Before vocal warm ups
"Red leather, yellow leather."
- A quiet, breathy first word
- "Yellow" runs into "leather"
- The voice drops off at the end
5-Minute Vocal Warm Ups You Can Record
Follow six short vocal warm ups on a timer, record the same line before and after, and hear your voice wake up.
5-minute vocal warm ups
All steps
- Before take0:05
- 0:30
- 0:45
- 0:45
- 0:45
- 0:45
- 1:00
- After take0:05
Your line
Red leather, yellow leather.
Before
"Red leather, yellow leather."
No take yet
After
"Red leather, yellow leather."
Records after the last step
Both takes stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded. This is a speaking warm-up, not singing practice.
The Six Steps, and Why Each One Matters
These vocal warm ups exercises run in the same order as the player above: body, breath, resonance, then clear speech. Each of these voice warm ups is easy on purpose, so you should never feel strain.
Step 1 · 0:30
Shoulders and neck
Roll your shoulders back five times. Drop your chin, then roll your head slowly from side to side.
Trains: a loose neck and jaw, so your voice isn't squeezed.
Step 2 · 0:45
Belly breathing
Hand on your belly. Breathe in through your nose for 4, then out on a long "sss" for 8.
Trains: steady air, the fuel behind every line.
Step 3 · 0:45
Humming
Lips closed, teeth apart. Hum an easy "mmm" and feel the buzz on your lips and nose. Slide a little higher, then lower.
Trains: resonance, a fuller voice without pushing.
Step 4 · 0:45
Lip trills
Blow air through loose lips so they buzz like a motorboat. Add a little voice and glide up and down.
Trains: easy airflow and a relaxed voice box.
Step 5 · 0:45
Sirens
On an "ng" or "oo", slide from low to high and back down, like a quiet siren. Stop before it strains.
Trains: range, so emotional lines don't crack.
Step 6 · 1:00
Tongue twisters
Say "Red leather, yellow leather" and "Toy boat" slowly three times, then at speaking speed. Keep every T, D and K crisp.
Trains: clear consonants for dialogue.
Vocal warm ups work best in this order because each step uses what the last one loosened. If you only have time for some vocal warm ups, keep breathing and tongue twisters.
Hear the Difference: Before and After
Record the same line before and after these vocal warm ups. The words don't change; the voice usually does. Here is what to listen for.
After vocal warm ups
"Red leather, yellow leather."
- Steady volume from the first word
- A clear L on every word
- Enough air to finish the line
Every voice is different, so your takes may change in other ways. Listen to the start of each word first; that is where a cold voice slips.
Vocal Warm Ups for Actors and Voice Actors
Vocal warm ups for actors depend on what comes next. An audition needs a clear first line; a long dubbing session needs a voice that lasts. Pick the row that matches your day and adjust the vocal warm ups to it.
| Situation | Do these steps | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Before an audition | The full 5 minutes, with your audition line as the after take | Don't push volume. Save it for the room. |
| Before a dubbing session | Steps 3 to 6 twice, about 6 minutes | Keep water nearby. The mic hears dry-mouth clicks. |
| Before a long read | The full routine, then lip trills again halfway | Rest your voice for a minute every 20 minutes. |
| Before a stage show | The full routine plus 2 minutes of projection on "hey" | Send sound to the back row, not from the throat. |
| First thing in the morning | Steps 1 to 3 slowly, then the rest | Morning voices are low and rough. Start quiet. |
| When your voice feels tired | Steps 1 to 3 only, very quietly | If it hurts, stop and rest instead. |
These vocal warm ups are for speaking and voice acting, not singing. If your voice hurts or stays hoarse, see a doctor or voice specialist.
Tongue Twister Vocal Warm Ups
Step 6 of the routine uses short lines like these. Tongue twister vocal warm ups wake up your lips, teeth and tongue without straining your voice.
Six lines for warming up
Say each one slowly three times, then at normal speed. Tap the mic to make it your before and after line.
Red leather, yellow leather.
L, R
Unique New York, you need New York.
N, Y
Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.
T, B
Lips, teeth, the tip of the tongue.
L, T, TH
Mommy made me mash my M&Ms.
M
Big black bug bit a big black bear.
B, L
Want a challenge after your vocal warm ups? Try the hard tongue twisters.
Quick Vocal Warm Ups for Speaking
No time for five minutes? These vocal warm ups for speaking take two, right before a meeting, a talk or a stream.
Breathe low
40 seconds. Hand on your belly, breathe in for 4, out on a long "sss" for 8.
Lip trills
40 seconds. Blow through loose lips so they buzz, sliding up and down a little.
One clear line
40 seconds. Say your first sentence slowly, then at speaking speed, every consonant clear.
How We Tested These Vocal Warm Ups
Order
Our vocal warm ups follow the order theatre voice coaches teach: body, breath, resonance, then clear speech. Each step stays easy on purpose.
Devices
We ran these vocal warm ups in desktop Chrome and at phone width, recording a before and after take each time and playing both back.
Timing
Step lengths add up to 4 minutes 30 seconds, plus about 30 seconds for the two takes. Pause any time; the timer waits, and it pauses when you switch tabs.
Limits
This is a speaking warm-up, not singing practice. The player does not judge your voice. Without microphone access you can still follow the steps.
The step order matches the vocal warm ups taught by the National Theatre.
Updated November 9, 2026
Vocal Warm Ups FAQ
What are some good vocal warm ups?
Humming, lip trills, sirens, belly breathing and short tongue twisters. Do these vocal warm ups in that order: body and breath first, clear speech last. The player at the top runs all of them on a timer.
How do I warm up my voice quickly?
Use the 2-minute version: belly breathing, lip trills, then one clear line, 40 seconds each. Quick vocal warm ups like this are enough before a call or a short read.
Is a 5 minute vocal warm up enough?
For speaking and short voice acting takes, 5 minute vocal warm ups are usually enough. Before a long recording session or a show, run the vocal warm ups twice or stretch them to 10 to 15 minutes.
What are some good vocal warm-up phrases?
Short lines that repeat close sounds: Red leather, yellow leather; Unique New York; Toy boat. The six tongue twister lines above are made for vocal warm ups, and any of them can be your before and after line.
What are some good warm-ups for theatre actors?
The same vocal warm ups, plus two minutes of projection: call "hey" to the back of the room from the belly, not the throat. The table for actors above shows how to adjust the routine for each kind of day.
Is my recording saved or uploaded?
No. Both takes from your vocal warm ups stay in your browser and are not uploaded. They are gone when you close or reload the page.
Voice Warmed Up? Put It to Use.
Your vocal warm ups are done. Our dubbing game puts your voice on a movie or cartoon scene you can watch back.
Play the dubbing game