Want to improve your singing voice? Look no further! This guide offers these easy tips to help you get better at singing and reach your full potential.
Are you struggling to improve your singing voice? Do you want to get better at singing but don’t know where to start?
If so, then this post is perfect for you!
In this article, we will provide easy tips and advice on how to improve your vocal abilities and enhance the quality of your singing.
1. Sing as often as possible
If you want to improve your singing skills, make sure to sing as often as possible.
Many natural singers have a strong desire to sing all the time, whether it’s singing along to the radio, while doing chores, or even when they’re alone.
This constant singing is actually a form of practice that can help you improve your pitch, vocal control, and ear skills.
So don’t be afraid to belt out your favorite tunes whenever you get the chance!
2. Imitate
If you’re looking to improve your singing skills, try this simple exercise: choose a song from a singer you admire and listen to a phrase.
Pause the music and try to sing the phrase back, repeating it until you can match the original as closely as possible.
This is a common technique used by many singers, even if they don’t realize it, and can be a great way to develop your ear and improve your vocal control.
3. Record yourself singing
Have you ever heard a recording of your own voice and thought, “That doesn’t sound like me”?
It’s because when we speak, we hear our own voice through vibrations in our skull, which makes it sound deeper and richer than it actually is.
But when we hear a recording of ourselves, we hear our voice as others hear it.
While it may be uncomfortable at first, listening to recordings of your voice can help you objectively evaluate your speaking skills and identify areas for improvement.
4. Proper posture
For those looking to improve their singing voice, proper posture is key.
Many people overlook the importance of posture when singing, but it can greatly impact the quality of your voice.
The best posture for singing is known as Tall Posture, which involves standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart, keeping your knees slightly bent, and your chest up without leaning forward or backward.
When you maintain this posture, you will notice a more open and supported sound when you sing.
It’s helpful to practice in front of a mirror to ensure you’re maintaining good posture throughout your singing.
So, if you’re wondering where to start with singing, start with your posture!
5. Relax the shoulders, jaw, and throat
Strain in the voice is often caused by tension in the vocal muscles. This tension can be created by incorrect posture or muscle movements while singing.
For instance, lifting the shoulders or chin when reaching for higher notes can cause strain on the neck, shoulders, and throat muscles.
Clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth can also create tightness in the jaw.
To ease this tension, take note of any clenching or pulling sensations while singing and use deep breathing and gentle massage to relax your larynx, jaw, neck, and shoulders.
Place your fingers around the area to feel tightness and work on releasing it. Doing so will help avoid any further strain on your voice as you move up into higher vocal ranges.
6. Breathe from your diaphragm
Breathing correctly is essential for singing, so improving your breathing technique is a must.
Taking conscious, deep breaths and feeling the breath expand your belly is key to developing a good singing voice.
Stand in tall posture, with both hands on either side of your stomach, and breathe in so that you feel the air expanding outward.
Make sure not to move your shoulders, chest, or chin when breathing in and out, as this can be difficult at first as we were taught to suck our stomachs in when we breathe, rather than pushing outwards.
With practice, you will be able to take full, efficient breaths supporting notes when singing.
7. Warming up
Warmup exercises are an essential part of singing well, as they help to warm up the voice and ensure that harm or injury isn’t caused.
They also help stretch the vocal folds gently to find out what your voice is capable of, so doing them every day is a great way to get the most out of your rehearsals.
A lip trill warm-up is one of the best ways to start each session. It helps prevent vocal strain, relieve tension, and expand the vocal range.
8. Training your ear
Finding and matching pitches are essential tools for a great singer, and involve understanding the notes you hear and matching your voice to those same notes.
While some people may find this more easily than others, cupping your hands behind your ears and facing the direction of the music can help you hear yourself better.
Working with a voice teacher can also help fix pitch, as well as provide you with the tools to adjust and match tones correctly.
