Yodeling

Yodeling is a form of singing that involves holding an extended note that repeatedly changes from the chest register to the falsetto/head register.

While the origin of yodeling is still unclear, it is believed to have been developed in the Swiss and Austrian Alps as a method of communication between mountain peaks.

Swiss Alps

The inner workings of yodeling are actually quite simple. All humans have at least two vocal registers, the “head” and “chest” voices, which result from different ways a tone is produced. Most people can sing tones within a certain range of lower pitch in their chest voice and a certain range of higher pitch in their head, or falsetto, voice.

Experienced singers can find the gap between these two extremes. Yodelers can switch between the two at high volumes several times in a few seconds. Going between these two extremes creates the synonymous “voice break” you hear from yodeling.

Yodeling is often heard in American bluegrass and country music.

If you’d like to learn how to yodel yourself or see some more bizarre yodeling videos, visit yodelcourse.com for more information.

Did you know?- According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word “yodel” came from the Bavarian word jodeln meaning “to utter the syllable jo”.

I want to know…Where do you think the most absurd place to start randomly yodeling would be? Maybe during the middle of a eulogy or perhaps an interview? Post a comment and let the discussion brew!