(Theory)

CONSONANT COLORS
Consonant Colors Exercise Basically, when we sing, we sing vowel sounds.  We use consonants to shape the vowels, to turn the vowels into words.  But consonants also add color to the vowels.

 

Consonants can be grouped in terms of how the air flow is restricted.  We use several kinds of consonants, including liquids, fricatives, stops, and nasals.  Liquids include the "l" and "r" sounds.  The air flow is least restricted in liquids.  Fricatives are constricted at a local site, enough to create a white noise turbulence.  In English, the ":f", "s", and "sh" sounds are examples of voiceless fricatives.  The "v" and "z" sounds are examples of voiced fricatives.  (The term "voicing" refers to a vibration created at the vocal cords.  Put your hand on your throat and say the word "he".  The "h" sound is produced without voicing, and the "e" sound is produced with voicing.)

 

Stops are created by stopping the air flow in the mouth.  The "p". "t" and "k" sounds are voiceless stops.  The "b", "d", and "g" sounds are voiced stops.  Nasals are variations on stops.  The air is stopped in the mouth but is allowed to go out the nose.  Make an "m" sound and then hold your nose; the air is forced out the mouth and generates a "b" sound.  You normally move the back of your soft palate to generate the difference in the two sounds.)

 

The following exercise is an illustration of consonant colors.  The exercise contains five passages.  The first contains only vowel sounds.  Passages two through five contain the same vowel sounds but add consonants to the vowels.  Passage two uses liquid and nasal consonants.

 

The third passage replaces the liquids with stops made at the same point of articulation (or close to it).  The fourth passage contains voiceless fricatives, and the fifth passage contains voiced fricatives.