Whether you want to blow people’s minds at the next karaoke night or pursue a career in singing, anyone can learn how to be a better singer with a combination of a few different useful techniques. We’ll explore some of the challenges people may face when it comes to their vocals, as well as some tips for singing better.
Can anyone learn to sing?
Anyone can learn how to sing better. It takes a lot of time and even more dedication, but with the proper methods, you’ll be belting those lyrics with confidence in no time.
Perhaps your confidence has taken a bit of a knock, or you’re struggling to hit notes and generate power. These, and all other feelings of doubt, are such normal thoughts to have about singing. The good news is you can overcome them.
For example, if being tone-deaf worries you, exercises like pitch-matching – which trains your ear to hear the correct pitch – can help adjust and improve your sound. Try working with a piano or, for ease, an app.
What about lack of power? Struggling to generate power can result from insufficient breath support or tension in the throat. Try relieving strain by engaging the diaphragm and improving posture.
Which leads us to confidence. Without confidence, your body will revert to poor techniques, leaving you to struggle with all sorts of problems. The more you practice, the more you’ll feel assured of your capabilities. Seek feedback – just make sure it’s positive and constructive – to help boost that competent feeling.
Many singers struggle with the above problem. Learning how to train your voice to sing better might be more straightforward than you thought. Below are 6 of the most effective tips for signing better.
6 tips to sing better
1. Control your breathing
So, how to be a better singer? You could argue that it starts with breathing.
Controlling your breath is the foundation of good singing, and proper breath support ensures that you have control over your voice, whether you’re holding a note or navigating through tricky vocal runs.
The aim is to make quick and deep inhales and slow and steady exhales.
To achieve this, focus on breathing through your diaphragm. This large muscle helps you breathe in and out. It sits just below the lungs and moves with your breathing so that your lungs can fill with air.
This means breathing deeply into your belly rather than shallowly into your chest. Engaging your diaphragm acts as a natural support system for your voice.
Breath control helps sustain long phrases, manage your tone, and sing with more power and stability without straining your vocal cords.
2. Warm up correctly
Much like breathing, warming up your vocals is one of the most critical routines for improving your voice and learning how to sing perfectly. By warming up, we avoid straining and causing tension in the muscles that help us sing. It’s also imperative when trying to hit those more demanding notes.
We’ve put together three easy-to-do exercises for you to get those vocals warm and primed for singing.
Humming exercises are a low-impact way to increase the intensity of your vocals gently. It’ll help set a precedent for pitch, resonance and breathing. All of which are essential qualities that directly affect the sound of your singing. Begin this warm-up with a simple hum and then gradually slide up and down in pitch.
Lip trills are an effective way to sustain strength and flexibility in your vocal techniques. You simply pass air through your relaxed, closed lips until you start making a “brrr” sound. This is a great warm-up that encourages resonators and vocal agility, so it’s worth a try.
Sirens might feel silly, but they’re a handy way to smooth out your voice across your vocal range and relieve tension. Mimic siren noises as you slide up and down through your vocal scale – starting with your lowest note before making your way to those higher ones.
Warming up pumps blood to your vocal cords, relaxes the muscles, and prepares you to sing across your range more comfortably.
Always start slow and steady as you work your way up the intensity scale. You should never rush warming up, and the amount of time needed to ready your voice will differ per singer. Progressively build your singing up to loosen your voice at a pace that feels safe for you.
3. Improve your posture
Posture plays an undeniably vital role in our ability to sing. Singing with ease and power is incumbent on proper posture, as it allows you to breathe correctly, as well as supporting your vocal resonance.
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and your weight evenly distributed. Keep your spine straight, shoulders relaxed, and your head aligned with your body. Imagine someone pulling you up with a string from the top of your head, which will open your airways and promote better airflow.
Good posture helps you maintain proper breath control, avoid unnecessary tension, and produce a fuller, more resonant sound.
4. Unlock vocal resonance
We’ve alluded to resonance further up the list, but we’re yet to explain what it is. Resonance refers to the way sound bounces off different parts of the vocal tract – which are the chest, mouth, and nose. The stronger your resonance, the fuller, richer and more pleasant your voice will sound.
Experiment with singing “forward” by focusing on the sound vibrations in your face and head, particularly around your cheekbones and forehead (this is called your “mask”). Practice singing with a buzz or vibration in your face to help with resonance.
Singing with good resonance helps project your voice naturally, making it sound brighter and more powerful without straining your vocal cords.
5. Keep your voice rested and hydrated
Taking the time to rest and staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining vocal health. A dry voice is more likely to strain, which can lead to injuries. Similarly, not giving your voice enough rest can lead to fatigue or vocal damage.
Drink plenty of room-temperature water throughout the day to keep your vocal cords lubricated. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages before singing, as they can dry out your throat. Also, give yourself vocal rest – don’t overuse your voice, especially if you feel any strain.
Staying hydrated helps keep your vocal cords flexible and prevents hoarseness, while rest allows your voice to recover and stay in top form.
6. Practice is key
One of the most essential habits for sustaining your vocals is practising. Patience and practice go hand in hand, and they are undoubtedly needed by people who want to learn to sing better.
Practising over time helps you build strength, improve technique, and gain familiarity with your voice.
A helpful tip is to allocate time each day or a few times a week to work on vocal exercises, scales, and songs. Patience is crucial for building your vocals, so start slow and focus on accuracy and technique. With time, you can gradually increase difficulty. Use the above exercises to work on range, breath control, pitch accuracy, and dynamics.
The more you do something, the better you’ll be at it. Singing isn’t exempt from this rule; in fact, practising vocal exercises helps build muscle memory and strengthens the vocal muscles.
Get expert tips for singing better from a pro
Grasping the fundamentals of singing takes time, but with time comes perfection.
If you want to take your voice to the next level, sign up for Eric Vetro’s BBC Maestro course, Sing Like the Stars. In 31 lessons, he’ll show you all there is to know about finding your voice, singing lyrics and how to stand out at your next audition.
