| How to Sing Feb 17th 2013, 00:00 Singing is the one talent virtually everybody possesses. Of course, some possess it more than others, but that can be overcome with dedication, practice, and more practice. Even if you're content to sing in the shower, there are some things you can do to improve your voice. We'll give you some tips and pointers, and your golden voice will be ringing out in no time! Here's how: - Get started for free. There are hundreds of vocal training videos on YouTube, filled with everything from amateur tipsters to educated, professional singers. Because anybody can post, it can be a bit tricky finding a good vocal trainer on the Internet, but think of it this way: it's a great way to find out if you like being taught how to sing, whether you're ready to practice, and most of all, if you're ready to start taking lessons.
- Take lessons. Find a vocal coach or qualified voice teacher who can help you become a good singer. Check with your local music store, or your school music teacher.
- If you're serious about becoming a singer, taking lessons sooner rather than later is the way to go: poor performance techniques can ruin your singing voice for good!
- If you cannot afford a teacher, or do not want the dedication that comes with hiring a professional voice coach, consider joining a local choir.
- There are also a few learn-at-home vocal training courses out there such as Singing Success, Sing and See, Singorama, Singing for the Stars and Vocal Release, but be sure to do your research to see which ones have really worked for other singers.
- Find your vocal range. This is essential, as singing pieces written for the wrong range may strain your voice until you sound like wookie with a cold.
- Your range is largely determined by the size and shape of your instrument: your voice. The size and shape of your larynx is the primary factor in your vocal range. You may be able to push the boundaries, but your range is largely fixed. Here is a general guideline to help you find your range:
- Sopraninos: Reaching the highest of the ranges, a Sopranino can sing to D6 and beyond.
- Sopranos: Sopranos sing from C4 to A5, or even higher.
- Mezzo-soprano: The mezzo-soprano range extends from about A3 to F5.
- Alto: The standard range for altos is approximately E3 to E5.
- Contralto: The lowest female voices are called "contralto," and extend below E3.
- Countertenors: Males with very high vocal ranges, into the alto and soprano ranges of female vocals, or have a strong, clear falsetto, are called "countertenors."
- Tenor: This is near the upper end of the male's vocal range. A tenor can comfortably sing between C3 and A4
- Baritone: A baritone singer ranges between F2 and E4.
- Bass: The range for a bass singer is around F2 to E4, with a comfort range normally between G2 and A3.
- Contrabass: If you can sing G1 or lower, you are what's known as a sub-bass, contrabass, or a basso profundo.
- People will love or hate your voice based on its sound character, not just how many notes you can hit or runs/trills you can do. Your range can be developed with the right training but be sure to use proven techniques that do not strain or wear out your voice.
- Stand up straight! Correct posture helps so stand tall with one foot slightly in front of the other one, feet shoulder width apart. This allows you to breathe easily and to allow maximum lung capacity to allow better notes and phrases.
- Stand up straight, shoulders back and down, floating over your torso. Make sure that your chest is high to give room for your lungs to expand and contract. Relax.
- Breathe properly. The voice is best described as a wind instrument, because breathing is 80% of singing and proper singing begins and ends with proper breathing.
- Get to know your singing tools. The more familiar you are with how everything is supposed to move and feel, the more attuned to your voice you will be.
- Touch the top of your collar bone. About a half of an inch below your finger is the top of your lungs.
- Examine your ribs. They move like bucket handles attached to your spine and your sternum. When you breath in, they move upward as your chest expands. When you breathe out, they move downward as the air in your lungs is exhaled.
- Find your chest line. This is the place where your lungs expand the largest. Place your hands about halfway down your torso, towards the bottom of your sternum. Take a deep breath, and move your hand till you find the point of maximum extension of the ribs.
- The bottom of your lungs is right below your sternum, where your rib cages meet. This is the bottom of your lungs and the housing of your diaphragm. The reason your stomach may pooch out when you breathe deeply is because your diaphragm is pushing down on everything below your rib cage, not because your lungs are in your stomach.
- Be confident. Do not care what people think, just keep practicing, be confident that you are going to get better, and you will continue to improve.
- Practice your warmups. Before you begin singing or doing practice exercises, it's always best to warm up. Try this: sing in your middle range, low range, then high range, then back to middle.
- You should spend at least 10 minutes on each range and do not stress your voice if you're frustrated and cannot hit a note. Relax, then try again, carefully. Other things to practice:
- Dynamics: Dynamics are variations the intensity of your resonance. Even the simplest use of dynamics will make your songs come alive, and the more you practice, the louder and softer you'll be able to sing healthily. Sing a comfortable pitch and start very softly, crescendo to loud then decrescendo back to soft. When you start out you will probably only be able to sing from mp (mezzo piano, or moderately quiet) to mp (moderately loud), but your range will increase with practice.
- Agility—Hit the "do re mis." Try singing from do to sol, back to do really fast back and forth, trying to hit all of the notes. Do this in increments of half steps on different syllables. This will help your voice more flexible.
- Pronounce your vowels correctly. Practice all your vowels at every pitch (high, low and in between). In English there are very few pure vowels. Normally, we will encounter diphthongs which are two or more vowel sounds elided together.
