The voice is a second face.
Gérard Bauër
The academic definition of somebody who’s self-taught is somebody who learns on their own without a teacher.
When it comes to a skill as cultivated as singing, is it even possible to teach yourself to sing? Well, the answer is definitely yes. In the same way as any other artistic domain, singing lends itself perfectly to self-teaching, especially in the 21st century with more learning materials available than ever before.
You can learn to listen to your own voice and correct the notes that are out of key, adjust your vocal cords and your vocal timbre, master breathing, and then, bit by bit, you can start calling yourself a singer.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at some expert tips to help you learn to sing on your own. Here's Superprof's best advice for gaining self-confidence and teaching yourself to sing well.
1. Check Your Posture
Before you start singing, you need to make sure that your body is in the right position since a good posture, like in sports, allows you to get the most out of your physical abilities.
The basic rule is to have a straight back, either standing or sitting, with your legs parallel and aligned with your shoulders and your feet flat on the floor. A straight back allows the singer to open their chest cavity and fully fill their lungs with air. This also allows you to produce nice notes more easily and sing in key.
2. Check Your Breathing
Since the voice is basically a wind instrument, breathing makes up 80% of singing. Slow and deep breathing exercises - breathing in and out slowly - can stimulate the abdominal muscles which can give your voice more punch.
3. Listen to Yourself
In fact, once you start singing a song, you’ll want to start developing your own style. However, not everyone is capable of being their own boss when it comes to learning how to sing. A lot of shy people rush off to get a singing tutor or a vocal coach. Otherwise, the only other option is to teach yourself how to sing.
Whether you’re shy or fiercely confident in your own abilities, there will be times when you start to get discouraged.
How can you sing well and where should you start?
4. Get to Know Your Voice
We should start our vocal training by finding out how our voice actually works.
Firstly, you should listen to your own voice, develop your ear (musically), and believe in your own abilities and potential. It’s very rare that a singer had perfect pitch or a finely-tuned musical ear when they started singing.
Training your vocal cords and sticking with it come after you’ve gained self-confidence and become aware of the fact that anyone can get a good singing voice if they work at it.
Some people are obviously more gifted at it than others but even the worst voice can be corrected and improved. You need to know how to listen to yourself singing whether you record yourself and do it later or if you do it in real time.
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5. Practice in Front of A Camera
Once you’ve got all the tools you need to get a good voice, it’s time to use them wisely: practise, listen, then evaluate yourself.
To keep improving, recording your voice is a great way to gain a better understanding of your abilities and the errors you’ll need to correct.
When you vocalise, elocution is important and every vocal coach will tell their students to look at themselves in the mirror when they sing in order to help themselves avoid making the wrong notes.
Filming yourself can be useful for:
- Seeing where you’re going wrong when you make false notes
- Looking at your gestures and correcting the unpleasant ones
- Listening to the notes you make and ensuring that they’re the right pitch
- Listening to your vocal timbre, tessitura, and resonance.
- Improving your vocal range.
The best way to do this is to choose a song that you really like, a song whose lyrics you’ve mastered, and sing it while recording yourself. You should then watch the video and see what isn’t working. Start again until you’re happy with the recording.
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The 5 Fundamental Elements of Singing
There are 5 fundamental elements to any good voice:
| Element | Description | Tips to Improve |
|---|---|---|
| Elocution | Clear and precise pronunciation of words to ensure the lyrics are understood. | Practice tongue twisters. Record and listen to your singing to identify unclear words. Work with a speech coach or vocal coach to improve diction. |
| Breathing | Control of breath to support singing, maintain pitch, and sustain notes. | Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Do breathing exercises like the '4-7-8' technique. Use breath support exercises like lip trills and hissing sounds. |
| Rhythm | Timing and flow of the music, including the ability to keep time and understand different rhythmic patterns. | Practice with a metronome. Clap or tap along to the rhythm of songs. Learn to read music and understand rhythmic notation. Take dance or movement classes. |
| Pitch | The accuracy of hitting the correct notes. | Use a piano or tuner app to match pitches. Practice scales and interval training. Work with a vocal coach to improve intonation and pitch accuracy. |
| Voice | The unique quality and tone of the singer’s voice, including vocal range and timbre. | Regular vocal warm-ups and exercises. Stay hydrated and maintain vocal health. Experiment with different vocal techniques and styles. Take care of your overall health and avoid straining your voice. |
Knowing your body will give you the information you need to correct any errors you make. Now let’s move onto more serious matters - how to work on your voice.
