Twang - what is it?

Your vocal coaching expert Dr Anikó Tóth says…

Twang!

If you’re a pop / CCM singer, chances are you have heard this word. But are there any other names for it? Does it exist in other styles?

The short answer is: YES!

Classical terminology favours squillo, but I have heard additional terms in my time of singing with the Hallé Choir and Manchester Chamber Choir. These include: blade (which was a surprise!), ring, ring-ping, spin, brightness, resonance, ‘Dalek squeeze’ and many more.

In voice science, the term is the singer’s formant. Resonance is what allows an opera singer’s voice to soar above an entire orchestra unaided by amplification, for example. Twang is a way to boost some of the higher harmonics in the voice and create a sound that carries, with less effort.

Twang also gives the resonant, bright sound to healthy musical theatre belt and mix-belt, as well as country singing, for example. (Not to be confused with nasality - see our blogpost on this!).

What actually happens in the throat to create twang (for voice nerds)?

The muscles in the larynx contract, creating an upward motion in the larynx and a smaller hole from which sound can come. More on this in the blogpost on twang vs nasality.

Illustration by G. David Brown in Theodore Dimon’s Anatomy of the Voice (2018).

Why we need TWANG to some degree or at some points in most styles of singing and in projected speech:

• It creates drama and volume without strain or tiredness.

• It provides an alternative to a breathy vocal quality, when more power is required for contrast within a song or speech.

• It allows the voice to project further into a space (spoken and sung).

• It helps with vocal endurance.

• Twang is absolutely essential for a healthy belt.

• It can even save your voice if you are a heavy voice user, such as a teacher, gym instructor, health professional, or server in a busy bar or restaurant!

Okay. So, how do you access TWANG?

Some great exercises for accessing twang/resonance include:

1) Nya, nya, nya-nya, nya! - the schoolyard taunt

2) Witch’s cackle

3) Cat’s meow

4) Dalek voice, “Ex-ter-mi-nate!”

5) Cartoon Voice - try to imitate cartoon children’s voices.

6) Scooby-Doo’s laugh

7) Baby’s cry WAH!

How does TWANG feel?

You may feel your larynx (voicebox) is high up. The middle of your tongue (dorsum) will likely be forward and up, close to your hard palate (as if you’re saying, “Eek"!”), and you may sound very young!

This can feel very different (or even wrong!) if your accent (e.g., Lancashire) or language (e.g. Russian) habitually has you speak or sing with a lowered larynx (for example, if you’re singing Elvis songs, anything from the New Romantics era, or opera!).

How does pure TWANG sound?

UGLY!

But you’ve got to embrace the ugly, bright, cartoon-y sound when trying it out.

Play around with making the ugliest sound possible. Have fun with it!

It’s a pretty loud sound, so do warn your neighbors and roommates if you’re trying it out at home!

And don’t overdo it. Five minutes a day is a good place to start, if this is new to you!

Eventually, you’ll be able to ‘mix in’ a little twang into whatever style you’re singing to bring out your projection. For now, it’s pure twang for you!

Try vocal coaching lessons with our vocal coaching expert Dr Anikó Tóth.

You can book a free consultation via the button below.

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If you liked this post and want more on Twang, see our blogpost on the difference between Twang and Nasality, which are often confused.