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Major scale downward
From the octave down. Teaches you not to sag on low notes.
A major scale sung from the octave down to the root: octave, major seventh, major sixth, perfect fifth, perfect fourth, major third, major second, root held for two beats. Starting high and descending seems easier, but the low notes are where the voice tends to collapse into the throat. The syllable 'loh' has a rounded vowel that helps the bottom stay resonant. Each of the five repetitions starts a semitone lower.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play eight notes downward from the octave.
- Start light on the top note, sing on 'loh', and keep the low notes as bright as the high ones.
- Watch the descending staircase on the roll; the long bar at the bottom is your landing.
- Five passes, each starting a semitone lower than the previous one.
Coach's tip: Keep low notes “high” in resonance, don't press them into the throat.
What to watch out for
Sagging is the main problem: the last three notes go flat and heavy as the voice sinks. Imagine the sound staying forward in the mask while the pitch drops. The seventh, right after the octave, is often too far below the top; it's only a half step. Volume creeping up on low notes is another sign of pressing. If the lowest passes feel gravelly, stop there; the range is already lower than you need.
Who it's for
Beginners can start here, and singers with a heavy or breathy low range will benefit most. It works well late in the main block or as a cool-down, since it moves downward. Try Hum 5-4-3-2-1 before and Major scale (octave) after. No program lists it; add it from the Scales category when the low notes need attention.
Opens the app in your browser. Free, no account. Put on headphones first.