Q&A for How to Improve Your Singing Voice Without Taking Singing Lessons

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  • Question
    Can anyone be a good singer?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Almost anyone can be a good singer if they learn good technique and practice regularly. Some people have paralyzed vocal cords or amusia, but even deafness didn't stop singer Mandy Harvey from earning a golden buzzer on America's Got Talent!
  • Question
    How can I train my voice to hit higher notes?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    It is important to first develop and practice great singing technique, and you may find that working with a voice teacher is helpful. High notes need excellent technique, especially strong breath support, a relaxed throat, and soft palate placement. You may find this article helpful: https://www.wikihow.com/Sing-High-Notes
  • Question
    How can I train my voice to sing better?
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Consistent practice is key. Work on the techniques in this article or take voice lessons to guide your efforts.
  • Question
    What age should I be to start a career in the music industry?
    Community Answer
    Whenever you feel you are ready start uploading YouTube videos. It might be scary but what you have to keep in mind is to not get unmotivated by the negative comments some people might say. Just try to take singing lessons if you sometimes feel as if your voice isn't that good, chase your dream no matter what.
  • Question
    I'm shy about my voice. I don't want my siblings to hear. How can I be sure that they will not hear me?
    Community Answer
    Go to the bathroom in front of the mirror and practice. Or, you can sing when they are not around. Or, sing in the garden. However, it'd be best to become more confident. If you want to become a singer, you need to have more confidence in front of others.
  • Question
    Which drinks will help me to improve my singing voice?
    Community Answer
    Room Temperature Water! Ice cold water can constrict your throat. Stay away from drinks with dairy; they will coat your throat and make it difficult to sing well. Carbonated drinks put air into your stomach which can also make it harder to sing.
  • Question
    Do I need to take anything to aid my voice?
    Community Answer
    Drinking lots of water and eating fruits and vegetables regularly will help keep your body healthier in general, including the parts of your body that you use to sing.
  • Question
    How can I avoid getting cracks in my voice when singing?
    Community Answer
    Don't stress your vocal chords. You may think to sing with a tight throat, but you should think open throat, especially when reaching high notes or using falsetto. Warming up is important too.
  • Question
    What should I do if I have low stamina and my voice cracks easily?
    Community Answer
    Practice daily to build your stamina, and work on singing from your stomach instead of your lungs. Focus on lower notes to build your confidence, then aim to reach a higher register each week until your voice no longer cracks.
  • Question
    What should I do if this doesn't work?
    Community Answer
    Keep on trucking! Results will never show themselves immediately. Also try breathing exercises, such as focusing on breathing through your diaphragm, or opening up your pharynx.
  • Question
    What makes a great singing teacher?
    Community Answer
    Someone who is supportive, and actually gives you tips and criticism to improve. Also, make sure the teacher cares. A good teacher will listen to you and care.
  • Question
    How do I overcome my shyness in singing?
    Community Answer
    Try singing in front of one or two people at first, then make your way up to large audiences. When you are performing, it helps not to look at people. Just look at the back wall.
  • Question
    How can I make my voice different from everyone else's? I don't want to sound like every other artist on the radio.
    Community Answer
    Your voice is unique all on its own; you don't have to try to be different. Just be yourself!
  • Question
    How can I improve pitch for different notes?
    Community Answer
    Practice scales all the time. When you have mastered one scale, then move it up or down an octave.
  • Question
    How long will it take to improve my voice?
    Community Answer
    That depends on your own abilities and the amount of practice you do but it will take at least a few months and maybe a good year to improve your voice with sufficient practice, care and attention.
  • Question
    How do I open my throat? I always seem to strain my voice on higher notes.
    Community Answer
    Have honey and red tea in the morning. Look down while singing high notes. Try talking in a lower-pitched voice.
  • Question
    How can I know whether I am singing correctly or through my nose?
    Community Answer
    A quick test is to hold your nose and try to sing -- if the tone isn't right, then you might want to work on it.
  • Question
    How do I start a singing career if I am 11 years old?
    Community Answer
    A great place to start is with your parents. Talk with them about your chosen career and ask them if you can join a school or church choir or if you can enroll in voice lessons. Mixing your talent with professional guidance makes for a great launching pad for your singing career.
  • Question
    How can you overcome stage fright?
    Community Answer
    Just look towards the back wall. Pretend the audience isn't there. Think about what you're singing and nothing else.
  • Question
    What if I'm afraid of singing in front of my friends?
    Community Answer
    Everyone gets self conscious, but you can't let that stop you. Just take a deep breath, and if they are your real friends, they won't judge.
  • Question
    What should I do if my singing voice doesn't improve?
    Community Answer
    Watch other people sing, YouTube or even going to concerts would help. Practice songs you know then listen back and try to match whats heard. Also making sure you're warmed up before singing.
  • Question
    How can I improve my timing skills?
    Community Answer
    Listen to cues. If you are singing a song already published, listen to it over and over again, really paying attention to cues. Good cues could mean if an artist draws a breath, or you can hear the music in the background escalating. Also, failure is the best way to learn. If you miss the cues a couple times, you'll be more likely to get them next time!
  • Question
    How do I keep my pitch balanced on higher octaves so my voice doesn't crack and fail?
    Community Answer
    Consider singing in a more comfortable pitch. Or, look down. When you sing in higher or lower octaves, your natural reaction is to look down when you sing low and look up when you' sing high but it's actually a lot better for you if you do those things in reverse (look up= sing high, look down= sing low).
  • Question
    How can I not be insecure about my voice when I hear better singers my age?
    Sehara Goonasinghe
    Community Answer
    There will always be singers who seem "better" than you. Maybe their family members influence or teach them, or they might have had singing lessons. Even if you don't feel like the "best" singer, find which songs you like to sing (and can relate to) and sing them passionately and uniquely. People will believe that you are a good singer if you can show them that you enjoy singing and know how to sing clearly in tune. Try not to compare yourself to others.
  • Question
    I recorded my voice a few times, but my voice sounds more childish and higher than when I sing in person. How is this possible and what do I do?
    Community Answer
    Your voice sounds different in your own ears because the sound resonates in your head. People are often surprised when they hear their own voices recorded. You can try singing from lower in your diaphragm or get yourself a voice coach.
  • Question
    How can I overcome stage fright?
    Community Answer
    Pretend the audience doesn't exist. On stage, the lights are often so bright that you can't see the crowd very well, so this isn't difficult to do.
  • Question
    How frequently should I practice singing?
    Community Answer
    You should practice every day, even if it is just in the shower. The reason why many people do this is because the shower has good acoustics.
  • Question
    Can I sing with dental braces?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Your sound may change until you get used to the feel of them, but you will definitely still be able to sing.
  • Question
    How will I know that I'm using by stomach and not my lungs to sing?
    Community Answer
    If you feel your abdominal muscles working while singing, you're doing great. To achieve it, practice breathing with your diaphragm. Lie down and place a hand on your stomach. You should feel it going up and down. To strengthen your diaphragm, you can place some heavy books on your stomach. You can also try standing with a hand on your stomach and doing some quick, strong, short breaths with your abdominal muscles. If you have someone to help you, have them stand behind you and place a hand on your shoulders. Have them pat your shoulders if they feel them moving up and down to signify you're doing it wrong. It's best to sing moderately loud while doing these exercises.
  • Question
    I strain a lot while singing high notes. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    The notes are most likely out of your vocal range. Find your vocal range and try to sing within it. You can also try to increase your vocal range by practicing. It takes a lot of time, but you may begin to have less trouble with higher notes.
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