Find Your Own Singing Voice

Have you always wanted to be a great singer? You might have a wonderful singing voice waiting to be heard - you just have to find it. The key to becoming a better singer is to find your vocal range, then use the correct technique and put in a lot of practice. A few vocal tricks might be all that is keeping you from belting out beautifully!

Steps

Getting to Know Your Voice

  1. Find your vocal range. This is the measure of octaves you can sing, from the lowest to the highest.[1] You can find your range by singing scales, starting with the lowest note you can clearly sing and continuing until you aren't able to hit a higher note. There are 7 main voice types: soprano, mezzo-Soprano, alto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass.
    • Warm up by singing major scales starting with the middle C. Sing C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C and move up or down one half step for each new scale.[1]
    • Which scales can you sing most clearly? At what point does it become difficult to hit the notes? Take note of where you fall to determine what your voice type is.
  2. Find your tessitura. Your tessitura is the range at which you are the most comfortable, and at which your voice sounds the most pleasant.[1] Your vocal range might exceed your tessitura. You might be able to hit very high or very low notes, but there's a range of notes that your voice can produce with greater ease and more power. Finding this sweet spot will help you find your best singing voice.
    • What songs do you typically enjoy singing along to? If there are some that you love to belt out, chances are it's because you can feel that you sound good singing them. Pay attention to the notes in these songs.
    • With training, you may be able to expand the range of notes you can sing with great power.[1]
  3. Learn to use the right singing technique. If you haven't been using the right technique, you might not even know what your voice truly sounds like. Using the right technique will help your voice sound clear and strong. Keep the following pointers in mind as you practice singing:
    • Have good posture. Stand up straight so you can breath more easily. Keep your neck upright but relaxed.
    • Speaking of breathing, make sure you're breathing from your diaphragm. Your stomach should expand when you breathe in and deflate as you breathe out. This gives you more control over your pitch.
    • Open the back of your throat and enunciate your vowels when you sing.

Practicing Songs

  1. Always warm up first. Your vocal cords are muscles that need time to warm up so they don't get overstrained. Start by singing scales slowly for about 10 or 15 minutes. When your vocal cords feel warmed up and ready to go, you can launch into singing your practice songs.
  2. Pick the right songs. Choose songs that easily falls into your range, so you'll give yourself the best chance of singing well and finding the great singing voice that's been hiding within you for all this time.
    • Sing along with the recordings of the songs you pick until you feel comfortable with the songs.
    • Practice singing the songs without the recording. You can play the instrumental part, but don't play the vocals.
    • Try songs in a range of genres. You might love hip hop best, but you could discover that you're better at singing jazz or country songs. Give all types of music a chance.
  3. Record yourself singing. Use a tape recorder or another recording device to record yourself singing after you've warmed up and practiced. Take note of things you might need to work on as well as what sounded good.
  4. Perform for other people. Sometimes it's difficult to tell where we need improvement without feedback from others. Sing for your family members or friends, and ask them for honest reactions to your voice.
    • Remember to warm up before performing.
    • Sing in a big, open room with high ceilings; your voice will sound better than it would in a low-ceilinged room with carpet.
    • After you've gotten some feedback, take it to heart next time you practice singing.
    • Karaoke clubs are a great place to practice singing in front of other people.

Refining Your Voice

  1. Find your unique style. What makes your voice unique? Once you understand the limitations of your range, you can experiment with different styles of singing to bring out the best in your voice.
    • Perhaps you have an operatic voice; practice singing classically.
    • Maybe you have a pleasant nasally country twang. Play it up!
    • Even screaming and whispering have their place among rock legends. Nothing is off limits.
  2. Join a band or choir. Singing with other musicians is a great way to get more creative with your vocal style. Sign up for a choir or music club at your church or school, or get together with some friends to start a band in which you're the lead vocalist. You could also audition for a musical or start Make Money Busking (Street Performing) in the subway if you're itching to perform.
  3. Consider taking voice lessons. If you're serious about finding your singing voice, getting trained by a professional instructor is the way to go. Voice instructors can teach you how to use your voice as an instrument. You'll probably find that you have a greater range than you thought you did, and your instructor will be able to help you figure out what style fits with your abilities.

Tips

  • Always start with easier songs and then move up to more challenging songs.
  • Think about what you're singing about, and try to capture the true passion of the song with your singing.
  • Singing is hard and there will be haters. But keep at it and try looking for exercises to make your voice more flexible.
  • Don't expect to be good right away. It takes time and effort to achieve!
  • Try to avoid drinking liquids like milk and orange juice because they coat your throat with extra mucus.
  • Try a wide range of songs, jazz, hip hop, see what style you prefer to achieve.
  • Try singing with a piano to help get the right note.
  • Drink room temperature water.[2] Drinking very hot or cold water is hard on your vocal cords and makes it more difficult to sing. In between vocal exercises, take sips of room temperature water to keep your throat lubricated.
  • Practice is the key of success.
  • Don't try too hard or your vocal cords can get damaged and eventually tear.
  • When you sing, keeping your head up straight will help you sound better.
  • If your throat is full of "junk," don't clear your throat. It can spread the particles that are bugging you around and make it even worse. Try to drink some water or spit into a sink (what ever's convenient at the moment).
  • If your feeling nervous, imagine the audience is naked or isn't even there at all.
  • Sing from your stomach and not from your chest.

Warnings

  • Screaming, talking loudly, and even whispering can strain your throat. Whispering strains your voice more than loud talking does!

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.singwise.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?section=articles&doc=DeterminingVocalFach
  2. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sing/learning/voice.shtml
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