25 Tips to Improve Your Singing Voice Without Taking Singing Lessons: Strengthen Your Voice Fast from Home

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

The human voice is a beautiful instrument that anyone can master, but do you have to work with a teacher or vocal coach to do it? Actually, there are plenty of ways you can improve your singing voice all by yourself right at home. In this article, we’ve got expert-backed advice to walk you through finding your unique sound and show you the best warmups and fundamentals to take your singing to the next level. If you’re ready to wow your friends with some amazing and fast progress, keep scrolling (and practicing!).

The Best Ways to Improve Your Singing at Home

  1. Find your vocal range by singing and recording yourself.
  2. Stand tall and relax your shoulders when you sing.
  3. Take slow, deep breaths with your diaphragm.
  4. Warm up for at least 10 minutes, like singing scales or humming.
  5. Practice singing for 30 minutes each day.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Discovering Your Voice’s Capabilities

PDF download Download Article
  1. In singing, there are groups of notes that resonate in different parts of your body like your chest, throat, nose, or head. These groups of notes are called registers and they share a similar tone quality. Speak, do warmups, and sing in each register to feel and hear your voice in different ways. If a note falls between registers, sing it with both to compare the sound. [1] The main registers are:
    • Chest voice: the lowest, most comfortable notes that resonate in your chest cavity. Low voices sound warm here, and higher voices sound breathier.
    • Middle voice: the middle ground between your chest and head voices. This is a bright set of notes that resonates in your neck and mouth.
    • Head voice: the upper end of your range. These notes resonate in your head and come easily to higher voices. Most strain and tension occurs here.
    • Smooth transitions between registers contributes to a balanced, blended voice and helps eliminate voice cracks, too.
  2. You don’t need fancy recording equipment—use a voice memo app on your phone or make a quick video of yourself singing. Listen back to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses so you can target your practice sessions efficiently. Recording is also a great way to track your progress over time. [2]
    • Evaluate things like pitch ("Did I hit the right notes?"), support ("Did I breathe deeply and use a full tone?"), or rhythm ("Did I sing the words on time?").
    • Compare your recording to a professional’s and ask yourself what you like about their version. Is it their volume? Their expression? The sound of their voice?
    • If you’re preparing for a recording session, use a simple external USB microphone to hear what your voice sounds like on better equipment.
    • Remember, it’s OK if you don’t like your recording. It’s just one moment in time and doesn’t reflect your true talent or skills!
    Advertisement
  3. Pick a few songs you enjoy listening to and pull up the lyrics. Make sure they’re in your lower or middle range (chest voice) to start—this is where you’ll feel most comfortable singing, and you can project without straining. [3]
    • Sing along with recordings, then sing alone to hear how your voice responds to the music. Which notes sound best? What emotions are you projecting?
    • Start with songs you know very well. You’ll sing with more confidence and get a better feel for your voice’s capabilities with simpler, familiar tunes. [4]
  4. Find your vocal range and voice type. On a piano or keyboard app , play Middle C (the 4th C from the left on the keyboard) and match the pitch on an “ooo” or “aah” sound. Sing and play a slow scale downward and record the lowest note you can comfortably hit. Then, do the same going up from Middle C and record your highest note. These 2 notes define your range. [5]
    • Keep an open mind during this exercise—your range may not be as high or low as you thought. Remember that gender doesn’t define your voice type.
    • After you record your highest and lowest note, determine which voice type you most closely fall into:
      • Bass: E2-E4
      • Baritone: A2-G4
      • Tenor: C3-C5
      • Alto: F3-F5
      • Mezzo-soprano: A3-A5
      • Soprano: C4-C6
  5. Think about the lyrics and style of the song you’re about to sing—how does it make you feel? Find an emotional connection and then translate that into your voice. Experiment with singing louder or softer, ad libbing riffs, or adding vibrato to your tone. Matching your facial expression to the music can influence your sound, too.
    • Remember to keep control of your voice and diction while you’re emoting. Your audience wants to understand your words clearly.
    • Your expression contributes to the excitement of your performances. Practice in front of a mirror to see what you look and sound like to an audience member.
    • Adding expressive touches to a song makes it unique to you, plus you can adapt it to fit your voice and stylistic preferences.
  6. When you're about to sing, take a deep breath, relax your shoulders, and smile at the audience. If you’re shaky, move around to hide your nerves and look like you’re really into the music. When you sing out and stay relaxed, your voice will be more agile and your performance will be electric. [6]
    • Sing confidently even if you’re alone and just practicing—it’s the best way to practice performing and exercise your voice to the fullest.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Posture and Breath Control

