Struggling Singing High Notes? Try This Weird but Effective Vocal Exercise

In this HiTS video, Jocelyn shares a super practical exercise to ease tension and improve placement when singing high notes and improve your technique. If you find your throat, jaw, or shoulders tightening as you climb higher, this “L” sound trick might be exactly what you need. It’s a weird sound—but it works! Great for sopranos or any singers looking to build range with more freedom and less strain.

🎵 Time Stamps – Singing High Notes Without Tension |

In this HiTS video, Jocelyn shares a practical vocal exercise to help singers smooth out their tone and eliminate tension. If your sustained notes feel uneven or “wobbly,” this Z-to-E exercise trains breath support, tongue relaxation, soft palate lift, and steady placement. Perfect for singers wanting more consistency, control, and confidence in their sound.

I wanted to share a simple but powerful vocal exercise for high notes that I used with a student today. She was singing up around an F, and like many singers, things started to get a little tight as she got higher in her range.

This is super common. Vocal tension often shows up in the tongue, throat, or even in the shoulders and neck. The higher you go, the more your vocal cords need to stretch, and that requires more space inside your body. When that space isn’t available, your body starts compensating in ways that create even more tension — not ideal!

Let’s talk about a few common places tension creeps in:

• Your tongue might pull back or stiffen.
• Your throat might constrict to push the note out.
• Your jaw may overwork to help reach the pitch.
• Or your shoulders lift and tighten, bleeding into your neck.

Any of these habits can make singing high notes feel effortful, tight, or even painful.

A Tongue-Release Exercise That Works

One of my favorite tricks to loosen all of that up is using the letter “L.” Here’s why:
When you sing on an “L,” your tongue has to move quickly and intentionally, but your jaw stays still. That separation is exactly what you want — we don’t want the jaw doing the work of the tongue.

You don’t need to open your mouth wide — about a finger’s width between the teeth is enough. It’s not meant to be a pretty sound either. It’ll probably sound like a baby wail or a vocal cry, and that’s okay. The goal is freedom and resonance, not beauty.

Stand up straight (I’m often guilty of slouching!) and try this:

• Start at a comfortable pitch — I began around A♭, which sits in the middle of the high voice.
• Do short bursts on the “L” like this: “la la la la la”, but with fast, light articulation.
• Focus on keeping your jaw steady and your tongue active.
• If it resonates in the mask of your face (cheeks, nose bridge, forehead), you’re doing it right.

Taking It Higher: Up to High C and Beyond

Once you’re comfortable, work your way up — slowly — toward a high C (C6). This pitch doesn’t come up much unless you’re singing operatic arias or some advanced choir or art song literature, but most sopranos should be able to hit it with ease.

If you normally find high Cs tight or effortful, this “L” exercise can help loosen things up.

• Start from a low C and build up.
• Even if it sounds weird or ugly, that’s okay — we’re focused on ease and placement, not tone.
• When you’re ready to go above a high C (like to C♯ or D), start with the “L” to loosen the tongue, then move into something like “la la la la” for pitch clarity.

Final Thoughts on High Notes

Remember: the higher you sing, the more space and freedom your voice needs. Exercises like this can retrain your body to approach those top notes without straining or forcing.

It’s okay if it sounds weird at first — weird sounds often lead to real vocal breakthroughs. Click here for a playlist of YouTube exercises to help improve your technique.

Click here for more technique blog posts.