Day 12: Abrupt Register Shifts & The Pop Flip

From: 14-Day Pop Vocals Course With Camille
by Camille van Niekerk
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Description:

An abrupt register shift happens when we “switch gears” from one register to another, and it’s not a smooth, gradual transition. A pop flip, also called a falsetto flip or yodel, is where that abrupt register shift happens on the same syllable or vowel. Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, uses this effect extensively!

The pop flip in particular can be tricky for singers, because most of the time, our goal is to avoid “cracks”, and this is essentially an intentional voice crack! To make it easier, we’ll use vowels that help us find chest voice and head voice distinctly, before attempting to “flip” on the same vowel. 

Exercise 1: HEY 1 1 Hoo 5, HEY-oo 15

You already know: we’re not always lucky enough to have a wide, chest-friendly vowel and then a narrow, falsetto-friendly vowel to help us out. Remember the sensation and intensity from the last exercise, and use HEY to Hoo or Oo as long as you need to. When you’re ready for a challenge, we’ll sing the same melody on HEY all the way. I find a physical movement can help: perhaps pushing down when you’re in chest mode and pulling up or back when you’re flipping into head voice. Let’s try it!

Exercise 2: HEY 1 1 hey 5, HE-ey 15

Let’s try an abrupt shift or pop flip within both of our songs. 

Song work: Pop flip in choruses

“Never leave you” (chorus)

Bb
“I will never leave you
F
I’ll always hold you tight
Gm
Love you and protect you (change melody to LSD, instead of LTD)
Eb
I will never leave you”
(Bb)


“This is the time” (chorus)

Gm             Eb        Gm.       F
This is the time to lay it all out
Gm             Eb    Bb
This is the time, make it worth it
Gm                     Eb           Gm        F
Will answer the call, without any doubt
                   Eb      Bb
This is the time 

If you’d like some more examples for homework, I recommend you check out “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence, “All of me’ by John Legend, and “Yellow” by Coldplay. 

Audio:

Pop Course Day 12 Exercise 1
Pop Course Day 12 Exercise 2

Lessons:

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.