Extending my chest/ mix range

Hello Camille, since taking a one on one lesson I've started working on my range for chest/mix so I can sing my favorite song Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi.  I need to get to an A4 (luckily it looks like this is one of his lowest pitch songs according to singing carrots). Using lip trill exercises and some other sounds like the bratty NYAH I can get to F4 before my voice wants to flip into head voice when I try F#4 or G4. I get all kinds of squeaks and yoddles then a flip to light head voice. What is my best strategy to get those extra few notes in range. I'm assuming it's exercises specifically at the top of my range? Thanks

Hi, Ian! Congrats on having a specific goal - that's very motivating 👍

These are the 3 exercises I like best for stretching chesty mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwiwZ3dS8mg&t=408s

Here's a short lesson on avoiding "flipping" within mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pI9v1YMFN4

If you're getting a shouty tone, here's another lesson addressing problems with mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzObbNv78oA.

I also love this teacher's demonstration & explanation of mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYsO7HX84P8. Sometimes it helps to hear the tone quality in a male voice, too!

Lastly, remember that you're building coordination (between your TA and CT muscles) while you stretch (CT) and continue to resist air (TA). Progress might be slow, but keep at it!

Hi, it looks like the first 2 links take me to the same video. I think I'm missing the one to help avoid flipping. Thanks for the help. Today using the lip trill slide 5 8 5 I was able to get to G4. It's pretty weak but according to the tunner I'm getting there some times. I'm assuming after a while you strengthen those new muscles and that's how your range extends? Thanks again

Sorry about that - here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pI9v1YMFN4. Updating my first comment as well!

Yes, I think of it more as coordination, less strength. But your low abdominal muscles will definitely get stronger as they help resist your air!

Hi, adding to this I have a question about vowel overtones in each register. I was looking for more information about how to avoid the break when I reach it and that modifying the vocal track by using specific overtones is a big part. So for example at the first Break ah becomes aw and if I know when to switch I can avoid the break on the way up or down. Is this accurate, and is there a reference table I can refer to? Thanks

Hi, Ian! I recommend listening to this interview with Ken Bozeman - he's the leading expert on formants, vowel tuning and acoustic registration. He does have some charts on his website, but they're supplemental material to his books (so they don't fully make sense without the explanation). 

Ok great, I'll check it out. Thanks

Sure thing!

Hi, that was cool. I also ended up reading a lot on the topic from the material they mentioned. It sounds like there are 2 schools of thought, some folks like Ken that encourage letting the vowels change naturally without resisting, others purposely aim for a modification they know is coming at a point in their range.

In both cases it sounds like people agree the vowels change. Yesterday during my daily practice doing 1 3 5 with Hey I was able to hit a C5 (finally getting higher I think through better technique). I noticed when I did my Hey sounded more like a HAEE if that makes sense.

Did I interpret the topic right? And if so is there a method that suits most people? Even while letting it happen it would be beneficial to know what to expect. Is this something that you have a video on or coming to 30DS? Short of reading a book on a full method on overtones I wasn't able to find a quick cheat sheet that says Ah becomes Aw and so on. Does that exist? Thanks again

I apologize for the delay, Ian! I didn't see this in the forum until now. It sounds like you're getting the hang of it! There is no "one size fits all" approach to vowel modification - but it does help to understand how certain vowel shapes affect your resonance and let that guide your vowel tuning.