Questions related to the use of the human voice as an instrument (singing).
6
votes
2answers
657 views
How do I keep my larynx balanced when I am singing in my head voice?
Its so frustrating because every time I try to hit a high note my larynx rises and feels like a ball clogging my throat up, which stops me from singing to my full potential. Can anyone please give ...
-3
votes
1answer
321 views
How long should I take voice lessons in order to unleash the full potential of my voice? [closed]
I am going to be taking voice lessons soon and I need to know how long should I take voice lessons. I want to make my voice really versatile so I can sing in different genres of music and record ...
5
votes
2answers
459 views
Are sweet drinks bad for singing?
I've been told by a high school choral director that drinking sweet drinks, such as soda, before singing is not not healthy/good for the voice. Is this true? If so, why is it bad for you?
3
votes
2answers
516 views
Is it possible to use video games to help improve one's singing?
I've decided that I want to improve my singing. In order to give me incentive to practice (and regular feedback), I thought getting a video game might be of help. I know that it's no substitute for ...
5
votes
2answers
799 views
What are the characteristics of Negro Spiritual vocal arrangements?
I've tried several times to write vocal arragnements that are in the style of Negro Spiritual music.
Here's an example of the style I'm referring to.
Typically, I use simple SATB style arrangements, ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Is singing a matter of talent or practice?
This is something I have always wondered.
Is singing a matter of talent, that is, only people born with the 'proper instrument' can sing properly, or is it a matter of practice?
I know that practice ...
4
votes
1answer
260 views
Joik - traditional Sami songs from northern Sweden and Finland
I have some questions about the traditional Sami singing, Joiken, which is practiced in the northern parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway.
I learned that you don't joik about something, but you joik ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
is cold water bad for the throat?
does anyone know if cold water is bad for the throat? like say just before you sing should you drink any cold water.. and also in the long run (say if you drink cold water everyday) will it make your ...
19
votes
4answers
749 views
How can I be sure that I am singing effortlessly in my natural voice ?
By now , I have years of vocalization practice but I still start straining while singing—especially if I am not vigilant. It happens imperceptibly and is a hard habit to break.
Is there a reliable ...
1
vote
2answers
296 views
Voice trills unintentionally when singing high-pitched notes
I'm not an experienced singer, so I suppose I've got plenty of knowledge missing when it comes to keeping my voice in shape. Whenever I try to sing a high-pitched note, my voice inadvertently starts ...
4
votes
3answers
502 views
How do you sing and strum guitar chords simultaneously?
In my experience with the guitar, I think I do best with strumming.
But it's always difficult for me when I have try to keep singing while strumming. How can I learn to do both?
8
votes
5answers
3k views
When should falsetto be used for a male voice?
I'm really confused about the concept of a falsetto voice. As I understand it, past a point when I'm singing / talking, something in my vocal chords changes, I lose the "basey" sound of my voice, and ...
4
votes
1answer
614 views
What is a depressed larynx?
I'm reading this article about "The Danger of Heavy Repertoire" and I don't know what he means when he talks about using a depressed larynx. What is the depressed larynx technique?
1
vote
1answer
208 views
Before Vocaloid — Early history of voice synthesis?
Vocaloid is a modern musical voice synthesiser package from Japan. It's getting pretty close to a human voice: Compare GUMI (Vocaloid) and Megumi Nakajima (GUMI's voice sample provider; human) singing ...
4
votes
1answer
376 views
How does someone safely develop intensity at an extremely high tessitura?
We've had a couple different questions about extending voice range. This question is probably related more to endurance and tone quality, not just extending range.
Find a recording of Dexter Holland ...
3
votes
1answer
313 views
Singing software
What are software options that will tell you where you've gone out of tune in the performance of a given song? Better if it can work with any song file or has a wealth of community-content.
Sort of ...
6
votes
1answer
300 views
On being a musician and doing weightlifting
I've had no shortage of music and health professionals tell me how strength training (hypertrophy) is bad for anything that warrants muscle relaxation (singing and drumming being two that I do). And I ...
16
votes
3answers
253 views
Criteria for selecting a voice teacher
I have been singing in a (classical) choir for several years, including the occasional solo line, and am now seriously considering voice lessons. However, finding a good teacher seems like a daunting ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I know when to stop singing?
Assuming you complete a vocal warmup, I'm wondering how you know when you've overdone it and should stop singing.
Is it normal to feel a bit of strain in the vocal chords? How much strain should you ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Why can't I whistle and hum different notes at the same time?
