Buzz
Some people seem to be born with a naturally gifted voice. However, even renowned singers need to consistently put in effort and practice to maintain their singing abilities. There are various methods and steps you can follow to sing better, ranging from enrolling in a professional course, working on physical fitness, and vocal exercises, to simply combining the right posture with proper breathing techniques.
Steps
Voice Development
Mastering Proper Singing Posture. Most vocal coaches recommend standing while singing rather than sitting, as this produces the best sound. Sitting causes your muscles to collapse and may interfere with proper breathing.
- Keep your head aligned with your shoulders. Imagine your spine as a straight line extending to the top of your head.
- Relax your jaw and extend your tongue towards the front of your mouth.
- Relax your shoulders.
- Lift and push the roof of your mouth back, as if you are about to yawn. Do this to open your throat and allow for deeper breathing.
- If you feel tense while standing in the correct posture, move so that your back, shoulders, and head rest against a wall.
Focus on Breathing Properly. Learning to breathe correctly is a crucial step if you want to improve your singing. Make sure to take deep breaths so you have enough air for each word of your song.
- Breathe through your belly instead of your chest. This not only improves sound quality but also helps the singer control their voice better. To ensure you're breathing properly, place your hand on your belly and try to make your hand rise along with your belly when you inhale.
- Spend a few minutes daily practicing abdominal breathing. You can do this whether standing or lying down. Ensure that your belly expands each time you take a deep breath.
Tip: Imagine there’s a ball inside your stomach. Try to make the ball expand when you inhale and shrink when you exhale.
Understand Your Vocal Range. Singing well partly depends on knowing your vocal range and selecting songs that fit within it. Some people have a wider vocal range than others, but everyone has a 'sweet spot' where their voice sounds the best.
- There are seven main voice types: Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, and Countertenor. The first three are female voices, and the last four are male.
- Imagine your voice as a Ferris wheel to find your range. Start at the top, singing your highest note, and gradually descend to your lowest note.
- Play notes on a piano to compare your vocal pitch with the notes and discover your vocal range.
Warm Up Before Singing. Singing a complete song doesn't count as warming up. Naturally, you’ll push yourself to sing as well as possible, rather than focusing on your vocal health and technique. Warming up helps avoid vocal strain and expands your range.
- Remember, warming up doesn’t need to sound great. In fact, most warm-up sounds can be strange and awkward, even if you’re a professional singer. Find a private space to warm up if you don’t want to disturb others.
- Make sure to warm up both your high and low vocal ranges. High notes tend to sound lighter and airier, while low notes are more solid and fuller. You can mimic opera singers to find your high range. Low notes are closer to your normal speaking pitch.
- Practice warming up by opening your mouth wide. Run through scales with sounds like “Ooh wee ooh oohweeoohweeohh” and stretch the corners of your mouth, or try tongue trills from the highest note to the lowest.
Learn to Recognize Pitch. The best way to do this is to sing along with a piano or organ if you have one. Press a key and, as it sounds, try to match your voice with the pitch by singing "ah" in tune with the note. Practice with all the notes: A, A-sharp, B, C, C-sharp, D, D-sharp, E, F, G, and G-sharp.
- Higher notes are the black keys to the right of their corresponding white keys.
Tip: Use an app like Sing Sharp if you have difficulty identifying pitch.
Sing Daily. The more you sing, the stronger your voice becomes. Remember, your voice is a muscle that needs regular training.
- Everyone has a natural vocal range, but you can expand both your high and low range over time simply by practicing consistently and building your physical strength.
- Practice by singing along to your favorite songs. Keep in mind that your voice might not sound exactly like the original singer's. You won't improve by just imitating others. Sing with your own voice.
Regular Voice Exercises. One popular method for improving your singing is to do vocal exercises. Just like any sport or physical activity, your voice is a muscle that needs to be trained for development. You can learn additional techniques to improve your singing if you work with a professional vocal coach. Your voice is an instrument, just like a piano, and a teacher can guide you to master it.
- Consider taking private lessons with a vocal coach who can teach you techniques to enhance your unique vocal sound. Meet at least three vocal coaches to find the best fit for you.
- If you’re in school, try joining a choir. Being part of a choir is a great way to improve your singing because you'll learn how to sing harmoniously with others, read sheet music, and gain confidence since you're not singing alone.
Maintain Vocal Health
Stay Hydrated. No matter how talented you are, you won't sing well if your throat is dry. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.
- Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks before singing as these substances dehydrate and dry out your throat.
- Steer clear of sugary beverages.
Tip: Green tea, which is caffeine-free, or warm water mixed with honey and lemon can help lubricate and stabilize your vocal cords.
Avoid Dairy and Sweets Before Singing. Foods like yogurt, butter, and ice cream can create excess mucus in the throat, making it harder to sing.
- Additionally, steer clear of salty or spicy foods as they can irritate the throat and vocal cords.
- Other foods that cause acid reflux, such as rich or spicy meals, can also make breathing more difficult and irritate your vocal cords.
Use a Humidifier. Along with proper diet, using a humidifier can help maintain a healthy voice. Simply fill the humidifier with water—no additional additives are necessary. You can use the humidifier before your warm-up and during breaks between sessions to keep your vocal cords hydrated.
Don’t Smoke. Smoking harms the lungs and prevents you from breathing properly while singing. It also dries out the throat, negatively affecting sound quality.
- If you smoke and want to improve your singing, consider quitting. While you're in the process of quitting, drink plenty of water, smoke less, and avoid smoking on days when you need to sing.
Practice Breathing Regularly. Even if you don’t have time for full vocal warm-ups or daily singing practice, try to take deep belly breaths every day. This can significantly improve your singing over time.
- You can combine breathing exercises with activities like yoga or jogging to strengthen your breath control.
- Practice like Mick Jagger. He’s famous for preparing for concerts with a combination of running and multi-tasking exercises that integrate singing to ensure he can perform comfortably on stage without losing breath.
Avoid Straining or Overusing Your Voice. Forcing your voice by singing too loudly, too high, or for too long can damage your vocal cords. Just like any muscle, your voice needs rest and recovery time.
Note: Stop singing if you experience a sore throat, pain, or hoarseness.
Tips
- Singing your favorite songs or music genres can naturally improve your voice.
- Sing every day!
- Don't hesitate—stand up and sing your heart out, and your voice will improve over time.
- Record yourself and listen back to become familiar with your own sound, setting specific goals to enhance your vocal quality.
- Ensure you're breathing properly when you sing. Incorrect breath control can cause voice strain.
- Believe in yourself; without confidence in your singing abilities, you won't fully tap into your potential no matter how much you practice.
- Choose songs suitable for a wide vocal range and sing one or two times each day.
- Sometimes you might sing well without realizing it, so ask someone who can give honest feedback.
- Drink green tea to soothe your vocal cords after extensive singing.
- Consider hiring a vocal coach and taking at least one lesson a week. Proper practice can help you learn the right techniques, receive immediate feedback, and prevent vocal damage.
