Everyone likes to sing. Some warble like nightingales, others think the term "melody" is just a word in the dictionary. People take lessons to improve their voice, but if you want to learn how to sing well on your own, to develop your own style, or just because you're too shy to sing in front of someone, here are some tips to make the most of your voice. Keep reading!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Voice
Step 1. Practice with the stairs
Sure, it will seem boring at first, but it's the only way to train your ear to recognize the right notes, and eventually become a better singer. If you are familiar with the song "Do Re Mi" from the movie All Together Passionately, it might be a good place to start for some exercise. The song develops around a sort of solfeggio, which in turn is an excellent exercise to accustom the ear to sounds.
- In solfeggio the notes are indicated by their position rather than by the proper name. This makes singing and reading easier, regardless of the key in which the score is written.
- If you have a guitar or piano, use them to guide you and to make sure you keep the pitch. Alternatively, you could use one of the many online resources like this one.
Step 2. Start with simple things
Sing your "do re mi" up and down the musical scale. It begins in the key of C, then in C sharp and so on. It should look like this:
- Basic scale: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do
- Then start making variations: go up two notes and go down one.
- Here's how: Do Mi Re Fa Mi Sol Fa La Sol Si La Do Si Re Do
- Start slowly and however you like, and work hard to sing the right note instead of skidding it. This way you learn to control your voice and you can use an instrument to make sure you keep the pitch. It is definitely better to be slow but precise rather than fast and approximate.
Part 2 of 2: Being Self-taught
Step 1. Get a microphone
It doesn't have to be an expensive one - your laptop's built-in one is fine too. If your pc doesn't have one built in, you can buy a cheap one at an electronics store and connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Launch a sound recording application on your computer, smartphone or internet so that you can hear the sound of your voice
Step 3. Sing a song you like and know well
It might be helpful to have the text in front. The important thing is to know it by heart so as not to think about what you sing but only how you sing.
Step 4. Click on "Register"
When you're ready, start the song over and hit the record button on the application (usually a red square).
- Start singing on the song along with the original singer. Do your best. Focus on the breath (don't breathe too hard on the microphone, otherwise it will be heard in the recording) and on the notes (try to sing while keeping the original key of the song).
- If you're wrong, don't stop recording - finish the song. There will be enough time in the future to aim for perfection. For now it is important to practice.
- When the song is over, click on the black rectangle or hit the space bar (which in most programs stops recording).
- Go back to the beginning of your recording by squeezing the left arrow with a vertical bar at the tip.
Step 5. Click on Play and listen again
Warning: if this is your first time doing this, you probably won't like it! Try to overcome the discomfort and listen to yourself for the duration of the recording; it is the only way to learn from your mistakes and it is what you need to improve your voice.
- Listen critically and recognize both the mistakes and the parts you sang well.
- Listen to the song again in the original version (without singing or recording) and compare your voice to that of the artist. Listen to a part sung by the artist and then the same part sung by you. Note the differences.
Step 6. If you can, save your recordings
This way you can keep track of your progress. As you improve (and you will improve for sure!) Listening to the old recordings will allow you to understand your progress.
Step 7. Try again
Every time you record the song try to be more and more precise. Put your soul into it and let all the emotions that the song arouses in you shine through, try to identify yourself to make your song more personal.
Unless you're practicing for a cover band, try to make the song your own! You don't have to sing with the same inflection and expressiveness as the original artist. Not all famous singers are good singers, they are just famous
Step 8. Practice at least half an hour every day
More would be better, as long as you don't strain your voice (which could damage it); the more you exercise your vocal cords, the more your voice will improve in quality and strength.
Step 9. Find out the different ways your voice resonates
From the diaphragm, throat or nose - learn to isolate every type of sound you make. The more you learn about the various sounds you can make, the more you will be able to control them.
Step 10. Sing like a cat
A great way to improve your voice is to say "meow" in different tones. This is because the sound M, as a lip, is the first and easiest to make, in addition to the fact that it offers support to the vowels and allows the sound to be emitted in a natural and not forced way.
Repeat "meow" very slowly and feel how it resonates in your mouth, nose and chest
Step 11. Practice belting
All singers, at some point in their career, have to sing shouting. It is therefore necessary to practice so that the cry has a full and vigorous sound; it's not about just screaming at the top of your voice.
Step 12. Look for other resources that can maximize your potential as a singer
For example, do some research on YouTube. There are many videos of people who just love to share their knowledge. Some do it to sell their tutorial videos too, but you can also avoid them if that's not what you need.
Ask your friends and family, or a music teacher for some advice. Ask them to be completely honest so you don't seem to be looking for praise. If they are willing, thank them and then have them point out the things you need to improve
Advice
- We all have talents. If you like to sing, don't listen to those who try to discourage you from doing it!
- A good exercise is to search Youtube for karaoke versions of your favorite songs.
- You should know additional breathing exercises to expand the diaphragm and improve the voice.
- Be patient. Even if you take lessons, it would take a few years before you reach a good level. In fact, you would get faster results with the lessons, but you can learn how to sing well even as a self-taught!
- Follow your own rhythms. You're not going anywhere if you're in a hurry.
- Even if you sing badly, you will improve - it just takes a little while. Gradually you will learn to recognize when you sing well - and when you don't.
- If someone tries to discourage you with negative comments, ignore them! If you really enjoy singing, show them that you can.
- Don't compare yourself to other singers, everyone has a unique voice.
- It is not worth starting by trying to imitate the style of a particular artist, especially if that singer is of the opposite sex. Either way, try not to copy his voice, but keep singing to your natural tonality.
- Don't strain your voice too much. You could ruin your vocal cords.
Warnings
- Don't worry if you think your voice doesn't sound good; listening to one's own voice is a bit strange for everyone. Ask a friend or family member to listen to you so you know what they think.
- Your exercises could be a nuisance to your family or the neighborhood. Talk to your family about it, and explain to them how important singing is to you, even if it means having to suffer your "noises" for a while. Reassure them that you will improve by studying, and by then it will be much more pleasant to listen to you. You could still promise not to practice during their favorite TV show.
- Learning to sing on your own could lead you to learn techniques that could damage your voice. Learning to sing properly is essential to safeguarding your vocal cords. A teacher can show you which techniques to avoid and which ones to use.
