Sajun.org
'''Yodeling''' (or '''Yodelling''') is a form of
singing that involves rapidly switching from the "chest voice" to the "
head voice" making a high-low-high-low sound. It was probably developed in the
Swiss Alps as a method of communication between mountain peaks, and it later became a part of the traditional
folk music of the region.
To yodel, sing a
scale continuously upwards, until your voice "breaks" (switches
octaves) into your "head voice" (also known as
falsetto in men). This point is your "voice break". Then go back down a note, and up again, over the voice break. Do this '''loudly''', many times.
In "Hodl - Ay - EE - Dee", the "EE" switches to the head voice.
Yodeling has developed in two main styles: the traditional Swiss/alpine style and the country/western style:
* Some good examples of ''alpine yodeling'' can be heard in the songs of
Franzl Lang,
Stefanie Hertel,
Zillertaler Schrzenjger,
Ursprung Buam and
Mary Schneider.
* Examples of ''country/western yodeling'' can be heard by
Kerry Christensen,
Elton Britt,
Wilf Carter,
Slim Whitman and
Patsy Montana. The most notable country and western yodeler was pioneer star
Jimmie Rodgers, who recorded more than a dozen songs under the title "Blue Yodel" with an appended number.
Gene Autry was another country-style yodeler.
Kishore Kumar, the
Indian singer also yodelled in some of his songs. Imitating these singers is the best way to expand the range and complexity of your yodeling.
Soul singer
Aaron Neville was inspired by Autry's yodelling to develop his unusual
vibrato singing style.
"
Appenzeller" and "
Bravourjodler" are yodeling standards which are performed by many different singers.
The best places for yodelling are those with an
echo. They include
lakes, rocky
gorges, anywhere with a distant rock face, the outdoor areas between office buildings, in a
canoe next to a rocky shoreline, or down a long hallway, and best of all, a mountain range.
According to the
Oxford English Dictionary the word ''yodel'' is derived from a
German word ''jodeln'' (originally
Bavarian) meaning "to utter the syllable ''jo''".
==External link==
*
The Internet Yodeling Course (ten step course with audio samples)
de:Jodler
nl:Jodelen
