Q&A for How to Train Your Voice

There are dozens of ways you can train at home. Read books, watch YouTube videos, listen to audio recordings, and/or work with online coaches. The key to training your voice is to practice breathing, resonating, projecting, and articulating. Record yourself and listen objectively to your progress.

Use your phone to record yourself speaking and then listen back. If you have access to a high-quality microphone and large speakers for playback, you'll be able to hear your real voice.

A banana doesn’t really do anything for a singer. It contains potassium, which can help a dancer or athlete avoid leg cramps.

Almost anybody can learn to sing, unless there is some kind of damage to the vocal cords, but not everyone will have a good singing voice. In addition, some people can be tone deaf, that is, they have difficulty telling the difference between notes, which will make it very difficult for them to ever sing a song in tune.

Usually warm drinks of any kind will help, but many singers especially recommend herbal teas such as: ginger, licorice, fennel or chamomile. Honey or lemon is often added to the tea as well. Try a few and see what works best for you. Avoid cold drinks, alcohol or soft drinks, which can all irritate your vocal cords.

A common choice for singers is simply room temperature water. If you choose another drink, be sure to avoid cold drinks, alcohol, carbonation (you don't want to burp while you're singing), coffee or anything that might irritate your throat.

Place your hand upon your tummy, just below your rib cage, and say HAH! You should feel a muscle flex against your palm. This is your diphragm.

Practice scales every day to increase your range. Do this consistently and slowly so as to not strain your vocal chords.

Veggies, foods with high water contents, fruits, and soups can be good for your voice, and carbs can give you energy to sing.

Try practicing holding a note and keeping it steady and clear, using your diaphragm. But controlling your voice is all about learning your vocal strengths and building on them. Practice, practice, practice! What worked for me was picking a song that fit my vocal range and tone, then singing along with that. Recording yourself practicing is great, because then you can listen back and look at the areas where you could have been stronger, or held a note more clearly, then repeat. I guarantee after the first few recordings you'll notice the difference. I have a very soft voice, but have been able to strengthen it.

If you're getting over a cold, you'll just have to wait it out. But if you're feeling a little clogged up, water is always a good choice. Avoid soda and other foods and drinks that will "coat" your throat.

In terms of daily diet, nothing special. If you are talking about what to eat before you sing, try to have a lot of water beforehand. It may not be good to load up on food, since you will be using your diaphragm a lot and it could cause your throat to become dry, irritated, or clogged. Also, avoid foods that produce gas, like soda and large meals. It's awful when you sing something and you have to burp in the middle of it.

Of course! To a certain extent. There are some aspects that you can improve, such as staying on tune, breathing, articulation, expression, etc. The voice you're born with is, however, is the voice you are stuck with.

Drink warm water with honey and lemon at least once a day. You should continue this process until you notice results and even then continue drinking the mixture. Also, just keep practicing.

Try not to eat before singing. Rather, drink something that will open up your throat, such as hot water with honey and lemon.

The first part of knowing what group you belong in is your gender. If you are a female, then you are either an alto or soprano. If you are a male, then you are either a tenor or bass. The second part is how high or low your voice is. If you are a female and you're more comfortable singing at a high pitch rather than a low pitch, then you are a soprano. If you are a female and you're more comfortable singing at a lower pitch, then you are an alto. If you are a male and you're more comfortable singing at a higher pitch, then you are a tenor. If you are a male and you're more comfortable singing at a lower pitch, then you are a bass.

No, you shouldn't, as it damages your throat. You should practice for however long you like, just stop before your throat is sore.

Study note names, note values, and how each note sounds. Practice each note one at a time and start with reading songs with simple music, like "Hot Cross Buns."

Things that vocal coaches will always stress are vowels, enunciation, and breath control. You want to have tall vowels when singing. Put your pointer and middle fingers between your front teeth to give you an idea of how wide your mouth should be. Make sure to over-stress your words. The clearer, the better! When breathing, don't breathe from your lungs, breathe from your diaphragm instead, near your stomach. Pretend you're sipping in chocolate milk. That's where you should breathe from.

If you feel like something is blocking your throat constantly, then it's possible the songs you sing aren't in your range.

There are many apps you could download that give you pitches or function as a virtual piano.

Pick songs that test your vocal range without straining your voice. Watch Youtube videos, or consult a professional instructor, to learn exercises and technique that will help you to improve.

Don't push your voice - if your throat feels like it's starting to hurt, you're probably shouting. It's good to project, but not shout. Your voice should still sound melodious, and shouldn't overshadow any accompaniment.

Keep practicing your high notes one by one. Start where you are comfortable and start going higher.

Use your diaphragm as much as possible in notes within your range. You can use your diaphragm as much as you need to sing powerfully.

Try running through your vocal range in the "ng" sound. Do this multiple times until it starts to feel smooth.

To make your voice louder, try singing a vowel sound and then alternating between quiet and loud as you sing.

Sing in falsetto if you feel yourself start to slip into tenor. It also helps to train your voice through videos.

It depends on the drink. As long as it's not sticky, dairy or thick, it's fine. It's likely that it wouldn't change your voice much.

Baritone. His range fits in the Fach. A tenor can reach a C5 or above, depending on his vocal weight, but by vocal range, your friend is a baritone.