Your normal voice will vibrate your chest and have a mellow sound. The break occurs where your normal voice transitions up to breathier, shriller, non-chest vibrating tone, which is your falsetto.
The point at which your voice breaks will be unique to you. If you’re having trouble finding yours, slowly descend from a high-pitched siren-like “Aow” until you feel the tone vibrate in your chest. [2] X Research source
Since yodeling alternates between consonants and vowel sounds, you might practice by singing a mid-range note in your chest as “Yoh,” then jump up to a high note in falsetto using “Dee. " Emphasize the break between chest voice and falsetto when you practice. Unlike other styles, where singers try to move smoothly from one note to the next, the break is essential for yodeling. [4] X Research source
Knock-knock. Who’s there? Little old lady. Little-old-lady-WHO! Practice your yodel by singing “little-old-lady-WHO. " Jump from chest voice to falsetto between “lady” and “who. “[5] X Research source
You can listen to a reference to the tones for middle A, E, and D online, on an instrument tuner, a pitch pipe, or on instruments that hold tone well (like a piano). Once you’ve mastered the triad, try putting the word “yodel” in front of it to sing “yodel - A (Ay) - E (Ee) - D (Dee)!"[6] X Research source
This may be easiest to do with an instrument playing the root note (starting note) of the triad as you sing it.
During this simple exercise, pay attention to your chest, neck, and shoulders. There should be no tension in these parts of your body. You should feel your breathing in the area of your abdomen below your rib cage. This area should expand as you breathe. [7] X Research source
Massage your face by kneading the muscles along your jaw and mouth in small circles, pressing gently inward and downward as you move toward your chin. When massaging, your jaw should relax and open as you progress down your face to your chin. This happens naturally when tension leaves your jaw.
Your lips should be placed together loosely as you exhale, causing them to flap together to create noise, somewhat similar to blowing a raspberry or pursing your lips for trumpet. [9] X Research source Once you’ve practiced this a few times, try doing this with a “b” at the start. Practice the “b” trill in an ascending eight-note scale, from middle C to high C. [10] X Research source
You may feel like you have to belt out the volume on the really high or really low notes, but try to keep your volume moderate and consistent. Reverse this process and siren up from your lowest note to the highest. Try this exercise while buzzing your lips like a kazoo. [12] X Research source
Try sliding up and down scales with a “me” sound. Next, try doing the same with an “ee” and “oo” sound. Humming scales is another great way of warming up. [13] X Research source Avoid pushing your upper and lower vocal range when practicing scales, but do your best to stretch your range a little bit. [14] X Research source
You may need to put in many hours of practice before you sound like an authentic Swiss milkmaid (or milklad) instead of a strangled cat. Persevere! When you master this, it’ll sound awesome.
For a classical take, check out Julie Andrews’ “The Sound of Music. " If your heart yearns for alpine yodeling, check out the videos of Franzl Lang. For cowboy yodeling, try Wylie Gustafson or America’s Got Talent runner-up, Taylor Ware. [17] X Research source For a classic example of yodeling in pop-culture, listen to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens. [18] X Research source
You might find fellow yodelers at a central European cultural center. Yodeling is still a popular traditional activity in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. [22] X Research source
Even a simple instrument, like a harmonica, can interject variety in your yodeling and help you stay in tune.
