The Tongue Tango: How Your Mouth Muscle Move Can Make or Break Your Singing Skills

Hey there, future singing sensation! It's your friendly neighbourhood vocal coach, Eternal Ramblings, here to turn your voice from meh to marvellous!

As the saying goes, "It's not just what you say, it's how you say it." When it comes to singing, the same principle applies. It's not just the words you sing, it's how you sing them, and your tongue posture can make all the difference.

Let's start with the basics

When you sing, your vocal cords vibrate, producing sound waves that travel through your mouth and throat. The shape and position of your tongue determine how those sound waves are shaped and amplified, which can make your voice sound richer, fuller, and more resonant.

For example, if you sing with your tongue too far back in your mouth, it can create a muffled sound that lacks clarity and definition, while getting stuffed at the back causing some tension in the vocal cords too. On the other hand, if your tongue is too far forward, it can create a nasal sound that's harsh and grating and stretching your vocal apparatus unnecessarily. Go ahead and try it. Sing a single note and just move your tongue and listen how it changes.

So, what's the ideal tongue posture for singing? It's all about finding the sweet spot in the middle. The tip of your tongue should rest gently behind your bottom front teeth, with the back of your tongue should be completely relaxed and the sides of your tongue relaxed too. This position allows for the perfect balance of resonance and clarity, making your voice sound its best.

But that's not all. Your tongue posture also affects your ability to hit high notes. When you sing a high note, your vocal cords need to vibrate faster, producing a higher frequency sound wave. Your tongue plays a critical role in shaping that sound wave, making it more precise and focused. If your tongue is too low or too tense, it can interfere with the vibration of your vocal cords, making it harder to hit those high notes while causing some strain.

You can practice to keep your tongue relaxed through some mindful visualisation, using a pencil to tame the tongue or even hold your tongue while singing to overcome excess movement.

In essence, your tongue posture is a key factor in your singing success. The next time you hit the stage or step up to the mic, remember to keep your tongue in the sweet spot behind your bottom front teeth. With a little practice and attention, you'll be amazed at how much of a difference it can make in your voice. It surely did for me.

The tongue for some of you may not be the most glamorous or exciting part of your body that catches your attention ( I highly disagree though Wink), but it plays a crucial role in your singing ability. So, the next time someone asks you why you're sticking your tongue out like a kid, tell them you're just practicing your singing skills. Who knows, maybe they'll join in and you can form a tongue-singing choir. Hey, stranger things have happened in the name of science.