Dear Rick and Vocalisters:
Yes, there is such a think as a tenor break. In fact, tenors break more often than any other voice type. It usually appears around F4-A4. It is caused by the tendency of tenors to reduce sub-glottal pressure and open (abbduct) the vocal folds at the very moment when the vocal folds should remain closed (adducted) and the sub-glottal breath pressure used on notes below this point should be maintained or slightly increased in this pitch area. In the terms of many voice teachers, increased breath support is needed.
Why do tenors tend to slightly open the vocal folds with the subsequent reduction of breath pressure on these pitches.? Because they find it is easier to alter the required conformation of the vocal folds as one transcends from chest voice into head voice. If the folds have reduced medial tension it is easier to modify vocal fold thickness because the open quotient of the vocal fold operation is increased and the folds can alter their conformation during this increased open phase. However, the tenor must learn to make these alterations earlier in the scale climb before excessive medial tension must develop to maintain the extended use of the chest voice beyond its best limits. Cracking is always in indication of inadequate or incorrect vocal technique or it occurs because the voice is extremely tired.
-- Lloyd W. Hanson
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