How can I sing well? What is the trick? Why do I feel I have a good voice but it does not sound in tune when I sing? Singing can be easy for people who are born with an innate gift, but there are also people who have a lot of potential in their voice but need to learn how to use and make the most of it. In both cases it is important to note that singing in tune is basic if we want our voice to sound good to our audience and ourselves. There are voices with a more characteristic tone than others, deeper or higher voices, some sweet and some broken. Whatever your voice, next in OneHowTo we will explain some tips on how to tune your voice for singing.
It is fundamental that we know our voice. By this I mean that you should know what kind of song you feel more comfortable singing. This is important at first as, by singing the songs that we feel we can sing well and where our voice sounds good, it will help you asses in what pitches your voice is comfortable singing. Later on you can experience with other pitches and expand your voice by trying to sing tones that require greater practice and training. So, think about an artist or a song that you like, think whether you can sing it sing without overstraining your voice and look to those nuances that most characterize your voice to enhance them and give your voice personality.
To tune your voice to sing well, find out what tones you can reach to know your vocal range. This procedure is very simple if you have a piano or if you know how to play the guitar. Start playing the musical scale: Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la si.. and so on, each time growing in tone. Repeat with your voice every note and see how far you can go and from which point your voice will start to sound out of tune. This is an excellent exercise you can do to improve your pitch. Make sure that your voice sounds equal in pitch to the note. If you feel that when singing along side the note your voice and the note do not sound the same this means that you are singing out of tune. This will also help you sing over an instrument and over a song that has no voice attached, allowing you to sing the right tone. Do not despair. At first it may be a bit difficult, but this is going to train the voice.
Another element important to sing in tune is breathing. Singing is not possible without the proper use of air in our lungs. If we do not manage the air properly when singing we will not finish sentences or we will sing out of tune due to the shortness of breath. We must relax shoulders and not lift the chest. Take the air through the nose and out through your mouth while singing. We can do some exercises like taking air from the nose and filling our diaphragm with air. The diaphragm is a muscle that lies between the chest and abdomen, so you should feel it swell as you inhale the air. Subsequently, exhale slowly through your mouth pronouncing the letter 's'. The objective of this exercise is to learn how to breathe when singing. Just remember to breathe in through your nose and learn to use the air when you sing. There are songs that require greater breathing skills as they require more air to sing or, to the contrary, songs that require you to slowly release the air to produce lower sounds.
Once you know what tones your voice reaches, which is the pitch that you feel most comfortable with you become aware of your breathing you can record yourself. This step is very simple as you will probably have a tape recorder or mobile phone to hand. If you can play the guitar or the piano play a song and sing it while you record. Afterwards listen to it. Look at your strengths and weaknesses detected in the voice, what you sound better and what parts you need to practice more. Improve those aspects that you consider you need to work more. Record yourself again and again. It is very important to listen and know how your voice sounds and how others actually hear you. You will be able to detect in which parts you sing out of tune and then work to improve these.
It is difficult to not be nervous, but it requires practice. If your goal is to sing in public you must get use to it. When we are nervous we tighten the muscles and it is very likely that we end losing pitch. If we practice the steps above we will have faith in ourselves. This is no guarantee against nerves, but it helps considerably. Start singing in front of a trusted friend or family member and gradually increase your audience. You will see how you become confident as you sing in front of larger groups. However, do not hurry to build up this confidence.
Be patient. Not everyone has a knack for singing and there are people who will take longer. Take some time every day to sing, learn new songs and perform the above tips on how to tune your voice to sing well. Gradually you will get to know your voice and will gain confidence in yourself. Also remember that it is very important to know how to clear your throat before singing.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Tune Your Voice for Singing, we recommend you visit our Music category.