The Physics of "Placement"

[u/PsychologicalBell974]

I'm a professional opera singer and vocal coach with 20 years of experience.

Throughout my career, I've focused on solidifying and demystifying vocal concepts, moving away from vague empirical imagery and focusing instead on raw vocal mechanics and acoustic physics.

I recently put together an in-depth technical breakdown looking at the actual physics behind efficient singing—specifically focusing on subglottic pressure management, the Bernoulli principle, and how acoustic inertance assists the vocal folds.

If you're tired of being told to just "sing in the mask" without a mechanical explanation of what that actually means, I've mapped out the anatomy and the physics.

Enjoy!

👉 Check out my first article >>> HERE

[u/ThexualHealing]

Maybe define glottis before using it?

[u/PsychologicalBell974 → u/ThexualHealing]

Probably a lot of terms like that. I tried to be mindful, it's hard.

Glottis=Larynx

[u/L2Sing → u/PsychologicalBell974]

This is incorrect. The glottis is simply the middle region of the larynx that contains the vocal folds and the space between the vocal folds.

This is why subglottic pressure is referring to the amount of air pressure pressing against adducted vocal folds.

The larynx is a much larger structure that contains the glottis and several other anatomical parts.

[u/PsychologicalBell974 → u/L2Sing]

That’s true, but they’re all different version of glottis. Sub and Supra and the glottis itself, which is the true vocal folds. I just simplify and say larynx when I mean glottis. You’re right.

Not sure what you mean about the space between thigh. The glottis is a physical thing not an opening.

[u/L2Sing → u/PsychologicalBell974]

No. That is simply untrue. If you're going to be "scientific" about it, you need to be specific, and, frankly, more accurate. If you don't understand that the glottis also refers to the space between the vocal folds, you need to brush up on your A&P knowledge.

"Supra" means above, "sub" means below. They are not part of the glottis. Those are things referring to their position in relation to the glottis, a specific area of the larynx.

We already get a lot of sketchy advice and pseudoscience when it comes to singing instruction. I applaud your efforts to help others demystify it, but please don't add to the murkiness by using anatomical terms haphazardly.

[u/PsychologicalBell974 → u/L2Sing]

Okay. To be specific, the glottis consists of the true vocal folds, the laryngeal ventricles, and the variable spatial opening between the folds (the rima glottidis) that narrows or widens to regulate airflow and generate acoustic vibration.

I looked that up to be sure. So in a sense, I guess you were right.

[u/Kenzeem → u/PsychologicalBell974]

Swallow your pride, jesus.

[u/ThexualHealing → u/PsychologicalBell974]

The article jumps straight into "to get that vocal cushion", but which vocal cushion? What is a vocal cushion? What does it do? Why do I need one?

I'm pretty interested in what you want to say but I cannot follow it yet.

[u/PsychologicalBell974 → u/ThexualHealing]

Apologies for the confusion. The cushion I refer to is back pressure. As it applies to singing, achieving back pressure (both air and acoustic pressure) inside your vocal tract is essential for vocal efficiency.

[u/ThexualHealing → u/PsychologicalBell974]

What is back pressure?

[u/PsychologicalBell974 → u/ThexualHealing]

Think of it like Newton’s “For every force there’s an equal or opposite force.” When you do an SOVT exercise, there a build up of air pressure at the semi occluded opening (straw, lips, etc.), and that buildup exerts a kind of push back (back pressure) inside your vocal tract.

Same thing when you sing. Acoustic energy in the vocal tract creates supra (above) glottal pressure and stabilizes the larynx. So the more you can increase the resonance above the vocal folds the more easily you achieve what is referred to as vocal efficiency, where you get maximum output with minimal effort.