Stage 2 of 7 in the course
Vocal weight
The folds that make the buzz
Inside your voice box, two small folds meet and vibrate. This is a cut through them, seen from the front.
- Vocal folds: vibrate to make the buzz.
- Where they meet: how much touches is weight.
- Air from your lungs: sets them moving.
More of the folds touching sounds heavier. Less sounds lighter and clearer.
Testosterone thickens the vocal folds during puberty, and that doesn't reverse. But how much of that thickness you actually use is not fixed, and that's what training works on.
What to expect
This is the hardest one to feel at first, and there's no reading for it: you'll go by feel. Each session ends with a quick check that nothing feels strained.
What changes it
Lighter with
Use less of the folds
- Do this
- Hum one easy note and hold it. Say “ah” on it like a grumbling giant: thick and pressed. Then say the same “ah”, same note, as lightly as you can.
- You'll know it's working when
- You hear a real difference in thickness, but the note stays the same.
In the app: Heavy or light (V1), 1.5 min
Lighter with
Start with a little breath
- Do this
- Say “and” twice. First start it cleanly, like flicking a switch. Then let a little breath out just before the sound, like a quiet “h” you don't say.
- You'll know it's working when
- The second one eases in, with no click at the start.
In the app: Breath before the sound (V2), 1.5 min
The trap to avoid
Light, not breathy
- Aim for: LightThin edges that still meet
- Avoid: BreathyEdges that don't meet, so air leaks out
Breathy can feel lighter, but it wears you out, fades in a noisy room and can strain your voice over time. Aim for thin and clear. If a lighter voice leaves you short of breath, or trailing off at the end of sentences, you've gone breathy.
- You'll know it's working when
- Going quieter still sounds like a voice, not air with words in it.
In the app: Quiet, not breathy (V4), 2 min
Putting it together: thin, clear and easy
- Less of the folds touching
- A soft start
- Meeting fully, not breathy
After each exercise, notice your throat. If it feels tight or worked, stop for today. “Getting effortful” is a fine answer.
Good to know
Why it matters
Weight is why a high, bright voice can still be heard as male. Plenty of people raise their pitch, brighten their resonance, and still aren't heard the way they want, because the sound is still thick. Weight is often what's missing.
Volume comes into it
Speaking louder takes more air pressure. That pushes the folds together harder, which adds weight. So your voice will sound heavier when you shout than when you murmur, even if you change nothing else. What you manage in a quiet room won't automatically carry over to a loud one.
The honest bit
Weight is hard to teach and hard to measure. Done properly, it's measured with sensors on the throat, not a phone microphone. Listening is still the best way to get a feel for it.
This is practice, not medical care. Keep it comfortable: if your throat feels tight, sore or tired, stop for today. Read Looking after your voice, and see a speech and language therapist if hoarseness lasts more than a few days.