Description:
We briefly learned yesterday that onset is how we begin a sound. Our “default” onset for most singing is what we’d call balanced: airflow and vocal fold vibration are happening simultaneously. Because it’s seamless, we don’t really think about it! Say the word “you”, and notice how your sound and airflow are naturally coordinated. In the last lesson, we practiced a breathy or aspirate onset with the word “how”, and noticed our airflow preceding the sound. We have two more types of onset today. The first is glottal onset, and the second is fry onset.
The glottis is the space between your vocal folds. In fact, you can feel your airflow build up beneath your closed vocal folds if you say the word “uh-oh” and hesitate in the middle. You naturally use a glottal onset for words like “apple” and “are”. Try it! The sentence “how are you” gives us three different types of onset: aspirate or breathy (how), glottal (are), and balanced (you).
Please note: you don’t need to overdo this glottal onset and turn it into a glottal attack. In fact, too much of that high-impact closure can be harsh on your vocal folds. Maintain an easy, spoken intensity. Our exercise for glottal onset is just the phrase “oh no” [demonstrate 5-1]. We’re listening for a clean start, not a scoop or an H sound.
Exercise 1: Glottal onset - OH no 5-1
In the same way that breathy onset makes it easier for us to sing breathily for the rest of the phrase, a glottal onset can make it easier to sing strongly for the rest of the phrase. Consider a glottal onset when you have a word starting with a vowel and want a strong, vibrant sound!
Our last type of stylized onset is fry onset, where we begin with vocal fry before singing a defined pitch in the melody. Singers like Lorde, Shawn Mendes and Billie Eilish use lots of vocal fry, and it’s pretty common in pop music over all. Pretend you’re a door creaking open to find that “fry” sound. Now start with fry as you say the word “what”. It’s usually easiest to start with your speaking voice, because fry naturally happens in many peoples’ speech.
The tricky thing is starting with fry and then landing on a specific pitch. I’ll play a pitch on the keyboard, and your job is to start with fry, then make your way to that pitch on a hum or a word like “why". Take your time! Again, here’s how it’ll go.
Exercise 2: Fry onset - fry into tone on hum or WHY (slide into specific pitch)
Let’s look for places to incorporate either glottal or fry onset in our song! For glottal onset, look for lyrics that begin with a vowel, and are preferably at the beginning of a phrase, or after a short pause, so you’re not flowing directly from one word into the next.
For fry, we have more flexibility. We can fry before a vowel, or on a consonant like W, Y, L, M, N, V, or TH.
Song work: add glottal & fry onsets to “This is the time”
Cm Eb
Trapped inside, my own mind (fry on “m”)
Bb F
Set it free, it’s (fry or glottal on “it’s”) all I strive for
Cm Eb
Breaking out, gonna shout
F F
Blow it up and rise (glottal on “and”)
If you’re working on a song with glottal or fry onsets, remember: glottal onset is just like you begin the word “apple”. Fry can take some time to feel natural; just isolate the lyric and go slowly!
Lessons:
- Day 1: Welcome & What To Expect
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Day 2:
Establishing A Chest-dominant Mix
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Day 3:
Widening Your Vowels
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Day 4:
Twang, Ring & Tongue Position
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Day 5:
Pressing in
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Day 6:
Ending Falls & Scoops
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Day 7:
Turnarounds
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Day 8:
3-Note Ending Riff
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Day 9:
5-note Pentatonic Riffs
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Day 10:
Light Head Voice (Falsetto)
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Day 11:
Onsets
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Day 12:
Abrupt Register Shifts & The Pop Flip
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Day 13:
Stylizing A Song
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Day 14:
Performance & Congratulations
Instructor: Camille van Niekerk
Camille van Niekerk is a singer, writer and vocal instructor in Southern California. Camille began studying voice and performing in musicals at age seven. In 2010, Camille began working towards her BA in Music Education at Azusa Pacific University. She then earned her teaching credential from San Diego State University and taught classroom choral and instrumental music. Shortly after moving to LA county, Camille began her private vocal studio, providing vocal coaching, ear training, and recording for students of all ages. She is constantly refining her skills and methods for greater versatility and effectiveness. When she is not teaching, Camille enjoys singing with the L.A. Choral Lab and Ensoma Creative. She lives in San Diego with her husband and loves going to the beach, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking.