Build an UNSTOPPABLE Chest Voice! 5 Game-Changing Exercises

Let’s face it:

Everyone wants a powerful, resonant voice.

And what’s the key to a powerful singing voice? Chest voice.

After all, your chest voice is the foundation of your entire singing voice. When your chest voice is weak, everything else falls apart.

But here’s the problem:

Many singers struggle to develop a strong chest voice. 

And without it, they end up sounding thin, breathy, or strained.

Just look at what happens when singers try to belt or hit emotional high points without a developed chest voice:

They strain… 

Their pitch wavers… 

Their tone sounds weak… 

And worst of all, singers without a fully developed chest voice will have a weaker voice!

But what if I told you that you could develop a rich, powerful chest voice with just a few targeted exercises?

Sound too good to be true?

It’s not.

I use these same exercises with my private students all the time.

So today, I’m going to show you exactly how to sing in chest voice with 5 game-changing exercises that will transform your sound from weak to wow.

Ready to build an unstoppable chest voice? Let’s dive in!

What Is Chest Voice Anyway?

Before we jump into the exercises, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what chest voice actually is.

Technically speaking, chest voice is the lower register of your voice where your vocal folds are thick and vibrating along their full length.

The term “chest voice” comes from the sensation of vibration or resonance that singers feel in their chest when singing lower notes.

To see why they call it “chest voice”, try this quick test:

1. Place your hand on your chest
2. Say “Hey!” in a loud, calling voice
3. Feel that vibration under your hand? That’s chest voice!

Since the vocal cords are thicker, they tend to vibrate slower – creating a lower pitch.

But here’s an important truth:

The vocal range of chest voice changes from singer to singer – and is not fixed.

Why Develop A Strong Chest Voice?

Here’s the crazy thing:

Since the 2010s with singers like Billie Eilish, Maggie Rogers and Olivia Rodrigo, many singers wonder why they should develop a strong chest voice.

After all, each of those singers creates that angelic, breathy sound by singing with practically ZERO chest voice.

(Then, there are some notable exceptions to this trend of the 2010s, like Lady Gaga).

So why do singers, of all kinds, need to develop a strong chest voice?

The answer is simple:

A strong chest voice gives you:

1. More power and volume – Without straining or pushing
2. Better vocal control – Especially through your middle range
3. Increased endurance – Your voice tires less quickly
4. Extended range – A stronger base to support your higher notes
5. Richer tone – That warm, full sound audiences love

Think of your chest voice as the foundation of a house. Without a solid foundation, anything you try to build on top becomes unstable.

The same is true for your voice!

Those other singers I mentioned – the ones who sing with nearly zero chest voice?

Each one of them developed their chest voice before becoming platinum-selling artists.

Especially, if you’re interested in hitting high notes, strengthening your chest voice is essential for your overall vocal ability!

Are You Singing With Enough Chest Voice?

Before we dive into the exercises, let’s address some common ways you can see if you’re singing with the proper amount of chest voice.

Some common signs of singing with too little chest voice are:

Sign #1: Breathiness

Many singers, especially beginners, struggle with a breathy chest voice that lacks power and definition.

This has many causes:

• Vocal folds not fully closing
• Lack of proper breath support
• Holding back out of fear or habit

Sign #2: Lack of Tone

Do you sound a bit likeMickey Mouse when you sing?

Hollow, breathy, and empty of tone.

This sound is essentially “falsetto” that’s pulled down into the chest voice range.

And since falsetto occurs when the vocal folds are thin, the vocal folds are unable to create a strong vibration or rich tone.

Sign #3: Limited Range

Many singers with an undeveloped chest voice also suffer from a limited range.

Why is that?

Because there are two primary vocal registers in the singing voice: the chest voice and the head voice.

So if you’re singing without any chest voice, you have essentially hacked your vocal range in half!

Sign #4: Flipping or Breaking

This happens when your voice suddenly “flips” from chest voice to head voice, creating an audible break when you sing from low to high or back down.

Vocal breaks occur when the vocal folds suddenly vibrate at different thicknesses.

This sounds a bit like a boy’s voice squeaking during puberty.

And since the chest voice is undeveloped, the vocal folds are vibrating too thinly to create an even sound across your range.

Want to Nail Those High Notes?

Every singer wants to expand their range. Expand Your Range Fast will show you how to finally hit high notes in your voice without straining. Expand your range by 5 notes or more!

Learn More

Now that we know what we’re dealing with, let’s get to the solution!

5 Game-Changing Exercises to Develop Your Chest Voice

Ready to transform your chest voice? 

Now that you know what chest voice is and how to recognize if you’re singing with enough, it’s time to develop an unstoppable chest voice!

These five exercises will help you build strength, control, and power in your chest register.

For best results, practice these exercises daily for at least 10-15 minutes.

Exercise #1: The Five-Tone Count

This fundamental exercise connects your speaking voice to your singing voice, helping to activate your natural chest resonance.

How to do it:

1. Start by speaking the numbers “One, Two, Three, Four, Five” in a strong, projected voice
2. Now find a comfortable low note in your range (try C3 for men, A3 for girls)
3. Sing the numbers “1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1” on the first five notes of the major scale, up and back down
4. Keep your voice loud and projected—almost like you’re calling to someone across the street
5. Place your hand on your chest to feel the vibration as you sing

The scale will look something like this for guys:

And here’s the same type of scale for ladies:

This exercise bridges the gap between speaking and singing, using familiar numbers to establish a strong chest connection. 

