Singing Tips?

[PhantomRouge]

Hey guys,

I'm quite a new singer. I only started a couple of months ago. I usually sing my own songs, and when it comes to covers, I only do stuff I'm reasonably comfortable with.

The problem is singing in key. If I pick up my guitar and just play say, an A, or F, or whatever, I can match it, but when it comes to playing a song I have real trouble. Sometimes flat, sometimes high. And this can be for different keys, ie: capo on 3rd, or open.

I understand head vs chest voice, breathing and posture. So I don't suspect that has much to do with it. Correct me if I'm wrong, though. I almost always stand too.

Anyone got tips? Because I can't seem to see the light.

Cheers

[Grunfeld.]

Best tip, honestly, is have a few singing lessons -- really helped me progress anyway.

But in the meantime: you've got a range of notes you can sing, a lowest and a highest. Find out what they are if you don't know already.

Practice your scales, in all keys. (I used to sing along to CDs of vocal exercises in the car).

[bj]

Get a metronome, and practice RIDICULOUSLY slowly. Eg, if a song is in the key of A do an A major scale starting on a low A and the vowel 'Ah', taking 16 beats per note at 60 beats per minute! Then practise a song that you want to sing at 60 SEMIQUAVERS per minute!
As you sing the song, do it at medium soft volume and concentrate on producing a steady stream of breath from your diaphragm (the area at the bottom of your stomach that your would tighten if you desperately needed to urinate but needed to hold it in!). Focus on each vowel sound and make sure you are singing one of the seven 'pure' vowel sounds 'ah' 'a' 'e' 'er' 'i' 'o' 'u' for the maximum amount of time on each syllable, and each vowel is as early as possible in the list of 7.
For instance, I'm singing the song 'Tenderly' at the moment, which contains the line 'Caressed the trees', which I pronounce 'c-ah-ah-ah-ah r-e-e-e-esd th-ah-ah-ah-ah tr-i-i-i-iz', and the line 'You and I', which I pronounce 'y-u-u-u ah-ah-ah-ahnd ah-ah-ah-ahy'. Singing each vowel for a long time will help your tuning.
Definitely practise standing up, feet shoulder width apart and looking straight ahead. Make a wide 'Ah' shape by relaxing your lower jaw (imagine doing a yawn) rather than raising your upper lip, and aim the airstream out between your two front teeth.
Develop your lower-register resonance by humming songs (slowly!) low down in your range using the letter 'z' trying to make your breastbone vibrate when you sing at moderate volume. Likewise develop your higher-register resonance by humming songs high up in your range using the letter 'm' and trying to make the bridge of your nose vibrate when you sing at moderate volume.

[timmyo]

^ both good posts

Definitely go and have a handful of lessons - it kickstarts you massively I think.
It's good that you say you're aware of things like breathing and posture - but an experienced teacher will be able to see right away if you've actually put it in to practice as well as possible. Chances are, with the best will in the world, you're not.

I really like this book and it's exercises : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Voc.../dp/1844920038 but I'd still advise some lessons first to nail the basic mechanical aspects.

I'm actually looking to take a couple of refresher lessons myself - I'm aware I've taken a bit of a backward step after a band layoff and I know it'll the the quickest way to drill myself back in to doing the basics well.

[Jetfire]

You had lessons with Kat didnt you? I was tempted after Nicks comment at IGF this year that I could sing (lulz) but Im not so sure..

Band lay off?

^ both good posts

Definitely go and have a handful of lessons - it kickstarts you massively I think.
It's good that you say you're aware of things like breathing and posture - but an experienced teacher will be able to see right away if you've actually put it in to practice as well as possible. Chances are, with the best will in the world, you're not.

I really like this book and it's exercises : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Voc.../dp/1844920038 but I'd still advise some lessons first to nail the basic mechanical aspects.

I'm actually looking to take a couple of refresher lessons myself - I'm aware I've taken a bit of a backward step after a band layoff and I know it'll the the quickest way to drill myself back in to doing the basics well.

[timmyo]

You had lessons with Kat didnt you? I was tempted after Nicks comment at IGF this year that I could sing (lulz) but Im not so sure..

Band lay off?

I did aye - and with another teacher local to me who is very good. And extraordinarily attractive. It's quite a distraction.

Almost anyone can sing - it's a mechanical skill, just has different challenges to other mechanical skills (some physical, some psychological)

Layoff - put it this way - our last gig was at the end of the summer and we went 4 months without meeting. It's all back happening again now though.

[Jetfire]

I did aye - and with another teacher local to me who is very good. And extraordinarily attractive. It's quite a distraction.

Almost anyone can sing - it's a mechanical skill, just has different challenges to other mechanical skills (some physical, some psychological)

Layoff - put it this way - our last gig was at the end of the summer and we went 4 months without meeting. It's all back happening again now though.

Ahh, I see. I dont know if I have any skills at all and Im not really that sure if its worth pursuing, esp as I can barely speak in key..

[PhantomRouge]

Thanks guys. I'll think about getting a couple of lessons, seeing as I sold my old bass.

I'll also check out that book.

Cheers!

[PhantomRouge]

For instance, I'm singing the song 'Tenderly' at the moment, which contains the line 'Caressed the trees', which I pronounce 'c-ah-ah-ah-ah r-e-e-e-esd th-ah-ah-ah-ah tr-i-i-i-iz', and the line 'You and I', which I pronounce 'y-u-u-u ah-ah-ah-ahnd ah-ah-ah-ahy'. Singing each vowel for a long time will help your tuning.

Coincidentally enough, the backing track I recently 'finished' is 60bpm, and the chorus has vowels held for a couple of seconds each. I've kind of put it on the back burner, because my singing sucks, but I think you've convinced me to keep going until I nail it.

[paganskins]

You'll find a load of info, and if you post advice and even critiques/pointers over on the HC singers forum