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 Mastering Mixed Voice (Middle Voice) (61–70)
I want to tell you how I feel (my love)aimyon
It’s a simple song, but it’s one that truly shines because of Aimyon’s vocal ability, and it’s one of my favorites too! I always feel that Aimyon’s charm lies in the world she creates with her lyrics and in the beautifully balanced blend of her low and high notes.
In particular, this song has a wide vocal range—from F#3 in the verses and before the chorus to E5 in the chorus—so the pitch differences are extreme, and you’ll want to be careful not to go flat when singing.
The rhythm and breath placement are also quite challenging, but it feels amazing when you can sing it well! I recommend singing it with lots of energy and groove!
skyscraperiri
A digital single by iri, released on January 19, 2022.
While iri has a distinctive voice that could even be described as somewhat masculine, she uses mixed voice very effectively—especially in the A-melody sections—and I feel that this results in a sense of “femininity.” In that sense, this might be an ideal song for learning how to use mixed voice effectively.
When you sing the parts that use mixed voice, try to place the sound broadly against your upper palate.
travelingUtada Hikaru
This was Hikaru Utada’s ninth single, released in November 2001.
I think Utada’s natural vocal quality is, if anything, on the lower, fuller side rather than a high tone, but it’s impressive how she makes the most of that commanding voice while skillfully spanning a wide range.
She’s also top-notch as a practitioner of mixed voice, which is extremely important for singing contemporary R&B.
I’d even say that the term “mixed voice” became widely recognized among the general public thanks to her breakthrough.
Come to think of it, around the time she took off, I noticed a surge in my vocal students saying they wanted to master mixed voice.
She may be the original figure who established the basic approach to singing in modern Japanese R&B.
Of course, it’s not as if she invented mixed voice herself.
LOVE LOVE LOVEDREAMS COME TRUE
This is Dreams Come True’s 18th single, released in July 1995.
It was used as the theme and insert song for the TBS drama “Aishiteiru to Itte Kure,” and sold over 2.4 million copies in total.
It’s a huge hit that represents J-pop in the 1990s.
Around the time this song became a hit, I remember the term “mixed voice,” which is the theme of this article, starting to draw attention in Japan.
Miwa Yoshida, Dreams Come True’s vocalist, is a singer known for her slightly full-bodied tone, and in this song—especially in the A-melody sections centered in the mid-range—she seems to express the song’s gentle mood beautifully by skillfully using a chest-leaning mixed voice.
When singing it at karaoke, try to place your voice as broadly and softly as possible against the upper palate.
It’s an ideal song for practicing a soft mixed voice.
Because it’s such a gentle, tender piece, be careful that the consonants in the lyrics don’t become too sharp or aggressive.
GLORIAYUI
This is YUI’s 15th single, released in January 2010.
Songs that use mixed voice often involve difficult register transitions, so there aren’t many fast-tempo tracks, but this one is notably quick.
Since she doesn’t belt high notes in chest voice, it sounds very light and effortless; however, to use mixed voice effectively at this tempo likely requires considerable lung capacity.
After all, controlling airflow is crucial for mixed voice.
The phrasing itself isn’t particularly difficult, so I think it’s an ideal practice piece for women who want to master mixed voice.