Exercise for better Ah vowels: Thumb Lift

Today’s exercise will help you master the Ah vowel.

If your Ah vowels are saggy, murky, or dull, this exercise is for you! So often, we try to create space by dropping the jaw and thrusting the tongue forward. The resulting sound isn’t clear, and falls backward in its resonance.

The good news is that you can use your thumb to create a lifted, clear Ah!

How to do the Thumb Lift:

1. Begin with a “thumbs up” shape in one hand and bend the thumb to a 90-degree angle.
2. Put the thumb in the mouth so that the index finger knuckle is resting against the nose and the tip of the thumb is resting against the highest point of the hard palate.
3. Sing Ah, pressing against the palate to create a sensation of lift. For today’s video, I used an upward arpeggiated octave, Do-Mi-Sol-Do, with extra lift on Sol to transition upward with a tall, forward resonance.

Let me know how this exercise works for you, and thanks for practicing!

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I share many more resources for singers like you at the Weekly Warm-Up including the free guide 3 Keys to Unlock Vocal Tension, so come on over!

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[EdwardPrah]

This is great. I am really starting to learn the importance of awareness. I will be coming back to see if I can perfect this. I hope when I start working again to make sure to compensate you for these great exercises. Thank you Laura!

[colinbellvintagehymnssongs]

Thank you Laura. I am finding having thumb on my pallet is triggering me with a vomit feeling. Thanks for all your videos.Colin.