PDF download Download Article
  1. Look straight forward and keep your chin parallel to the ground. Relax your shoulders, keeping them low and slightly back to open up your chest. Let your hands hang at your sides and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees unlocked.
    • Hold your abdomen firm, allowing it to expand outward whenever you breathe.
    • Shift your weight slightly forward so that it’s closer to your toes.
    • Get used to what this feels like by standing against a wall. Make sure your heels, calves, buttocks, shoulders, and head are touching it.
  2. Take deep, supportive breaths with your diaphragm muscle. Your diaphragm lays underneath your lungs and controls your breathing. Stand tall with one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest, then take a slow, deep breath to practice feeling your diaphragm. [7]
    • Imagine your abdomen filling with air and your rib cage expanding as you watch your stomach hand move outward. Your chest hand should be still.
    • Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your rib cage contract slightly as your lungs empty.
    • Use only your diaphragm to breathe—keep your chest and shoulder muscles relaxed.
  3. Face a mirror and say the vowel sounds for A-E-I-O-U (“aah-eeh-eee-ooh-ooo”). If you see your jaw closing on some of the sounds, do the exercise again using your fingers or a small object (like a wine cork) to keep your jaw open wide. An open jaw projects easier and without strain. [8]
    • After you speak this exercise a few times, sing it on one pitch. Focus on keeping your jaw loose and relaxed until it becomes second nature.
    • Practice the lyrics of whatever song you’re working on next, making sure to keep your jaw elongated so each syllable sounds resonant and effortless.
  4. Put a finger over your larynx (your voice box or Adam’s apple near the top of your throat) while you sing to check its position—you want it a little lower than it is at rest, but higher than when you’re yawning. As you sing higher, remember to breathe deeply, stand tall, and keep the vocal tract wide to help it settle in place. [9]
    • “Think down” when you sing high. It helps your larynx stay in place and gives a little more weight to your high notes so they don’t sound breathy or strained.
    • A good larynx position blends your voice and smooths out the break from chest to head voice (where your voice is most likely to crack).
  5. Use 2 or 3 fingers to make small, circular motions over your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and jaw to massage them. Slowly open and close your jaw a few times to loosen up the hinge muscles and remind yourself what a proper, elongated jaw position feels like. [10]
    • Feel the soft area behind your chin with your thumb and sing. If you feel pushback, your tongue is tense. Use more air support to relax it. [11]
    • Do some head and shoulder rolls to relieve tension in your neck, shoulders, and chest. Tension in any area is usually the root cause of unhealthy singing.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Warmups to Strengthen Your Voice

PDF download Download Article
  1. Always warm up before any practice session or performance—it’s the best way to get a good sound, control your voice, and avoid damage. Include lots of stretching, yawning, and deep breathing to activate your muscles, vocal cords, and lungs. Some simple ones to start with include: [12]
    • Take a deep breath and hold the syllable “eee” for as long as you can, 3 times. Use the note F above or below Middle C (whichever is most comfortable).
    • Glide from your lowest comfortable note to your highest comfortable note and back down on the word “knoll” 3 times.
    • Sing three 5-note scales in the middle of your range on the syllable “oll.” Use the first 5 notes of a major scale (do-re-mi-fa-sol-fa-mi-re-do).
  2. First, make a “zzz” sound on a single pitch and hold it out—feel how your diaphragm contracts to support the sound and how the vibration loosens up your facial muscles. Once you’ve got it, start singing scales and other musical patterns on “zzz” to blend your voice and increase your agility. [13]
    • Start in a comfortable spot in your voice, then raise or lower each following scale by a half step to warm up your lower and upper ranges.
    • Play around with “zzz” for 3 minutes, then switch to vowel sounds like “aah” or "ooo." After another minute or 2, switch to solfege syllables.
    • Solfege is the 1-syllable words assigned to each note of a scale. The syllables (like you’ve probably heard in The Sound of Music ) go do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do.
  3. An arpeggio is a pattern of notes that goes up or down by skipping notes instead of hitting each one in order like a scale. Start in a comfortable spot lower in your range and sing “nay,” “gee,” or “mum” in the following pattern: do-mi-sol-do-mi-sol-fa-re-ti-sol-fa-re-do (if you prefer a number system, think 1-3-5-8-10-12-11-9-7-5-4-2-1). Start slowly, then move the exercise up and down by half steps. [14]
    • Focus on keeping the syllable pronunciation consistent from the bottom all the way to the top of the exercise.
    • Each of these syllables works a different part of your voice. “Nay” balances air pressure with vocal cord closure while “gee” helps your larynx drop. [15]
    • “Mum” helps you resonate in the spot between your head and chest voices.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Improve Your Singing Voice Without Taking Singing Lessons
    Take a deep breath and hold your lips loosely together. Then, exhale through your lips until they start flapping and sounding like a motor. When this feels easy, start vocalizing short scales or note patterns while trilling. [16]
    • Push a fast air stream from your lower abdomen through your lips.
    • The vibrations loosen up your lips and make them more agile for pronunciation and opening up vowel sounds.
  5. Hum for about 1 minute to gently wake up your vocal cords and throat. Keep the range fairly small—try just the first 5 notes of a major scale, up and down (do-re-mi-fa-sol-fa-mi-re-do) or a simple arpeggio (do-mi-sol-do-sol-mi-do). [17]
    • Start in a comfortable, resonant spot of your range and move up or down by half steps on each repetition. Maintain resonance throughout your range.
  6. Close your lips and arch the roof of your mouth like you’re yawning or trying to speak through your nose (this raises your soft palate). Start humming like before, except this time the sound will be more like “ng” than “mmm.”
    • Hold single pitches or do short scale patterns, moving each repetition up or down by half-steps. Do this about 5 times.
    • Focus on keeping the tone quality and resonance the same at all pitches.
  7. If you’re brand new to singing, start out with 10-minute practice sessions until you build the stamina to go longer. In these short sessions, focus on quality and make sure your last note sounds just as effortless as your first. As you progress, build up to 30 minute or longer practice sessions. [18]
    • Try to spread your practice evenly throughout the week—doing 15 minutes every day is better than cramming in 2 hours the night before a performance.
    • If your voice gets tired but you want to keep making progress, set aside some time to look up new songs to sing.
    • Practice with a metronome (a physical one or a metronome app ). Metronomes use clicking sounds to make a steady beat so you’ll sing in time.
    Taylor Swift, Singer-Songwriter