I can whistle and hum at the same time, by making the breath from my humming go out through lips formed into a whistling pucker. I've found that no matter how hard I try to do otherwise, whatever note ...
2
votes
1answer
298 views
Are there vocal exercises that can be done through the course of the day while doing other things?
I'm a computer science student and I spend a big part of my day sitting in a classroom or typing at a computer. I like to sing and play instruments as a hobby, but it's not always that I have time to ...
4
votes
2answers
148 views
Some literature on voice
Are there any books or articles on voice per se, the ways of development, improvement, the process of sound creation etc.?
5
votes
2answers
514 views
Does environmental (or food/drink) temperature have an effect on the voice?
Does ambient temperature (i.e. winter vs summer) or food/drink temperature (i.e. cold vs hot) have an effect on voice:
Texture
Pitch/range
Strength
3
votes
1answer
446 views
are there any foods that will permanently have a bad effect on singing throat?
are there any foods that will permanently have a bad effect on singing throat?
I'm not talking about like just before singing we should avoid diary products and stuff like that.. but rather will ...
1
vote
1answer
292 views
Is it possible that we can not have a singing voice?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081226070704AAhqTFt:
Experience has taught me that I do not have a singing voice. But in
practice, I tend to sing from my lungs and speak from my ...
12
votes
2answers
3k views
Ways to warm up vocal cords?
What are some safe ways to get my vocal cords without over using them before a practice or performance?
5
votes
1answer
183 views
vocal chord protection against nodule
I was recently diagnose with a small
vocal chord nodule. I was wondering
what are some proper ways to use
vocal?
I heard that singing with your
diaphragm is the correct way to
avoid overuse of vocal ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
How much time do we need to pick up our skills again if we do not sing for a long period of time?
How much time do we need to pick up our skills again if we do not sing for a long period of time?
Sorry if this question is very vague but I've done drum and piano before and for some reason--even if ...
6
votes
3answers
508 views
How much louder can a singer go safely above the conversation voice ?
It seems that some increase in loudness is inevitable when going to higher notes. Is there any widely known recommendation or rule of thumb from the voice experts as to how many decibels can a singer ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
Why do people say “you are a little flat” and never “you are are a little sharp”?
Is there a tendency to sing flat when singing out of tune?
7
votes
2answers
401 views
Will taking a long break from singing affect our vocal range (for the average singer)?
I want to know if we do not sing at all, or minimal for, say, 12 months, will our vocal range remain the same or will it actually be reduced?
I'm aware that since different people have different ...
3
votes
4answers
110 views
Putting guitar and song together
So, I'm still working on this.
I started singing with my playing using hey ya as my first song. (In fact that was the first song I ever played)
Ironically I always lose it at the verse that goes
...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Protecting my voice with a phone job
My day job involves 5 hours on the phone at a time. How should I go about protecting my voice? I have to talk to old people, so I can't always speak quietly.
10
votes
1answer
418 views
Singing: How to pre-visualize harmonies
When singing, I have a good singing voice for harmony--once I've identified the note. However, finding the note is exactly my problem; I tend towards singing the note the lead singer is using if I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
658 views
What choir pieces are suited to warm up a new, small choir?
Soon I will have the pleasant duty of leading an amateur choir at a two-week summer camp. I am looking for warming up pieces that are easy, but fun. It should be possible to learn them without having ...
6
votes
1answer
280 views
One-to-one techniques for improving ability to sing in tune
There are a number of questions on this site from singers who want to find software so they can work, on their own, on their ability to sing in tune.
However, I am hoping to do some one-to-one (and ...
13
votes
1answer
868 views
What are Head voice and Chest voice
Head voice and Chest voice were discussed in this question about natural voice, but despite singing in choirs for nearly 9 years I have never heard of them.
Can someone provide a good description of ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I learn to growl?
How can I learn how to growl? (Think the heavy bear growls vocals used in plays and metal music.)
I'm looking for free resources and/or exercises I can do myself; in either case I want to be able to ...
4
votes
1answer
211 views
Can vocal range extrema be reached by a lot of practice?
Wikipedia lists the world records and extremes of the vocal range,
can extrema be reached by a lot of practice or were they born with that?
3
votes
1answer
416 views
How long should a professional singer be able to sing in a single breath ?
How many seconds of nonstop voice (or silence) without taking another breath is satisfactory for a professional singer ? Is there a rule thumb ? does it depend on the register ?
11
votes
3answers
867 views
Improving breath support
What are some exercises or tips to help singers improve their breath support?
