending it far, and add some drive.
If you can get through this part, you’ll definitely level up!
wonderlandAimer
This song is included on Aimer’s sixth studio album, “Walpurgis,” released on April 14, 2021, and it was also used in a commercial.
Aimer is known for her somewhat husky, powerful vocal style, but in the A-melody of this track, especially on the slightly higher notes, she showcases a very beautiful mixed voice.
Try singing it by fully expanding your diaphragm, keeping your vocal folds from over-closing, and directing the sound to the upper palate inside your mouth to make good use of maxillary sinus resonance!
Like the shining moonSuperfly
This is Superfly’s 15th single, released in August 2012, and it served as the theme song for the TBS drama “Summer Rescue: The Sky Hospital.” Superfly has been renowned for powerful vocals since debut, and in this track she masterfully employs mixed voice in the softer passages, creating a striking contrast with her powerful high tones for a richly colorful performance.
The stronger mixed voice showcased in the first chorus, among other parts, is also ideal for learning vocal production and for practice material.
Mixed voice, as the name suggests, is, simply put, a blend of chest voice and falsetto—a voice quality between the two—and the way she varies that blend is exquisite!
First LoveUtada Hikaru
This is Hikaru Utada’s third single overall, released in April 1999.
It was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Majo no Jōken” (A Witch’s Requirements) and in an NTT East Japan commercial, becoming a major hit that sold over 900,000 copies.
Utada debuted with the single “Automatic,” which was a massive hit with over two million copies sold.
With Utada’s arrival, the term “mixed voice” also seemed to gain attention in Japan.
In fact, the high notes in this song feature a very soft high tone that doesn’t rely on head voice, making it no exaggeration to call the track a model example of how to use mixed voice effectively within a song.
Because it’s a song by Utada, who possesses extremely high vocal ability, there are likely many difficult parts to tackle when actually singing it.
Please study the original thoroughly and practice.
In the sections where mixed voice is used, try producing the sound as if you’re gently and slowly placing the voice against your upper palate; this approach can be a shortcut to mastering the technique.
Give it a try!