Want to hit those high notes, but can't get your voice up there? Can't afford to get an expensive teacher? Try these steps to teach yourself at home.

Steps

1

Warm up your voice. Warm ups can include humming to your favorite song or singing something like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". Another great exercise for range increase includes humming your lowest note, then moving up to your highest and back down like a siren. Do it a few times, and you should already notice a difference. It is always best to warm up the middle voice before moving to the high and low extremes.
2

Breathe correctly. You should be breathing with your diaphragm, in other words, when you inhale, your stomach should rise first followed by your chest. Stand up straight, and try singing some quick "ha, ha" to feel quick the quick puffs of air that come right from the lower parts of your belly. This is called "support" of the voice.
3

Start in the middle of your range and sing higher and higher. Keep singing along the notes scaling up and down. Never strain your voice. Your throat should not hurt. Drink enough WARM water to hydrate your vocal cords. Don't drink ice water or milk before singing. Temperate water is best.
4

Think about the whole phrase that includes the high note. You must support your voice continuously from the beginning, connecting the high note to the notes before it.
5

Use your Stomach, not your throat. Using your throat on high notes will cause strain to your vocal chords, and that can really hurt. when you sing high, push out your tummy, so it sticks out more, like a blown up balloon. this may seem silly, but this lets your lungs take in more air.
6

Remember that "high" notes are not actually physically in a higher place. They originate in the same location as the rest of the notes. Avoid looking up or tilting your head upwards, and try thinking of the note as farther away from you, rather than somewhere up in the air.
7

Find the right vowel modification. Each voice has certain vowels that work best when one sings above the staff. You should experiment to determine which vowels work best for you. Once you have an idea of which vowel works best, modify (gradually) towards that vowel as you ascend the scale. (Don't be afraid to use mixed vowels like singing the vowel in "head" while rounding your lips like an "oh".)
8

Yawn on those higher notes. When rehearsing, never hesitate to sing the word "yawn" for one of those notes in your upper range. The position of the mouth, to say that word, is the exact-perfect place to start when you're singing that note. It sets up the back of your mouth/throat perfectly.
9

Repeat. Throughout a period of time until you get the desired results.
10

Try singing your highest note and holding it out, then try the next one.
11

Take your time. High notes are not that easy so do it bit by bit.

Community Q&A

Are you allowed to eat cold foods before singing/ vocal warm ups?

wikiHow Contributor

The most important thing is that your throat does not feel dry. Thus, having something to drink before singing is useful. Most singers prefer something lukewarm, preferably of not alcoholic nature. Tea or warm herbal drinks are often ideal.

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Will smoking cigarettes harm my vocal cords?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes. All the chemicals that are normally harmful to your lungs are even worse for your vocal chords. Smoking is bad for your whole body.

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I am 74 and can sing everything except some high notes. What can I do to improve my range?

wikiHow Contributor

Try strengthening your lungs as much as you can. Different postures and body positions can help you find the higher notes too, so do some fitness exercises to stay lithe and strong.

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What do I do if I'm sitting down when I'm singing?

wikiHow Contributor

Sit up straight and fix your upper body's posture to be as if you were standing. Move your butt to the edge of your seat, as this will help force you into a straighter posture. Sing some vowels preceded by H (ho, ha, heh) to feel your gut pump and to ensure you can retain power similar to when you're standing.

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What if your voice cracks? Will you still be able to get to the note eventually?

wikiHow Contributor

If you look downwards while singing a high note, it prevents voice cracks, in most cases. If you keep practicing looking down, raising your face higher every time, you will get to the high note without your voice cracking. If this doesn't help, don't worry. You will get it eventually if you keep practicing.

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I've been trying to hit the high note in Adele's song hello but I can't do it. Any ideas?

wikiHow Contributor

Practice the song slowly before singing the note outright. The buildup to the note is the most important bit to rehearse as once you have sung it lots, you can focus on the note that really matters. However, if your voice cannot hit high notes, then be realistic.

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How do you prevent yourself from straining while you do the high notes?

wikiHow Contributor

Try vowel modification. some vowels like ee and oo are easier to sing higher. Modify words just a little, like singing loove instead of love. It will still be understood in context. Listen to pop singers who can sing high, and how they modify their vowels. Unless you listen, you often don't notice right away. Also try singing high notes through your nose more than through your chest, as if you were using a "Julia Child" voice but not as drastic.

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Can a man also hit high notes?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes, men can also sing high notes almost as easily as women. When practiced and frequently used, men have a tone of voice used especially for higher notes called a falsetto. It may not always be as strong as you would like but the more you try to use it, the more it can improve.

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Are there any tips on producing a louder and powerful voice while singing?

wikiHow Contributor

Release the pressure in your throat and put it into your abdomen.

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How do I get ready for singing high notes?

wikiHow Contributor

Normally vocal warm ups are a must before any type of performance, but make sure you don't strain your voice. Try singing up and down scales with different exercises that are comfortable to you/are in the vocal range of the piece you are about to perform.

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Unanswered Questions

If I am a mezzo soprano, can I expand my range higher to become a higher soprano?

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Tips

It is absolutely important not to strain your voice. Doing so could cause damage to your voice that cannot be fixed.
Watch celebrities who can hit high notes and watch to see if there are any special things they do, and then try them out. (Some singers who can hit high notes really well are Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Brendon Urie, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston.) For example, Adam Lambert sticks his tongue out when singing a high note. Find a technique that works for you.
Open up the mouth/throat to hit higher notes. Keep a wide space in your mouth by making a 0 shape and keeping your tongue down.
Make sure your throat or lips don't feel dry when you start to sing and warm up. If you start singing without warming up, either you'll strain your voice, or no sound will come out. Either way, you are going to hurt yourself.
Breathe deeply and stand/sit up straight.
It is best to know your range. Men especially take a long time to build range, and it doesn't help to force high notes that aren't ready to come out.
Don't give up, you probably won't get the results you want the first time, but the more you work at it, the better you'll get.
Don't be discouraged if you can't do it the very first time! Keep trying and don't let anyone tell you you can't because you can.
Despite popular belief, hot tea and lemon are both bad for your voice. Not only does lemon dry out your voice, but anything that is extremely hot or cold will hurt your voice! The best things for your voice are simple vitamins and room temperature water. It also can cause a poor performance if you eat or drink one hour before singing.
Get a voice teacher to help you. You are more likely to accomplish something with a professional at your side. If you can't get a voice teacher, you'll have to work at home. It would be best to have some instrument at your side that will go high. The best choice would be a piano or keyboard if one is available.

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Warnings

Do not sing too much (if at all) if you have a sore throat. You're more likely to decrease your range than increase it.
Be sure to warm up your voice, it will allow best results and will help prevent injury.
The voice you hear in yourself is not the one being projected outside so try recording your self sing and improve from that standard.
If you really like a song, but you have to 'step the song down' by transposing to avoid losing your voice, if at all possible, do that. It is not a sign of weakness, you may be sensible by doing that, or just do a different song altogether.
Most important of all? Concentrate on singing, and only singing. Keep remembering the ease you need to feel in singing, and the pitch you are trying to produce -- not what you'll be doing later in the day!
If you feel any pain in your throat, stop! This could mean that you're straining your voice.
Never strain! Your head should always be in a normal position, and should never move up or down for note purposes.