Astronomer

Uhh, posted this here because voice is an instrument, basically.

So, can you? I am not very good at singing, I've never had professional training or anything. But I'm a musician, I've been playing piano for 16+ years and guitar and bass for many years as well, so I'm not completely stupid. I just don't have an amazing voice. A band have asked me to sing for them for the remainder of this year and possibly ongoing... but I hate the way I sound.

So my question is, can you teach yourself to sing? Can you improve on your vocals purely by practising yourself without any 'professional' training? Because honestly, I'm way too busy to go to singing lessons or anything, finding time to practice piano/bass/guitar is hard enough!

Opinions, ta.

P.S. I've missed this place!

Key

I've never had any professional help. I won't say i'm amazing but a lot of people say I have a good voice.

I personally think it is possible to teach yourself. Once you learn the ranges your voice can comfortably reach, it's all about how you sing them to match your specified sound.

It's a lot like any instrument. Piano for instance, you learned the keys, and now you play them in a certain order for a song, that's how you would do it with voice but instead of keys, it's range and scales.

It's all about practice and comfort.

Howard the Duck

they do teach you breathing and using your diaphragm, which is hard to pick up on your own

as for myself, i don't have much range, and my voice tend to crack at the long notes

also people say i sound like Kermit the Frog when i sing

i also have problems keeping in key and tune, unless i'm singing to just solo guitar

i usually suck acapella or with a full band or Karaoke

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Dr_Rez

Most people hate the way they sound because your voice is far different when listening from outside your head. What I mean by this is that ones voice is much deeper and resonant when singing because the bones in the jaw and head vibrate and the treble frequencies are not coming out as much. So when practicing its a great idea to have a recorder of some kind so you can gauge what your voice will be sounding like to others and adjust it accordingly depending on how you want to sound.

The best singing advice I ever got was from a piano teacher I used to have. He would sit you down in front of a keyboard and randomly start hitting intervals. You would have to then sing that interval and proceed to go up or down by that interval checking yourself against the piano. This not only helps you pitch match but it teaches you to recognize common chord changes and intervals in most popular music (or whatever style you are learning)

Lastly most people overlook the simple parts of singing. Sure with practice anyone can sing somewhat well, BUT things like posture, hydration, openthroat make all the difference. Dont hunch over, sing from your deep in your throat lungs not your mouth. And most important of all WARM UP. Do some do re fa so la ti do type scale excersizes to warm your voice up. When a guitarists picks up his guitar for the first time before a show they dont start of playing eruption. Loosen up and work up to the point of being comfortable.

I realize I didnt completely answer you question because I think you already know the answer to it. Practice anything and you will become good at it. Just follow the basic singing tips I mentioned (most you already knew Im sure) and your progress will go super fast. The internet is your friend, use it if you have questions about a technique. I remember seeing a video you posting where you were singing, so you obviously know a little bit already. Just practice the right way and it will come.

ps. I did a double take seeing a thread created by you. Thought we lost you to life and the real world.

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Key

^^ That is true about the breathing and diaphragm, but that could easily be searched for on Youtube just like anything I think.



I'm not sure about the content of this video, since it's one of the first I looked at. Didn't really watch it. But just like any instrument, you could probably learn to sing through the internet.

Mrd00d

Aha it's the infamous Lateralus! Hope you come back and stick around, then, if you find the time.

Yes, I agree with the fellows above that there are things you can learn on your own that will enhance what you already know. Playing guitar, bass, and piano especially gives you an idea of ranges of sound, and what's next is learning when to go where, with what. It's not too hard. Some people have better luck with it than others, but its something most can pick up.

I'm more in your boat than not; I still have a lot to learn about vocal techniques just so I can sing backups and harmonies, but that's what I understand. I think you can learn enough to not only get you by but give you a real edge.

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Dr_Rez

I call bull****. Juilian cant sing. Why dont you just go and get drunk high as **** and eat some chicken fingers instead of giving advice. **** off I got work to do!

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Mrd00d

Cyrus you dick, get out of my trailer park. I'm nursing this drink, anyway. **** off. Go find your lackeys and have a circlejerk.

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Astronomer

Thanks Dr. Rez! I see since I have been gone you have received a doctorate...

& thanks Mrd00d. Yeah, I think I'll just see if I can practice and get better in time, it's kinda frustrating though, I don't ever think I'll sound good enough in my own ears. And whenever I ask people for advice they just say "get singing lessons." Uhhh no, not gonna happen! So YouTube will have to be my friend.

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GuitarBizarre

I'm not an amazing singer, but I can carry a tune and my range is decent.

I used to be absolutely AWFUL however.

The way I taught myself was just to sing ALL the time. I used to have long walks to and from school and various things, so I'd just wander along singing tunes. I'd always quiet down going past someone though, cause I always felt embarrassed.

But at the end of the day doing that really helped. I got the opportunity to experiment guilt free with all the various timbres and ****araoundy bits of my own voice and got to a reasonable level.

Now, I do still need professional singing lessons. I don't really know what I'm doing much and I could be a lot better, but I'm certainly not AWFUL, and it was just a case of practicing a buttload.

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