How to Rebuild Your Upper Range Using Straw Phonation (No Screaming Required)

You know that awful feeling when you audition for a role you really want… and then never hear back? 

Ghosted. No call, no email, no callback—just radio silence. 

That’s kind of what it feels like when your high notes vanish.

One day, your upper range is showing up for you. 

Sparkly. Strong. Effortless. 

And then, suddenly, it’s gone. 

Not even a courtesy text.

If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. 

In fact, it happens to more singers than you might think—especially those of us who sing regularly, gig several nights a week, or have been in the game for decades. 

The good news? 

Just like serial ghosters, those high notes can come back around—especially when you know how to coax them.

In this post, we’ll explore:

• Why your upper range might have dipped out

• What you can do to rebuild it (without strain)

• How straw phonation and the Singing / Straw™ can help

Let’s get your voice back in shape—and that upper register back in your corner.

Why Do High Notes Disappear?

Vocal range isn’t a static thing—it’s fluid. 

And like any muscle-based coordination, “use it or lose it” applies. Here are a few common reasons your top notes might’ve ghosted you:

• Lack of Use: If you haven’t sung up there in a while, those supportive muscles weaken. No reps = less access.

• Muscle Tension: Over time, singers can develop unhelpful habits—like reaching for high notes by squeezing the throat, lifting the larynx too high, or pushing too much air.

• Fatigue or Injury: Long sets, poor technique, or little recovery time can lead to swelling or vocal fatigue.

• Breaks or Aging: Even pros take time off. And as we age, vocal coordination can change if we’re not maintaining it.

But here’s the important thing to remember: your voice has muscle memory. 

With the right tools and consistency, you can get those notes back.

5 Steps to Reclaim Your Upper Range

Step 1: Bring in the Straw

You don’t need to scream your way back into your upper range.

In fact, that’s probably what got you into trouble in the first place.

Instead, you need resistance. Enter: straw phonation.

If you’re already familiar with SOVT (semi-occluded vocal tract) exercises, you know they create just enough back pressure to help your vocal folds close more efficiently and reduce tension. 

Think of it as “lifting weights for your voice”—without the strain.

And yes, the right straw matters. Your iced coffee straw won’t cut it.

That’s actually one of the reasons I created the Singing / Straw™ in the first place—because your smoothie straw just isn’t going to give you the same acoustic and physiological benefits. 

The diameter of the straw affects how much resistance your vocal folds experience—and that’s crucial when you’re trying to rebuild your top range safely.

Want to see it in action? 

Watch this YouTube video: Increase Your Range with the Singing / Straw

Try this: Glide from a comfortable mid-range pitch up to your highest accessible note and back down—all through the straw. Do this slowly. No pushing. You’re just reconnecting with the notes gently and reminding your voice what it’s capable of.

Consistency wins here. A few minutes a day can wake those high notes back up faster than you'd expect.

Step 2: Unwind the Tension

Tight jaw? Raised shoulders? Neck like a steel cable?

Your upper range doesn’t stand a chance with that kind of tension.

Try this body check:

• Wiggle your jaw.

• Sigh a yawn.

• Sway side to side while singing.

• Yawn as you inhale (this helps lower the larynx and relax the throat).

And when you sing high, don’t drag up your chest voice. 

That’s like trying to sprint uphill in hiking boots. Instead, allow a shift into head voice or mix. 

Let your voice pivot smoothly instead of forcing it through.

Posture matters too. Stand tall, ribs lifted, spine long. Give your breath and sound somewhere to go.

Step 3: Start Low, Build Slowly

One of the best-kept secrets to recovering your high notes?

Don’t start with them.

Begin with gentle warmups in your mid-range and slowly work your way up. Descending slides actually help loosen the upper range better than trying to belt from the bottom up.

Then extend your range a half step at a time. One semitone today. One more tomorrow. Baby steps.

Step 4: Hydrate, Rest, and Cool Down

You already know this, but it’s worth repeating: you can’t sing high notes if your instrument is dried out, overworked, or exhausted.

So hydrate. Rest. Warm down after gigs or rehearsals (straw slides work here, too!). And take care of your body—your voice is part of it.

Ready to Regain Access to Your Upper Range?

If your high notes feel like strangers right now… it’s time to reintroduce yourself.

And while our 4th of July Sale has officially wrapped, the good news is we still have some of our favorite Singing / Straw™ sets left in stock—including the Sili, which is 30% off right now (no code needed).

Whether you're working with a coach or going solo, this tool is here to help you reconnect with your voice faster and more efficiently—so you can hit those highs without hesitation.

So go ahead—get back to those show-stopping notes. They’ve been waiting for you.