Resonance Spaces and Vocal Tone

This series explores resonance and how an understanding of vocal tone can support your singing. In this first lesson, we will clarify what resonance means.

In singing, resonance is closely related to the richness and character of the sound. Resonance matters in instruments, too. Consider an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar: both produce sound through vibrating strings, but they sound quite different.

An acoustic guitar has a hollow body that helps radiate and shape sound. A typical solid-body electric guitar relies much more on its pickups and an amplifier for projection. The comparison helps us think about how the spaces through which sound travels affect its character.

Something similar happens with the human voice. The way we shape the vocal tract changes the tone we produce; developing this awareness can give singers a wider range of expressive choices.

What are vocal resonance spaces? The throat (pharynx), mouth (oral cavity) and nasal passages are important parts of the anatomy involved in voice production. Together with other structures, they influence the resonances of the vocal tract.

In simpler terms: think of the space in your throat, the space in your mouth, and the passages around your nose.

An important idea is that singers can adjust the shape of the vocal tract through movements of the tongue, jaw, lips and soft palate. The cavities do not literally grow or shrink through training, but we can learn to change their configuration.

Skilled vocalists use these adjustments to explore different sounds and to suit the mood and style of a piece.