Welcome to The Voice Science Podcast, where we explore the science behind singing and teaching. I’m Josh, the founder of voicescience.org. I’ve been educating singers and teachers for over 13 years. Here, you’ll learn how the voice works and discover practical tips to train it more efficiently.
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Formant 2 (F2) is the second formant frequency. Like Formant 1 it is created by the shape of the tongue; however, its frequency directly related to the height of the Dorsum of the Tongue. That is to say the higher the Dorsum of the Tongue the higher the frequency of Formant 2.
Formant 1 (F1) is a frequency of increased acoustic resonance caused by the position of the Blade of the Tongue. Formant 1, in conjunction with Formant 2, is responsible for creating vowels. Despite this, formants are excited by acoustic sources and are not the source themselves.
The Fundamental Frequency or Fo, is more commonly referred to as pitch. The difference between the fundamental frequency and a pitch is that a pitch created by a singer or most instruments contains multiple frequencies including the fundamental frequency and overtones. The fundamental frequency is t...
The External Intercostal Muscles aid in inhalation; when contracted, they pull the ribs up and out. They originate from the inferior of one rib and insert into the superior of the rib immediately below. The anterior rami of spinal nerves from T1-T11 innervate the External Intercostal Muscles.
Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) is the amount of air a person can forcibly exhale beyond the normal tidal volume. Expiratory Reserve Volume is used during any passage using greater volumes of air than tidal breathing and can be essential for maintaining consistent airflow, especially during long phr...
The Eustachian tube is a narrow canal connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx. Its function is the equalization of air pressure on both sides of the eardrum and the draining of mucus or fluids from the middle ear. This structure plays a crucial role in maintaining ear health and preventing disc...
The epithelium is the thin layer of cells that lines various surfaces within the body, including the vocal folds. This delicate epithelial layer covers the vocal fold mucosa, playing a crucial role in voice production and vocal health. During phonation the
The epiglottis is a flap-like cartilage structure located at the base of the tongue, near the entrance to the trachea. During swallowing, the epiglottis folds downward to cover the trachea, preventing food and liquids from entering the airway and lungs. When breathing and speaking, the epiglottis mo...
The Electroglottograph (EGG) is a device used in voice research to measure and analyze the contact and vibration patterns of the vocal folds during phonation. It consists of electrodes that are placed on the throat to detect changes in electrical conductivity as the vocal folds come together and sep...
An echo refers to the reflection of sound waves off surfaces back to the listener's ears. It occurs when sound waves encounter a hard, reflective surface and bounce back. The time delay between the original sound and its echo depends on the distance to the reflecting surface. Echos are commonly hear...
A dynamic microphone is a type of microphone commonly used in singing and live sound applications. It operates based on electromagnetic induction. When sound waves hit the microphone's diaphragm, it causes a coil of wire to move within a magnetic field, generating an electrical current that represen...
The Dorsum of the Tongue is what many perceive as the middle and back of the tongue; it is the back part of the tongue that is visible in the mouth and sits above the root of the tongue. The Dorsum of the Tongue is important in the creation of vowel and consonants as well as serving a critical role ...
Diaphragmatic Breathing or Abdominal Breathing is often referred to as the “correct way to breathing” while singing and does have many benefits for certain styles of singing, like western classical. During an inhalation the abdominal muscles are allowed to relax allowing the expansion of the abdomen...
The Diaphragm is a thin sheet of domed muscle extending across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. It is the primary muscle for inhalation as its contraction pulls it down, creating a vacuum in the thoracic cavity which causes the lungs to expand and fill with air. The diaphragm is passive during reg...
Decibel (dB) measures sound intensity or the sound power per unit area on a logarithmic scale. Because of this logarithmic relationship, the overall sound pressure doubles every six decibels. Decibels were named after Alexander Graham Bell.
Vocal Fold Cysts are fluid-filled or semisolid growths that typically form on only one vocal fold and unlike nodules can form at any point along the vocal fold. They form in the superficial lamina propria of the vocal fold, underneath the epithelium. Cysts are not associated with voice misuse or ove...
Costal cartilage refers to the hyaline cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum in the human ribcage. It is essential for maintaining the structure and flexibility of the chest wall. Costal cartilage allows the ribs to move during respiration, which is crucial for breathing. There are typical...
