Questions related to the use of the human voice as an instrument (singing).
4
votes
3answers
505 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?
15
votes
10answers
7k views
I want to learn how to sing. Where do I start?
According to a couple of websites, the best way to learn how to sing is with a vocal teacher, a recorder, and practice. But let's say I don't have the means to get a vocal teacher right now. What ...
4
votes
1answer
262 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
616 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
209 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
314 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
303 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
301 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
805 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, ...
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
379 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 ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Falsetto voice in women
Can women have a falsetto voice?
If not, why not?
If yes, do they just have a deep enough voice or does it depend on something else?
Are there men that don't have a falsetto voice?
Edited to add a ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
How does lack of sleep affect the singing voice?
I have noticed that when I find myself sleep deprived my singing voice gets greatly impaired. It is difficult to reach and sustain higher notes and it's like my voice muscles are "sore".
I guess ...
7
votes
6answers
986 views
When singing, how to avoid being distracted by vocal harmony or other vocal lines?
I'm not a professional singer but I love singing. I find it very difficult to focus on my own vocal line when I hear other vocal lines. For example,
When I was in the college choir, I sang bass, and ...
2
votes
1answer
300 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.?
1
vote
1answer
294 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
448 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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
184 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 ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
402 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 ...
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?
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 ...
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
419 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 ...
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 ...
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?
10
votes
4answers
572 views
How do I train myself to sing pure vowels?
When singing in languages like Italian or Latin (which don't run to diphthongs the way English does), I sometimes find it hard to sing pure vowels, particularly when holding a note for a while. ...
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?
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I safely extend my vocal range?
What type of vocal exercises should I be looking for?
Are there any temporary influences to the vocal range, like having had a drink?
6
votes
3answers
513 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
417 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 ?
5
votes
2answers
516 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
5
votes
2answers
460 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?
13
votes
1answer
873 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 ...
19
votes
5answers
5k views
Why do I yawn while singing?
Singing almost always make me yawn. I've heard this is due to not breathing correctly, but I'm not sure what that means. What's the correct way to breathe while singing so I don't yawn?
4
votes
1answer
662 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 ...
19
votes
4answers
750 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 ...
11
votes
3answers
869 views
Improving breath support
What are some exercises or tips to help singers improve their breath support?
16
votes
3answers
254 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 ...
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
...
