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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- A collection of cool songs that sound great when sung by women, originally male songs
- Recommended for millennial women who aren't confident singers: easy-to-sing karaoke songs
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[For Women] Practice Songs Helpful for Learning Mixed Voice (Middle Voice) (71–80)
Rebootmiwa
This was singer-songwriter miwa’s 25th single, released in August 2019.
It was the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Nagi no Oitoma.” The hallmark of miwa’s singing is, above all, her clear tone across her entire range.
Typically, mixed voice is often used to soften the “attack” compared to chest voice in order to convey “wistfulness” or “gentleness.” In miwa’s case, however, she employs a mixed voice that leverages her clear timbre, enhancing the expression of “cuteness” and a “straightforward femininity.”
Last sceneikimonogakari
Ikimonogakari’s 32nd single, released in August 2016.
Vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka has a very bright voice, and her chest voice covers such a wide high range that she doesn’t need to use mixed voice very often; there aren’t many songs where it seems to be used.
However, in this gentle ballad, you can hear a beautiful mixed voice employed to sing with a soft, resonant tone.
It’s a good example of switching vocal techniques not to cover range, but for expressive purposes.
In Ikimonogakari’s case, because Yoshioka’s voice is, as mentioned, bright and high, and many of their songs are upbeat and lively, the frequency of mixed voice or falsetto is very low.
Even so, you can appreciate how richly expressive singing can become through vocal technique alone.
cherry blossom colorAnjura Aki
Angela Aki’s fifth single, released in March 2007.
At first listen, you might find it hard to distinguish the mixed voice used in this song from falsetto, but because many parts are sung in a slightly more powerful high range than the breathy, gentle tone typical of falsetto, it’s fair to say she makes excellent use of mixed voice.
It serves as a great example of a mixed voice that leans toward head voice, so if you’re aiming to become that kind of singer, definitely study her vocal approach.
As a tip: expand your diaphragm fully to create depth in your sound, then use less breathiness than in falsetto and focus on adding drive (speed) to the voice as you phonate; paying attention to these points should help you execute it well.
TimeUtada Hikaru
A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada, released in May 2020.
It was newly written as the theme song for the NTV Sunday drama “Gourmet Detective Goro Akechi.” To sing contemporary R&B like Hikaru Utada, mastering mixed voice is essential.
For many people, the first voice that comes to mind when they hear “mixed voice” is Utada’s.
This song, too, is a perfect example of R&B mixed voice, showcasing superb vocals.
It’s packed with the charm of soft singing delivered with a falsetto-leaning mix and gentle high tones, making it an ideal and highly rewarding piece to practice for mastering mixed voice.
Gentle RedFukuhara Miho
This is Miho Fukuhara’s third CD single overall, released in November 2008.
It was used as the song for an au “LISMO” commercial.
Fukuhara, whose appeal as a female singer includes her slightly fuller tone, uses a highly effective mixed voice in this track—especially in the high notes of the chorus—giving the song a certain gentleness and softness.
When singing those sections, try to place your voice as softly as possible against the upper palate to produce a smooth, soft mixed voice.
I think the key to making this song sound really good lies in how smoothly you can transition between chest voice and mix, and how much contrast you can create with high notes in chest voice.