    Embrace your passion for singing. "I have been singing randomly, obsessively, obnoxiously for as long as I can remember."

  8. If you just don’t feel like singing one day, read a short story or news article out loud to yourself (or to a willing listener!). Using your voice with intention helps you work on inflections, enunciation, and stamina. [19]
    • This is a great exercise for older adults who want to preserve their singing or speaking voice.
    9. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Taking Care of Your Voice

PDF download Download Article
  1. Stay hydrated and drink lots of warm or room temperature water. Keep your throat moist for the best vocal sound quality, especially if you live in a dry climate or at a high elevation. You can’t moisten your vocal cords directly, but keeping your body hydrated will lubricate them for healthy singing.
    • If you’re going to be singing for 30 or more minutes, drink warm water with 100% pure honey (add enough to soothe your throat without coating it).
    • Consider humidifying your home or practice space so you’re not breathing dry air.
    • Cold water makes your sensitive vocal cords constrict or tighten up. Room temperature or warm water helps them relax and sound their best.
  2. When your body is fatigued, it shows in your voice—you’ll likely get tired more quickly and be more susceptible to vocal damage or overuse. Do your best to get quality sleep every night, especially when you have a big performance coming up.
    • If you’re short on sleep, try to grab a 20-30 minute nap in the afternoon or before a show or rehearsal to relax and restore your voice.
  3. Stress and nerves can make your voice sound fatigued, higher, or weaker. [20] To calm yourself, get in a comfortable seated position and close your eyes. Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 counts, then exhale for 4 counts. Repeat for at least 1 minute. [21]
    • Regularly exercising or meditating can also help you stay low-stress over longer periods of time.
  4. Keep your voice strong and durable with fresh produce, fish, and white meat. [22] Reduce or cut out spicy or acidic foods and dairy, as well as caffeine and mint. Limit your alcohol intake, too—it’s dehydrating, and heavy consumption can damage your voice. [23]
    • No amount of smoking or smoke inhalation is good for your voice. Cut back or quit smoking as soon as possible to preserve your vocal quality.
  5. To avoid vocal strain, try to have most of your conversations in a place where you won’t have to talk (or sing) over loud background noise for long periods. Use nonverbal cues, like pointing, or a microphone to replace yelling or screaming. [24]
    • After using your voice for a long time, take a vocal nap—no singing, talking, or whispering for a few hours.
    • Try not to cough or clear your throat excessively.
    • If possible, sing or practice in short sessions (30-60 minutes) with breaks in between to avoid overusing your voice. [25]
  6. Vocal strain happens when your throat muscles or vocal cords are injured from overuse or improper technique. If you feel strain, go on vocal rest immediately and hydrate until you feel recovered. Visit a doctor if you’re still experiencing any of these symptoms after 2 weeks: [26]
    • Chronic hoarseness, raspy voice, voice quiver, or choppy voice.
    • Pain or a lump in your throat whenever you talk or sing.
    • Unintentional changes in pitch or odd-sounding speech.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • 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.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    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!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 281
  • 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.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    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
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 165
  • 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.
    Annabeth Novitzki
    Music Teacher
    Expert Answer
    Consistent practice is key. Work on the techniques in this article or take voice lessons to guide your efforts.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 26 Helpful 149
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      • Remember to always warm up before practicing or performing. Your voice will sound more natural and the most “you” when it’s properly prepared and at ease.
        Thanks
        Helpful 14 Not Helpful 0
      • Be patient while you work on your voice. The warmups and techniques in this article will improve your singing pretty quickly, but even the greatest singers ever put lots of time and energy into perfecting their craft.
