Resonance in singing refers to the intensity and quality of the tone produced when singing or speaking. It is caused by the reverberation of sound waves from the vibrating vocal cords, which travel around the body before exiting. Resonance is key to avoiding vocal fold fatigue and maximizing volume without adding excess collision or pressure to the vocal folds.
Resonance occurs when a harmonic from the vocal folds lines up with the pitch of the air (formant) in the vocal tract, boosting the harmonic and increasing its volume. The amount of resonance produced depends on how much air passes through the pharynx and at what velocity, and can be manipulated by muscles in the mouth, throat, and diaphragm.
While resonance can be difficult to define, it is an important aspect of singing that can be developed through exercises that coordinate singing muscles and vowel shapes. Singing with resonance can be tricky to understand, but with focused exercise and by studying vowel shapes, singers can begin to understand and feel qualities of resonant tone.