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Exercises for Teaching Yourself to Sing
There are often several steps to take when achieving any goal. The same can be said for teaching yourself to sing.
We recommend that you firstly warm up your voice. Ideally, you should do this in the same kind of place where you’d perform (like a stage). Every musician should do the same. A pianist will warm up their fingers and a trumpet player will practise breathing. Once you've done your warm-up, here are a few exercises you should try out:
| Exercise | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing Exercises | Develop control and support for your singing voice by practicing proper breathing techniques. | Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Use the '4-7-8' technique: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8. Do breath control exercises like hissing. |
| Scales and Arpeggios | Improve pitch accuracy and vocal range by singing scales and arpeggios regularly. | Start with simple major and minor scales. Gradually increase the complexity and speed. Use a piano or app to stay in tune. |
| Lip Trills | Warm up your voice and improve breath control with lip trills. | Start with a comfortable pitch. Gradually move up and down your range. Focus on keeping the airflow steady. |
| Humming | Strengthen your vocal cords and improve resonance by humming. | Hum scales and simple songs. Focus on feeling vibrations in your face and head. Experiment with different pitches and dynamics. |
| Sirens | Smoothly transition between different vocal registers by practicing sirens (gliding from low to high notes and back). | Start from a low pitch and glide to a high pitch, then back down. Use a relaxed, open throat. Do this exercise gently to avoid strain. |
| Sing Along to Songs | Improve your musicality and enjoyment by singing along to your favorite songs. | Choose songs within your vocal range. Focus on matching pitch and rhythm. Record yourself and listen for areas of improvement. |
| Pitch Matching | Train your ear and pitch accuracy by matching pitches played on an instrument. | Use a piano or a pitch app. Play a note and try to match it with your voice. Practice daily to improve your pitch recognition and control. |
| Vocal Warm-ups | Prepare your voice for singing by doing a series of vocal warm-up exercises. | Include lip trills, humming, scales, and sirens. Start with gentle exercises and gradually increase intensity. Warm up for at least 10-15 minutes. |
Top Singing Resources: Websites, Apps & More
Learning to sing on your own doesn’t mean you can’t use resources to help you improve your vocal techniques and your singing in general.
How can you become a singer? Here are some top resources from apps to vocal training websites to help you on your journey:
| Resource | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Tutorials | Free video tutorials covering various aspects of singing technique, exercises, and tips from professional coaches. | Youtube |
| Singing Apps | Mobile apps providing guided vocal warm-ups and exercises to help singers prepare their voices for practice. | Vanido, Vox Tools |
| Online Courses | Comprehensive courses on singing offered by platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and MasterClass. | Udemy, Coursera, Masterclass |
| Singing Books | Books providing in-depth knowledge on singing techniques, vocal health, and practice routines. | 'Set Your Voice Free' by Roger Love, 'Singing for Dummies' by Pamelia S. Phillips |
| Vocal Training Websites | Websites offering articles, tutorials, and resources for singers of all levels. | https://www.singingsuccess.com |
| Practice Tracks | Websites and apps providing backing tracks and karaoke tracks for practice. | Examples: https://www.karaoke-version.com, https://www.smule.com |
| Ear Training Apps | Apps designed to improve pitch recognition and musical ear training. | Examples: Perfect Ear, EarMaster |
| Find A Sing Tutor | Find an experienced tutor to help you cultivate your singing skills. | Superprof UK |
Of course, since most work deserves to be paid, you’ll find a lot of resources that you have to pay for. There are several subscriptions available to choose from depending on how long you’re going to use the site for. The option to get singing lessons online with established tutor.
You’re not the first person to embark upon this journey, after all! Everything in its own time. Don’t try to become a famous opera singer after your first practice session. The second step needs to be less ambitious like singing in a group or in a local venue.
If ever you feel lost when carrying out your own vocal training, there are always voice coaches available who can give you push in the right direction. And if the cost of private singing lessons worries you, its worth knowing that there are plenty of options for singers on a budget.
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