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) (21–30)
Love, Day After TomorrowKuraki Mai
Mai Kuraki’s debut single, released in December 1999.
Riding the wave of the late-’90s Japanese DIVA boom sparked by Hikaru Utada’s debut, Kuraki emerged with vocals that, while grounded in a very solid technical foundation, don’t come across as overly formal.
Instead, they carry a ZARD-like approachability.
This impression likely comes from her skillful use of a gentle, falsetto-leaning mixed voice.
As a rare example of using mixed voice to evoke a sense of “simplicity,” it serves as a highly instructive reference.
Trace that dreamYOASOBI
Ano Yume wo Nazotte has a very wide vocal range.
It’s written in a range from D#3 to E5, with the low notes extending more than in other YOASOBI songs.
Speaking of YOASOBI, you probably think of especially high choruses! They’re a perfect fit for this theme.
The A melody stays in the low range, but even there, keep your throat open and let your breath flow.
Making a surprised face helps open the throat—try to maintain that state as you head into the chorus.
In the chorus, you’ll encounter long sustained notes, so engage your lower abdomen to keep your body steady and send your voice straight out with confidence.
That way, your breath will flow well and you can sing smoothly without your voice catching.
Give it lots of tries!
Heralding springyama
This song, Haru wo Tsugeru, is what suddenly brought yama into the spotlight.
Some of you might recognize the opening phrase.
That said, when you actually try singing it, it’s famous for being difficult because of the drastic ups and downs in pitch.
The rhythm is crucial and the tempo is on the faster side, so it’s best to learn it slowly, piece by piece, at first.
YouTube lets you change the playback speed, so I highly recommend using that! When you sing, try not to push on the high notes; if you stay relaxed, you’ll be able to make good use of your falsetto.
It might help to practice singing lightly, with a bouncy feel.
As you get a feel for the melody line, you’ll naturally figure out where to add accents and where to cut the sound.
Once you’re comfortable, try using a bit more breath; that should help you switch smoothly between chest voice and falsetto.
flameLiSA
LiSA’s 17th single, released in October 2020.
It also serves as the theme song for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.
The vocal melody spans a very wide range, making mastery of mixed voice essential to sing it.
It’s likely that LiSA herself uses mixed voice even from the relatively low notes in the A section.
By singing this part with a soft mixed voice, she creates a striking contrast with the powerfully delivered chorus.
The transition from high mixed voice into falsetto in the chorus is smooth and superb.
It’s a bit of an advanced pick, but definitely worth the challenge.
Coloryama
This is the 13th digital-only single by yama—who is active both as a solo singer and as a member of the Japanese rock band BIN (credited as Yamagami in BIN)—released in October 2022.
Most of the song is sung in mixed voice, making it an ideal piece for practicing that technique.
It feels like the song skillfully alternates between nasal (head) resonance and chest resonance depending on the melody’s pitch, so I recommend studying the original track with a focus on the differences in vocal tone across sections.
I’m sure you’ll gain a lot from it.
BeautifulSuperfly
A track included on Superfly’s fifth album, WHITE, and the theme song for TBS’s Tuesday drama “Mother Game: Kanojo-tachi no Kaikyū.” There are probably many women who admire the powerful, soulful singing of Superfly’s Shiho Ochi, right? To produce powerful high notes like hers, mastering a chest-dominant mixed voice is essential.
Try practicing with the sensation of producing falsetto while firmly supporting your upper body with your abdominal muscles and minimizing air leakage.
Since it’s an up-tempo song, it’s also important to control your body well so you don’t lose a sense of speed!
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
It’s Yo Hitoto’s fifth single, released in February 2004.
It’s a classic J-pop ballad and considered one of her signature songs.
Listening to the original, it seems she primarily uses a mixed voice in the upper-mid range during the verse (A-melo) and the chorus.
When singing these parts, try to place the sound as if it’s hitting behind the upper molars, making good use of resonance in the upper palate.
Also, if you release your breath a bit more slowly and gently, you’ll likely achieve a soft mixed voice similar to hers.
It’s an ideal song for practicing a mixed voice with a strong falsetto component.