Vocal crack

Categories: Music theory stubs

Vocal cracking is an obvious switch in vocal registration caused by the singer's vocal cords' inability to handle maintaining a particular vocal pitch while simultaneously changing its vocal dynamic, or by a singer attempting to reach a pitch beyond the capabilities of a particular vocal register. Vocal cracking is nearly absent in professional singing and thus is a sign of lack of proper vocal training. For example, a singer may sing a particular note in the head register softly, but upon trying to increase the volume and pull the note into the chest register, the note cracks. In men, when trying to traverse the passagio, the man's voice will crack as it moves from chest to head register, due to the vocal cords' inability to handle the muscular tension that resulted in maintaining the changes in pitch.

Vocal cracking also occurs during puberty, when teenagers' vocal cords catch up to their developing larynges, as the vocal adductor muscles struggle to regain their strength at this new speaking voice pitch. While this is very common in males, it can occasionally occur in females, especially the developing contralto. While this can happen repeatedly during this time, eventually the vocal cords and larynx stop growing and the adductor muscles learn to properly handle their new pitch.

Examples of vocal cracking

• On a appearance on the Tonight Show, singer Truth Hurts' voice cracked during a performance of "Addictive" at the high note.
• While accessing the whistle register, Chanté Moore's voice cracked on the phrase "Here We Go", when she covered the Minnie Riperton classic.