Tuvan Throat Singing Basics with Jerry Walsh

This video is an introduction to the three fundamental styles of Tuvan throat singing: Kargyraa, Khoomei, and Sygyt. Examples and demonstration of techniques are provided.


Xorekteer (Throat singing from the chest)

Generate a small bubbling sensation in your larynx by gently toning the phrase "Ahhh" and feel where the bubbling is strongest. This bubbling is created by your vocal cords/folds moving in your larynx. This is the region the throat that needs to be constricted.

Now, sing the phrase "Ahhh" and squeeze the region of the throat (the larynx) that was creating the bubbling sound in the previous exercise. When you squeeze the larynx while simultaneously singing, it creates the xorekteer voice.

Khoomei

Generate the Xorekteer voice. Now, bring the lips and mouth into the shape of a small circular opening to create a chamber for the sound to resonate in. This proper reshaping of the mouth creates the Khoomei style.

Sygyt

While still practicing Khoomei, you can now bring the tongue to the top of the jaw, filtering the sound out through a small opening wherever you feel comfortable, creating the high whistle of Sygyt.


Begin with the mouth closed for back pressure. Begin by clearing the throat with a squeeze of the larynx. Almost like making the tone "Hmmm". When you feel the vibration of the throat coming on, open the mouth and experiment with different vowel sounds.

*Photo of Kongar-ol Ondar by Bill Loewy courtesy Wikimedia Commons

[Steve]

I'm gonna try this the next time I'm in a public bathroom stall.

[grongolio]

Its 12:42 am and my whole family is sleeping and im just like

[lauramae]

My 16 year old son has taken up throat singing as a way to annoy his dad....what started out as a joke is becoming a talent. He's wanting to study music in college so this is up his alley and I'd like to encourage him to learn more about this style of singing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge to inspire others!

[OfficialBlastToons]

Everyone: supposed to be vibing at home in quarantine
Me:

[Hnke]

My neighbour must think I'm having a stroke

[royalbirb]

So if my desk is floating...am I doing it right??

[mb_construction]

I am just ordinary tuvan who learn english, never expext that people around the world interesting our culture, thanks for the video

[xsolent]

Tuvan throat singing is the most underrated form of music on this Earth.

[KatrinaHuber]

He keeps saying “gentle” but his face turns red and there’s a vein bugging out in his next... why am I still super excited to try?

[fredmadrid]

Who else is learning this during quarantine

[Kanal-nssq]

I have my french final exams in 2 days... what am I doing here?

[AramAzhari]

I had to watch 3 fake throat singing videos before getting here.

[bellahontas]

I'm REALLY impressed with your abilities. I'm First Nation and our people have been throat singing since before our recorded history (it's not the exact sound as this, but the basics as far as training your body to do it are the same), I've never heard a non-indigenous person who sounded so natural at it

[katieufford]

Phenomenal instruction. I was able to produce clear overtones after 5 minutes of making an attempt. Now to practice and fine tune. So exciting! Making the bubble sound in the throat to isolate the muscles needed really helped.

[TheLarch]

Turns out I've been idly practicing the lower tones since I was a kid

[monsterbros]

I go to a musical school, out of 350 students, only 19 can do Mongolian throat singing, and the fastest it took for one of them to learn it was three months. The longes was more than a year

[Psstpsstt]

Hi Jerry best throat singing... I love that fact that your are better than 99% of the videos where they don't even tell how to do it.

[witchmoon]

I used to make these similar sounds when I was a really little kid. I totally forgot about it until I started coming across people doing it on YouTube. Then I was introduced to the real throat singing. How amazing. I find it very calming and healing. Whether I'm making the sounds or somebody else. And it doesn't even have to be the professional or whatever. But I really admire all of it. And think you for this video. I want to learn more about this. Blessings and peace.🤗❤🤗

[vitoriaaa_]

You sir, just made one of the most complete tuvan throat singing tutorials i've seen, and i've seen a lot of them

[DrowningFish]

I’ve been doing Death Metal vocals since quite sometime now and many people often think that metal and throat singing are the same techniques but it’s not quite so. Death metal growls and screams focus on the diaphragm instead of the chest and their no stress on the throat. Throat singing and metal vocals are almost opposites as they require activation of different parts of one’s throat