        Thanks
        Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
      • Perform for musically-inclined friends or a karaoke audience to occasionally get feedback on your singing. Even when you’re not working with a teacher or vocal coach, it’s helpful to hear what people in the audience think!
        Thanks
        Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Always stop singing and go on vocal rest if you experience pain, fatigue, or any kind of vocal strain. If you keep trying to “push through the pain,” you could damage your voice permanently.
        Thanks
        Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Scream Sing Safely (Including How to Fry Scream!)
      How to
      Sing Vibrato
      How to
      Improve Your Voice
      How to
      Sing
      How to
      Sing: A Beginner's Guide to Improve Your Vocals
      Best Ways to Warm Up & Exercise Your Vocal Chords
      How Do You Know if You Can Sing? These Vocal Tests Can Help
      How to
      Learn Head and Chest Voice in Singing
      How to
      Warm Up Your Singing Voice
      How to
      Become a Better Singer
      How to
      Sing Alto
      How to
      Warm up Your Voice
      How to
      Sing Beautifully
      How to
      Become a Soprano When You're an Alto (for Females)
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.topsingingsecrets.com/blog/vocal-registers-and-blending-your-voice
      2. ↑ https://themusicambition.com/teach-yourself-to-sing/
      3. ↑ https://www.voicesinc.org/how-to-sing-louder/
      4. ↑ https://vocalist.org.uk/sing-with-confidence
      5. ↑ https://www.theatretrip.com/vocal-range/
      6. ↑ https://vocalist.org.uk/sing-with-confidence
      7. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing
      8. ↑ https://blog.discmakers.com/2021/11/singing-tips-from-an-expert-vocal-coach/
      9. ↑ https://www.utahvocalartsacademy.com/post/seven-facts-about-singing-with-a-low-larynx
      1. ↑ https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/ways-relax-singing-muscles-7720/
      2. ↑ https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/tension-enemy-singer-part-tongue-tension-9596/
      3. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/maintaining-vocal-health
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/Jn_IIOyTr_A?t=104
      5. ↑ https://singscales.com/vocal-exercises/nay/
      6. ↑ https://www.voicelessons.com/blog/warmups/10-important-vocal-warm-ups/
      7. ↑ https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/enhance-your-voice-with-these-vocal-warm-ups-and-breathing-exercises/
      8. ↑ https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/enhance-your-voice-with-these-vocal-warm-ups-and-breathing-exercises/
      9. ↑ https://www.aimm.edu/blog/will-singing-everday-improve-your-vocal-skills
      10. ↑ https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2014/improve-aging-voice.html
      11. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201805/10-healthy-habits-improve-your-speaking-or-singing-voice
      12. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/202204/slow-breathing-exercise-can-reduce-stress-and-anxiety
      13. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201805/10-healthy-habits-improve-your-speaking-or-singing-voice
      14. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/ear-nose-throat/maintaining-vocal-health
      15. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/maintaining-vocal-health
      16. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201805/10-healthy-habits-improve-your-speaking-or-singing-voice
      17. ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/vocal-cord-strain

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to improve your singing voice without taking lessons, sit up straight, pull your shoulders back, and keep your neck straight while you sing, since good posture will help you vocalize properly. You should also practice singing for at least 30 minutes each day, which warms up your vocal cords. In addition to practicing singing, try reading aloud for 30 minutes a day to strengthen your vocal muscles. To improve your vocal range, practice singing “Do Re Mi,” up and down the scales to get your voice used to different pitches. For more tips from our Music co-author, including how to improve your singing voice by taking care of your body, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,162,424 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Rachel Greene

        Aug 6, 2018

        "I am practicing my best to be a great singer with high pitch, so I think this article is great for me. It shows ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement