Undertone singing is a set of singing techniques in which the vocalist makes use of vibrations of the vocal apparatus
in order to produce
subharmonic tones below the bass tone and extend the
vocal range
Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of st ...
below the limits of the
modal voice
Modal voice is the vocal register used most frequently in speech and singing in most languages. It is also the term used in linguistics for the most common phonation of vowels. The term "modal" refers to the resonant mode of vocal folds; that is ...
. In particular, the sound is produced via constricting the
larynx in order to produce oscillations in the
vocal cords
In humans, vocal cords, also known as vocal folds or voice reeds, are folds of throat tissues that are key in creating sounds through vocalization. The size of vocal cords affects the pitch of voice. Open when breathing and vibrating for speec ...
and
vestibular folds (or "''false vocal cords''") at certain frequencies of the vocal cords - corresponding to integer divisions of the frequency produced by the vestibular folds, such as 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 ratios.
This will produce the corresponding subharmonic to that frequency. For example, in a 1:2 ratio, each second vibration of the vocal folds, the vestibular fold will complete a single vibration cycle which will result in an subharmonic produced an octave below the bass tone produced by the vocal cords. This technique is found in certain
Tibetan forms of
Buddhist Chant, as practised by monks of the
Gyuto Order
Gyuto (also spelled Gyütö or Gyüto) Tantric University is one of the great monastic institutions of the Gelug Order.
History
Gyuto () was founded in 1475 by Jetsun Kunga Dhondup and is one of the main tantric colleges of the Gelug traditi ...
, as well as in
Mongolian throat singing,
where it is often used in conjunction with other vocal techniques, such as
vocal fry
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound productio ...
. The technique produces a deep, growling quality.
References
Singing techniques
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