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Downward sigh (yawn)

From a high “haa” freely down, like a tired sigh. Relaxes the larynx.

One repetition of the pattern. In the app it is transposed to your vocal range and scored note by note.

A downward slide from the octave to the root over three beats on 'haa', followed by a beat of silence. It borrows the feeling of a yawn: raised soft palate, wide throat, low larynx, then lets the voice drop like a tired sigh. Nothing about it is precise, and the tolerance of 150 cents reflects that. Each of the four repetitions starts a whole step lower, so the whole exercise drifts gently downward.

How to do it

  1. Listen to the piano fall from the top note to the root in one slide.
  2. Take a yawning breath, start high and light on 'haa', and let the pitch fall freely.
  3. Watch the descending curve on the roll; you want one smooth line down, then a pause.
  4. The next pass starts a whole step lower. Four in total.

Coach's tip: Start with the feeling of a yawn – raised palate, open throat.

What to watch out for

Many singers begin the sigh with a hard, glottal 'ah'. Start with an 'h' and a bit of breath to keep it soft. Another slip is stopping halfway or landing early on the root; use the full three beats. If the top of the first pass feels high, don't reach for it; drop the range in settings. This exercise should feel like relief. If it doesn't, you're pushing.

Who it's for

Anyone can do this, but it's especially useful for singers who carry tension into high notes or who feel tired after a session. Use it at the start of a warm-up or as a cool-down at the end. It pairs naturally with Lip trill – siren before and Hum on one note after. Part of the Range extension program.

Part of programs: Range extension

Practice this exercise

Opens the app in your browser. Free, no account. Put on headphones first.

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