10 Vocal Warm-Ups Singers Swear By

Warming up is the cheapest upgrade you can make

Skipping warm-ups is like sprinting from a cold start. You can do it, but you'll pull something. Five minutes before you hit record and every take will sit better in the mix.

1. Lip trills

Blow air through loose lips (the "brrrr" sound) up and down a comfortable range. Loosens face muscles and evens out breath.

2. Sirens

Slide from your lowest comfortable note to your highest and back on an "oo" or "ee." Connects registers.

3. Straw phonation

Hum through a regular drinking straw. Sounds silly, works incredibly well for reducing vocal strain.

4. Tongue twisters

"Red leather, yellow leather" ten times, then "unique New York." Wakes up articulation.

5. Yawn-sighs

Yawn, then let a sigh come out from the top of your range down to the bottom. Opens the throat.

6. Humming

Hum your favorite melody with your lips gently closed. Warms the vocal folds without pushing air.

7. Five-note scales on "mah"

Sing "mah-may-mee-moh-moo" up a scale. Balances vowels.

8. Descending fifths

Start high, slide down a fifth on any vowel. Great for finding chest voice.

9. Speak your lyric

Before singing, speak your first verse out loud, exaggerating the rhythm. Locks in phrasing.

10. Silence

End with thirty seconds of quiet, deep breathing. Your best takes always come from a calm body.

One more thing

Drink room-temperature water, not cold. Cold water contracts vocal folds; room-temperature water keeps them supple. Then open Volmix and record while you're already warm.