So you’re here because you’re wondering if you can actually learn to sing or if it’s just a talent some people are born with? Maybe you don’t think you’re a great singer and really want to be, and are wondering if you can be taught or even teach yourself to improve, or if it’s a waste of time.
Well, you’re in luck.
You can learn to sing! Granted, some people are born with more natural singing ability than others. But singing is a skill, and it can be developed. You might not be the next singing superstar, but you can definitely improve enough to put in a great karaoke performance that will impress your friends.
Is Singing a Natural Talent?
We all know those people who’ve always been able to sing. They’ve been singing since they were a young child, and have always been complimented on their ability. Yes, it’s true that some people have a natural talent. And unfortunately you’ll probably never be as good as one of these people, no matter how much you practice.
Natural ability will limit the extent to which you can improve. If you’ve never been a typically good singer, then you won’t be a great one in the future. But you will be able to improve if you develop your technique and put the effort in.
Why are Some People Good Singers?
So these people with natural singing talent, where do they actually get it? Well, first you need to know a bit about the science behind singing.
The voice box (or larynx) is located in your throat, and contains your vocal chords so it’s what is largely responsible for producing your voice.
The amount of air expelled from your lungs controls the volume of your voice. The more air forced out, the larger the sound. The pitch of your voice is determined by the speed at which your vocal chords vibrate. Slower vibration equals a lower note. Slower vibrations are produced by thicker vocal chords. This is similar to when you pluck a guitar string. The lower notes are produced by the thicker strings.
Not only does the size of your vocal chords affect the pitch of your voice, but the tightness of them does too. Tighter vocal chords result in a higher pitch.
Genetics
Still with me? Okay, so with that in mind, some people are genetically better designed to sing than others. This can be due to the size of their vocal chords, mouth and throat. It’s what gives some people a better tone than others.
Environment
Like most variables with humans, both genetics and the environment come into play. Children who grow up around music and singing are more likely to be better vocally than those that don’t. This because they pick up more tonal sensitivity and better timing. Like with most things, kids are quicker learners than adults. So growing up singing can definitely contribute too. It’s why it’s easier for a child to learn to sing well than an adult.
How to Learn to Sing
So you do need to be realistic about how much you can improve your vocal ability. But you can make significant improvements to your singing technique to help you sound better. After all, professional singers still need to practice so they are constantly improving. Here are some of the best ways to improve your singing.
Breathe Properly
Proper breathing is very important when singing. You need to make sure that you breathe deeply and regularly to sustain long notes and produce a powerful sound.
A lot of bad singers make the mistake of singing from their throat rather than from lower down. This not only puts strain on your throat, but also sounds weaker and more muffled. You might be doing this if you feel tension in your throat at any time during your singing performance.
Try and be conscious of this whilst you’re singing to get the hang of breathing deeply.
You can also practice deep breathing regularly to help with this. Take long slow inhalation and exhalation to full expel all the air. Aim to do this for around 10 minutes a day for the best results. It also helps with stress relief!
Stand up Straight
Posture is really important when you’re singing. You should be stood with your feet shoulder width apart with your weight resting on the balls of your feet. You also need to make sure you have good alignment of your back too. This means your shoulders should be relaxed but not rounded, your back straight and your next should not be leaning forwards.
Choose the Best Song
One of the best ways to sound like a better singer is to choose the right song. Be realistic about your vocal ability and the kind or song you can actually manage. Not sure what song is best for you? Then take a look at these two posts.
Warm Up
A proper vocal warm up doesn’t have to be anything silly or embarrassing. Here are a few warm up ideas that’ll help you sound better at karaoke.
- Practice deep breathing for 5 minutes.
- Try humming a song or tune through a straw.
- Take a deep breath and then exhale by letting the air move through your lips allowing them to vibrate. This helps to relax your mouth.
- Do some tongue twisters to stop you getting caught up on your words.
- Massage your jaw with your hands to relax your jaw and mouth.
Get Feedback
Getting feedback is one of the best ways of improving your singing ability. You can get feedback from your friends and family if you’re nervous in front of singing in front of anyone else. But they may not give you very constructive criticism if they aren’t that clued up themselves.
You can also sing in karaoke clubs and bars and try and get some feedback too. Uploading videos online to Facebook, Instagram or YouTube can also help you get a lot of feedback. But take it with a pinch of salt as there are a lot of trolls out there!
Hire a Vocal Coach
Another way you can improve your vocal ability is by hiring a professional singing coach. This is the most expensive method, but it’ll be the most beneficial.
They’ll be able to point out areas you can improve on and also suggest songs that are more suited to your voice to help you sound better. If you don’t have any vocal coaches in your area, then you can always find one online.
Who Can't Sing?
Okay with all this in mind, are there some people who can’t sing and will never be able to? There are a few occasions where unfortunately this is the case. Some people may have damaged vocal chords which will impair their ability to sing well. And some people are just tone deaf!
You can can take a test to find this out at tonedeaf.com.