The projected counting engages your full vocal mechanism the way you naturally would when speaking with authority.

Pro tip: Don’t try to make this sound pretty! Focus on the same strength and projection you’d use if you were counting loudly for a group activity.

Exercise #2: The “Nae” Exercise

This exercise uses an open, ugly sound to strengthen your chest voice connection.

How to do it:

1. Say the word “Nae” (rhymes with “nasty”) in a strong, projected voice
2. Make it sound a bit ugly and nasty like the Wicked Witch of the West—this isn’t about sounding pretty!
3. Find a comfortable low note in your range
4. Sing “Nae-Nae-Nae-Nae-Nae” on a 5-tone scale going up and down
5. Keep the vowel wide and open throughout the exercise

This is the same 5-Tone Scale we used for guys and ladies in the last exercise.

They look like this:

And the lady’s scale looks like this:

The open “Ae” vowel combined with the forward-placed “N” consonant creates ideal conditions for engaging your chest voice. 

The uglier and more open the sound, the better the chest connection.

Pro tip: Think of making a nasal, almost witchy sound. The goal is function, not beauty, at this stage of development.

Exercise #3: The “Nay” Exercise

Building on the previous exercise, the “Nay” adds a bit more brightness and edge to strengthen your chest coordination.

How to do it:

1. Say the word “Nay” (as in “neighbor”) in a slightly bratty, witchy, or teasing voice
2. The sound should be forward and a bit nasal—think of a playground taunt
3. Sing “Nay-Nay-Nay-Nay-Nay” on a 5-tone scale, going up and down
4. Start in the lower part of your range and gradually work higher
5. Keep the sound strong and bright throughout

And again, that scale looks like this for guys:

And this for ladies:

What it does: The “Nay” exercise helps engage the chest voice muscles, creating a brighter sound.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to sound silly or ugly with this one! The brighter and more “bratty” the sound, the more effectively it will engage the right vocal coordination.

Exercise #4: The “Gug” Exercise

This exercise is perfect for awakening and strengthening the chest voice, especially for singers who struggle with breathiness.

How to do it:

1. Start by placing your hand on your chest
2. Say the word “Gug” (as in “gutter”) out loud in a strong speaking voice
3. Feel that vibration in your chest? That’s what we want!
4. Now, find a comfortable low note in your range (try C3 for men, G3 for women)
5. Sing “Gug-Gug-Gug-Gug-Gug” on a 5-tone scale going up and down
6. Keep the sound strong and focused, maintaining that chest resonance throughout

You know the drill! Here’s the scale for guys:

And the scale for ladies:

What it does: The “G” consonant helps engage the vocal folds fully, while the “ug” vowel encourages an open throat position. This combination creates the perfect environment for developing chest voice strength.

Pro tip: If you’re not feeling that chest resonance, try to “speak” the word “Gug”, as in “Gut” out loud like you’re trying to reach the back of a room. The point is to not make it pretty. Sometimes beauty gets in the way of function when you’re first developing your voice!

Exercise #5: The “Mum” Chest Builder

This exercise helps build chest resonance while maintaining a relaxed, open throat.

How to do it:

1. Say the word “Mum” (as in “mother”) in a comfortable speaking voice
2. Make sure your lips are relaxed and the sound is resonant
3. Find a low comfortable note and sing “Mum-Mum-Mum-Mum-Mum” on a 5-note scale
4. Focus on feeling the resonance in your chest
5. As you ascend in pitch, make sure to maintain the same rich, full sound

What it does: The “Mum” exercise combines the resonance-promoting “M” consonant with the relaxed “uh” vowel, creating ideal conditions for developing chest voice without tension.

Pro tip: Similar to the “Gug”, if the “Mum” still sounds too breathy, try to “speak” the word at a loud volume.

Applying Chest Voice to Songs

Exercises are great, but how do you apply your developing chest voice strength to actual songs?

Here’s a simple 3-step process:

Step 1: Identify Chest Voice Sections

1. Look at the lower parts of the song—these are typically sung in chest voice
2. Mark phrases that need power or emotional intensity
3. Identify notes where you typically feel your voice flip or break

Step 2: Practice Problematic Phrases

1. Use the difficult phrases and practice them using the exercises above
2. For example, sing a challenging phrase on “Gug” or “Nay” first

Step 3: Make the Jump to Lyrics

1. Gradually transition to the actual lyrics while maintaining the same chest connection

The Bottom Line on Developing Your Chest Voice

You’ve made it!

Here’s the bottom line:

Developing your chest voice is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your singing.

With a strong chest voice foundation, you’ll:

• Sing with more power and confidence
• Access more emotional expressiveness in your performances
• Navigate your entire range more easily
• Reduce vocal strain and fatigue
• Stand out with a richer, more resonant sound

Most importantly—have fun with the process! These exercises might feel strange or even silly at first, but they really do work if you commit to them.

The singers you admire didn’t develop their powerful voices overnight. They built them note by note, exercise by exercise, just like you’re doing now.

Ready to transform your chest voice from average to unstoppable? 

Start with these exercises today!

Want to Nail Those High Notes?

Every singer wants to expand their range. Expand Your Range Fast will show you how to finally hit high notes in your voice without straining. Expand your range by 5 notes or more!

Learn More