Questions related to the use of the human voice as an instrument (singing).
20
votes
4answers
801 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 ...
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?
16
votes
3answers
261 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 ...
15
votes
10answers
8k 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 ...
15
votes
4answers
210 views
Teaching a student to match pitch
I'm a piano teacher and I currently have a student that is taking voice lessons from another teacher. Our lessons involve me accompanying her and discussing interpretation and style. She has some ...
14
votes
1answer
917 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 ...
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?
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 ...
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?
11
votes
3answers
899 views
Improving breath support
What are some exercises or tips to help singers improve their breath support?
11
votes
2answers
434 views
How do I develop a bass voice?
I am an 'adult male human' and can sing from A2 to G4 comfortably. It would be great if I can sing up to a whole octave below this. I am in no hurry and am willing to expend time and effort. I just ...
11
votes
3answers
524 views
How can I do rough vocals without hurting my voice?
I recently wrote a song where the vocals are supposed to sound rough, but not quite growling/screaming. What's the best way to get that sort of sound from my voice without any long-term or short-term ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
Will I ever be able to sing higher?
So, I sing to myself a lot, and one thing that really frustrates me is that I cannot even reliably hit a middle C. (I'm male.) This is basically unacceptable to me even for ordinary shower-singing. ...
10
votes
4answers
591 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. ...
10
votes
1answer
435 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 ...
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
111 views
How do we improve blend between male and female voices on the same part in a choir?
I sing in a small volunteer choir (12-15 people) in which we have women and men singing together on some parts. (Aside from the common tenor-shortage problem, sometimes we sing three-part songs, and ...
8
votes
2answers
154 views
What does “TAG for Three-part voices” mean?
Reading some three-part a cappella music, I see "TAG for Three-part voices" above the staff. Any idea what that might mean?
19 is the measure number. There are 27 measures total in the song, so ...
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 ...
8
votes
4answers
470 views
How can I improve my note accuracy and intonation?
Over time my pitch has improved simply through singing more, but I still have some problems with being a bit off sometimes (or way off on very high or very low notes). It helps if I focus on a ...
8
votes
1answer
179 views
Why is my voice lower pitched when I get up in the morning?
When I sing or speak just after waking from a long sleep, I can reach lower pitches than I can after being awake for a few hours.
Why does this happen? What happens to my body after waking that ...
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 ...
7
votes
6answers
1k 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
380 views
What are “nodules” and how do you avoid them?
I've heard from singers (I'm primarily a guitarist) that it can be dangerous to try to make your voice deeper because you might develop "nodules". Is it true? What are they? How can you avoid them?
7
votes
1answer
470 views
common mistakes made when singing
What are some of the most common mistakes made by people singing without the ability to get a vocal coach?
Although I don't like my voice all that much, I would like to make it tolerable since its a ...
7
votes
2answers
426 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
197 views
What is the process by which singers identify their voice type/fach?
I am trying to gain insight about the process by which vocalists identify their voice type or fach. I am not looking for any discussion about the basic distinctions between, say, soprano and alto. ...
7
votes
2answers
753 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
2k 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
179 views
What parameters decide one's vocal range?
My question is regarding the things which can decide your vocal range and how people's vocal ranges are different from each other and also if there are patterns like race, language, etc. which can ...
6
votes
4answers
538 views
Does weight and/or body frame has anything to do with singing?
Does a small body frame (meaning small bones and possibly small organs) or low weight affect the "power" of a singing voice?? Does a higher weight creates some sort of "pressure" or something that ...
6
votes
4answers
711 views
How can I learn to sing and play an instrument (like Piano) at the same time?
I find this a very difficult thing to do, and also not easy to put as much energy into singing, while playing piano.
I have started off by just trying the chords on the piano, though it is still ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
What's the quickest and best way to learn pitch control when singing in your normal range?
I've been learning the intervals by singing them for a few days, example I play a C on the piano and then I sing a C and a G for a perfect fifth. I find it to be a great way truly know your intervals. ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
How to correctly position your larynx when singing?
I'm a beginner singer who wants to get it correctly. I've seen quite a lot of videos explaining how keeping the larynx neutral while singing is crucial, but not a lot of the techniques they teach ...
6
votes
1answer
308 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
542 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
296 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
93 views
How does one help a student sing in a “missing” range?
Take a high-school male voice student whose range would best be classified as a bass. The top of his range is about F3. However, he can also sing falsetto. The lowest falsetto note for him is about ...
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?
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
369 views
Is there a standard range for a baritone? What is it?
I think I'm a baritone, but I'm not entirely sure due to not being able to find a clear definition of what that is. Wikipedia's definitions vary a bit from F2 to C3 on the low end and seem to be ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
476 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?
5
votes
2answers
838 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
1answer
192 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
253 views
How to avoid the “clogged throat” feeling when singing?
I really love singing. I do it quite often but I get really nervous about doing in front of an audience; even just thinking about it makes me nervous. I guess this is strictly related to everyone's ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
What are some objective ways to measure improvement as a singer?
On instruments such as guitar and piano I find it is easier to measure progress. You have objective devices such as the metronome and generally when you get things wrong the sound is very dissonant. ...
5
votes
1answer
220 views
Temporary vocal bass range extension
I need a quick fix on how to very temporarily extend my lower voice range.
The note(s) I need to reach, for a short performance in a couple of days, are notes that I can reach fairly easily and sing ...
5
votes
2answers
527 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
