How to sound like a crying baby?

February 14, 2006 9:14 PM

I recently met someone (male, mid 20's) who could create sounds like a crying baby. If you close your eyes, you really can't tell it's not a baby crying. I just recently saw someone do it on Comedy Central's "Distractions". How is this done?
posted by Ekim Neems to grab bag (4 comments total)

I tighten up the back of my throat, extend and press my tongue down onto my bottom teeth, and breathe in. You should make a gasp/squeak when you inhale, with the louder cry coming with the exhale.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:38 PM on February 14, 2006

In falsetto.

But it's creepy.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:49 PM on February 14, 2006

Soft palate is all the way down -- block off your airflow completely if you can. If you can't do it that way, put the very back of your tongue against the top back of the roof of your mouth, but the results won't be as good.

Now try to make an "n" noise. Raise the pitch. Include lots of -- I'm not sure how to explain this, but stuttering or hiccupping, almost. I can almost promise that when the guy was doing this, the top of his chest was noticeably going up and down.

Have you ever taken singing lessons, or do you know about this kind of anatomy? If I can explain using stuff like palate, diaphragm, it'll be much clearer.
posted by booksandlibretti at 11:43 PM on February 14, 2006

I haven't ever taken singing lessons, but I do sing so feel free to use terms like those :)
posted by Ekim Neems at 6:18 AM on February 15, 2006