3 things that will make you a better singer

Use these tried and true methods to improve your singing quickly. These effective tricks are essential for vocalists from novice to professional. Used and recommended by top voice coaches everywhere, these three simple steps will result in a measurable increase in range, breath control and pitch accuracy.

Have you ever listened to a great performance and though I wish I could sing like that? Maybe you’re one of those people who get shy when it’s time to sing Happy Birthday because you aren’t comfortable with you voice? Perhaps you have ambitions to win the big prize at the local karaoke bar, or maybe you just want to sing for the pure joy of it. In any case, many of us would like to sing better but either don’t believe that we can improve or simply don’t know how to.

Often great singers make it seem effortless and natural. Sometimes people are just born to sing, or maybe they just get comfortable with their voice an very young age and the give the appearance of being born singers. Most great singers put in work though in the form of exercise and study. While there are many things that can help to make anyone a better singer, the three steps highlighted here can make a big difference in a short time.

Ear Training: If you experience difficulty with pitch, chances are good that you need to develop your ear for pitch. The term “tone deaf” is often used incorrectly to mean is an individual can’t tell notes apart. In truth, there are only a very small number of people who suffer from true amusia: a clinical cognitive impairment which is a condition where the brain cannot process musical sounds to make sense of them. Less than 5% of people suffer from this condition. Most people can improve their pitch recognition by employing exercises to hear and identify sameness, difference, movement and distance between two notes.

Breath Control: One of the biggest reasons many people don’t sing as well as they would like to is poor breath control. Realizing that the voice as an instrument requires controlling the movement of air, understanding how to maximize your breathing becomes very important.

To get an idea of how singers control their breath, try this:

Lie on the floor on your back with your hands on your stomach. inhale deeply and your hands will rise. Then breathe out and they will lower. In this position it is nearly impossible to breathe incorrectly. Try to recall this posture and breath the same way when you sing.

Follow the steps below to help improve your breathing:

• Breathe deeply from your lower lungs – imagine a rubber ring around your waist.
• Breathe in and try to push the ring outwards.
• Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose and mouth.
• Avoid raising your shoulders as you breathe in – keep them relaxed and level.
• Relax! Tension will prevent you from making a good sound.

Practice Scales: Singing scales improves pitch memory which is essential being able to relax. The less stress you have when singing the better your tone will be. If you have to think about the notes you’re going to have more stress. Additionally, because one scale typically covers several pitches spanning an octave, practicing scales challenges and expands the vocal range. There are many types of scales you learn can sing but the most common are major, minor, chromatic and whole tone scales.

Here are some tips to consider while learning to sing scales:

• It’s good practice to hear the highest note of the scale before beginning to sing to prepare the mind and body so the voice doesn’t become stressed and strained. This also helps the singer to reach the end of the scale in tune.
• Take the time to hear and remember the scale’s pattern or sequence with regard to whole steps and half steps? Do you know what a whole step and a half step sound like by themselves?
• When learning scales on a vowel try adding a consonant before the vowel for every pitch in the beginning. The consonant can bring the voice a little more forward and each pitch more accurate.
• Begin slowly to ensure that the you are using healthy technique and that the pitches are accurate. Once the scale feels comfortable and natural, try increasing speed gradually to improve vocal range, agility and flexibility.

Record yourself singing a simple song after reading this article. Then after a week or ten days of using the tips stated above, record yourself singing the same song. Listen to the difference and note the improvement. Rinse and repeat. Good luck!