Demi Lovato’s performance of “Ghost” on The Tonight Show is a masterclass in subtle, sophisticated vocal technique. While it might look effortless – and for Demi, it largely is – there is a tremendous amount of technical precision happening beneath the surface.
Whether you’re a beginner trying to understand mixed voice or an intermediate singer looking to refine your control, breaking down “Ghost” by Demi Lovato offers some of the most valuable lessons in contemporary singing.
Thin Vocal Folds and the Art of Quiet Power
One of the first things you’ll notice in “Ghost” is how intimate and hushed the opening feels. Demi Lovato achieves this by singing with thin vocal folds – essentially, the folds are slightly open, allowing a small amount of breath to pass through and create that soft, airy quality.
This is not the same as pushing air; rather, it’s a controlled, gentle openness that produces a crystal-clear, delicate tone. This technique requires the head voice to be drawn down into the chest register, which demands a significant amount of thyroid tilt to keep the sound from falling flat.
Thyroid tilt refers to the forward tipping of the thyroid cartilage – the structure that houses the vocal folds. In “Ghost,” Demi Lovato relies heavily on this tilt throughout the song to maintain a sung, musical quality rather than a spoken or flat one. It also enables vibrato to enter the sound naturally, which is a telltale sign that thyroid tilt is active. Without it, the tone would lose its warmth and resonance entirely.
Breathing for This Style
Breathing in “Ghost” by Demi Lovato is notably different from how you might breathe in a powerful, belted number. Here are the key characteristics of her breath approach in this performance:
- Short, sharp, high breaths: rather than deep diaphragmatic breaths, Demi takes quick, efficient inhales suited to the quiet, sustained phrases.
- Minimal breath volume: because the voice quality used in “Ghost” doesn’t require a large air supply, over-breathing can actually disrupt the delicate tone.
- Breath supports larynx height: breathing high and short also assists in raising the larynx slightly, which is necessary for the higher pitches in the song.
This is an important reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to breathing for singing. Context – including voice quality, dynamic level, and pitch – all determine what kind of breath is most appropriate.
Mix Voice: The Secret Behind the Sound
A major hallmark of Demi Lovato’s technique in “Ghost” is her use of mix voice. Rather than flipping into a full, thick chest belt or pulling back into a wispy falsetto, Demi navigates the song in a beautifully blended middle ground.
As she ascends into the higher sections of “Ghost,” the vocal folds thicken ever so slightly – evidenced by a subtle increase in volume – but the thyroid tilt remains engaged throughout. This combination is what defines mix voice: thicker folds than pure head voice, but with enough tilt to stay far from a belt.
This approach allows Demi Lovato to execute fast melodic runs and melismas without the tension that would come from singing in a heavy chest voice at those pitches. It also preserves the emotional sensitivity of the song. “Ghost” is not a rock anthem – it’s a tender, searching ballad, and the mix voice quality reflects that perfectly.
Mouth Shape, Tongue, and Resonance
The physical articulators – the mouth, lips, and tongue – play a significant role in shaping the tone of “Ghost” by Demi Lovato. Some key observations include:
- Closed mouth in passages: Demi uses a relatively closed mouth position in certain sections, which keeps the back of the throat free and open while allowing for quick consonant succession at the front.
- Rounded lips: when the lips round and slightly protrude, they elongate the vocal tract, which darkens and warms the tone.
- Wider mouth for brightness: in the louder, higher sections, Demi opens into a wider mouth shape, which brightens the timbre and adds an edgier, more present sound.
- Tongue hollowing: at very high pitches, the back of the tongue naturally hollows slightly to give the larynx room to rise. Trying to prevent this will cause the throat to tighten and the sound to become harsh.
It’s worth noting that the wider mouth shape Demi Lovato uses in the upper register of “Ghost” is largely a stylistic choice. A narrower, more north-to-south mouth opening would produce a darker tone – more suited to something like a classical ballad – while the wider shape gives “Ghost” its characteristic brightness and intensity at the climax.
Larynx Position and Going Higher
As Demi Lovato climbs in pitch throughout “Ghost,” the larynx rises accordingly – this is a natural and necessary part of reaching higher notes. However, the tilt and the tongue position work together to ensure that the rise doesn’t cause tension or constriction.
The larynx position can also be adjusted depending on the timbre you’re aiming for: a lower larynx darkens the sound, while a higher larynx brightens it. In “Ghost,” the larynx is allowed to track upward with the pitch while the other technical elements keep the tone balanced and free.
Posture and Physical Alignment
There’s one final element worth highlighting from this performance of “Ghost” by Demi Lovato: posture. Demi performs in high heels, which shifts her weight forward onto the balls of her feet. This subtle shift activates the stabilizing muscles along the front of the body – the same muscles that support breath and singing.
Standing flat-footed tends to encourage leaning back, which disengages those support muscles. You don’t need stilettos to benefit from this principle; even a small heel or consciously distributing weight toward the balls of the feet can make a meaningful difference in how connected and supported your singing feels.
“Ghost” by Demi Lovato is a beautifully layered vocal performance that rewards careful study. From her delicate use of thin vocal folds and thyroid tilt in the opening, to her mix voice technique and expressive mouth shaping at the climax, every choice serves the emotion of the song. The more you understand how Demi Lovato builds this performance technically, the better equipped you are to develop these same tools in your own voice – thoughtfully and step by step.
If you want to learn more about how you can learn to implement these singing techniques into your own voice, let’s sit down for a chat and discuss if the vocal academy is the right fit for you. You can join us here.