- In classical singing, the singer will sustain the note on the first vowel and then say the second on the way to the final consonant. In country, singers like to slide through the first vowel and elongate the second vowel on the sustained note.
- For example: whereas a classical signer might sing "Am[aaaaaaai]zing Gr[aaaaaai]ce" and a country singer would sing "Am[aiiiiiii]zing Gr[aiiiiii]ce".
- If you can, always sing the first vowel for as long as you can before letting the second vowel in.
- Here are some pure vowels to practice with: AH as in "father", EE as in "eat", IH as in "pin", EH as in "pet", OO as in "food", UH as in "under", EU as in "could", OH as in "home".
- Practice scales. Practice this often, especially if you have pitch problems. Most coaches will recommend 20-30 minutes a day when starting out, as practicing scales will also strengthen the muscles used for singing and give you better control.
- To practice scales, identify your range (tenor, baritone, alto, soprano, etc.) and know how to find the notes that cover your range on a keyboard or piano. Then practice the major scale in every key, moving up and down using the vowel sounds.
- At some point you can start working in minor scales as well. Solfege (Do,Re,Mi,...) is also an effective tool for improving pitch problems.
- Be reasonable with your expectations. Regardless of where you are coming from, if you can devote 20 minutes or more a day to practicing scales and songs, you can expect measurable improvement within four weeks.
- Most pitch problems can be corrected within 3-4 months. Understand that your progress is linked to your ability to practice daily (as with most training). If you only do 15 minutes a day, a few days a week, you could spend a year or more.
- Drink a lot of water. It will do many wonderful things for the voice and is also very essential to your body. If you are sick, pineapple juice may clear the throat of phlegm but don't make a habit of anything besides water.
- Don't drink milk or orange juice before singing. Your voice will sound "blocked" by something. Sugar coats your throat.
- Don't drink water right before a performance: it will decrease your vocal quality, so drink a lot about one or two hours before, then stop all food and liquid intake about 45 minutes before performing.
- If your throat gets dry, have a few sips of water and take a short rest. If you are in a performance, take a small sip in between songs to keep you refreshed.
- If you have several songs you like, search for videos of them with the lyrics, and sing along. It's how a lot of people learn!
- Make sure to warm up your voice before practicing to avoid damaging your vocal chords.
- If you are nervous about singing by yourself, try first singing with a group of people.
- Emoting isn't about how your face looks; it's about how you feel about the song!
- If your voice is weak, know that this is usually caused by under-developed muscles or improper use of the resonators (the pharynx, the hard palate, and the nasal cavity).
- To avoid a nasal sound, sing from your diaphragm. Visualize a column of air rising from your diaphragm, through your chest, and up through your facial mask. This technique will help your vocals be strong and present, and will greatly enhance the ease of singing.
- Get in shape. You'll be able to breathe better if you are in good physical health.
- Perhaps the most important part of singing is to listen to others. Don't get bogged down in popular styles, either: you might not like a particular artist's, but if they have a great voice, pay attention to what makes it great.
- It can be helpful to imagine a gumball in your mouth. Think of a large round gumball or any object that is round, like a bouncy ball. Thinking of this creates a space in the back of your mouth, allowing a deeper, more mature-sounding voice.
- Feel the mask of the face (the area around the nose, under the eyes and the top of the teeth) vibrating. This is the body's microphone. Always try to place the tone in the mask of the face.
- If your voice begins to hurt stop and drink some water so that you don't damage your voice or vocal chords. Otherwise, your voice will sound unpleasant.
- Sing with a wide mouth and try to smile.
- Practice screaming if you are doing hard rock in public, it will help you have more confidence.
- Try to drink water, but don't drink it while its ice cold. Luke warm is the best way for your vocal chords.
- Sing in front of your family and friends as it will give you more confidence.
- Never strain your voice or try to reach notes that you can't reach. This will hurt your vocal chords.
- Your voice will sound bad when recorded, but don't stress! Everyone's voice sounds stupid.
- Make a refreshing warm drink by mixing warm water with honey, mint leaves and a squeeze of lemon. This will soothe your throat, but try not to drink really hot water as this will hurt your throat instead.
- Confidence! Have it, lots of it!
- Always love what your doing. If you don't like the song change it. If it is not your vocal range change it. You don't want to hurt your beautiful voice do you?
- While singing, always make sure you breathe regularly - not breathing can make your voice sound forced, horrible and may damage your vocal chords.
Edit Warnings - If your voice begins to hurt, stop singing for an hour, warm up, then try again but more relaxed. Not only can you damage your vocal chords, your voice will sound stressed and unpleasant.
- If you are trying to sing a low note and produce a raspy sound, you are damaging your voice. Basically, your vocal cords are rubbing against each other. A node is like a callous on your vocal cords, and it won't go away without surgery or prolonged vocal rest (more than a year). The best cure: don't get one.
- Pre-existing tension in your jaw, shoulders, neck muscles and all surrounding areas can hurt you. Make sure you are completely relaxed before you sing. If your jaw is wobbling while you are singing, that is a sign of tension in your jaw.
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