9. Learn an instrument
Often, students struggle to match pitch while singing and a great solution is to learn to play an instrument.
This not only allows you to practice matching tone and pitch but also helps advance your musical skills.
It is beneficial for those who are more visual learners as the notes can be seen on most instruments, allowing you to better understand the music itself.
Learning how to play an instrument, will help you improve your singing capabilities and thus make singing songs easier and more enjoyable.
10. Keep your voice hydrated
To maintain healthy throat muscles while singing, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
This is especially important during practice sessions, as the strain on your voice can be significant. You should keep a water bottle nearby to ensure you stay hydrated.
11. Open your mouth
To improve the quality of your singing voice, it’s important to open your mouth wide enough while singing.
Many singers struggle with not expelling enough sound because they don’t open their mouths wide enough. To achieve the right shape, think about yawning and purposefully make your mouth into that shape.
When singing vowel sounds, in particular, elongate your mouth by separating your tongue from the soft palette and keeping them separated while singing, with the tongue laying against your bottom jaw.
Keep your mouth open the entire time you sing vowel sounds like “ah-eh-ee-oh-oo.”
You can use at least two fingers between your teeth as a reference for positioning your mouth when singing.
Additionally, being relaxed with the muscles in the throat and jaw lose can also help create the wider opening you need.
12. Develop your mixed voice
When it comes to singing on Broadway, it can be difficult to determine whether a performer is using their chest or head voice to project their vocals. However, many singers today actually use a combination of both, known as mixing.
Signing your mixed voice is a great way to improve vocal technique and gain confidence on stage.
13. Practicing proper vocal techniques
Improving your singing voice can be a daunting task, especially when there are so many vocal techniques to choose from.
To ensure that you are using the best vocal exercises for your voice, it is recommended to work with an expert vocal coach or voice teacher.
However, if you are practicing on your own, it is crucial to avoid forcing your voice.
If you feel any strain or tension, or if you are struggling to reach a note, it is important to stop and find exercises that allow your voice to progress naturally and gradually.
Remember, the key to successful vocal exercises is to avoid pushing your voice beyond its limits.
14. Improving and expanding your vocal range
If you’re nervous about hitting high notes in a song, don’t let that hold you back from trying.
Instead, work on expanding your vocal range so you can tackle any tune you want.
High notes come from thin, stretched-out vocal folds in your head register. To expand your range, try exercises using the “ng” sound in your head voice.
Start with a comfortable note and gradually move up and down the scale.
Then, go one step higher and repeat. As you continue to practice, you’ll be able to increase your range with less tension in your voice.
Don’t worry if it sounds nasal at first, the goal is to stretch and improve.
15. Consistent, daily practice
Practicing regularly is the best way to improve any skill, and singing is no different.
Consistently taking the time to warm up your vocals and practice singing techniques can help you make great strides in developing a better voice.
Even 10-15 minutes of practice each day can make a big difference in how your voice sounds over time.
Seasoned singers often attest that with lots of practice, they feel their singing gets better, helping them perform confidently when it matters.
16. Take singing lessons
Developing and improving your singing voice is something that you can do on your own at home, however, it can be greatly beneficial to get the support and guidance of a vocal instructor.
In-person lessons are great for some, but with many singing teachers online, you can have access to the best instructors from anywhere to help give you confidence in your abilities while they eliminate or aid in fixing poor technique.
A professional vocal coach also provides motivation and assistance to reach higher milestones as your voice gets better.
So don’t be afraid and find yourself a mentor today!
Conclusion
It can be daunting to try something new and put yourself out there, but improving your singing voice is definitely possible with a bit of practice.
Taking the time to warm up your voice, find your range, and practice regularly are all essential steps that everyone should take in order to get better at singing.
Don’t be afraid to keep experimenting and finding what works for you, with enough dedication, you’ll start seeing (and hearing!) improvements in your singing very soon.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article on improving singing skills. It was a joy to share my philosophy on voice lessons with you.
