Keep your head up and in line with your shoulders. Picture your spine like a straight line extending through the crown of your head. [1] X Research source Let your jaw drop and keep your tongue relaxed toward the front of your mouth. [2] X Research source Relax your shoulders. [3] X Research source Lift the roof of your mouth in the back as if you were going to yawn. [4] X Research source This opens up the throat and allows more air to flow through. If you are tensing up when standing with the right posture, move so that your back, shoulders, and head are resting against a wall. [5] X Research source
Breathe in through your belly, not through your chest. [7] X Research source This improves your sound and allows you to better control your voice. To be sure you are breathing properly, put your hand on your belly and try to push it out with your belly expanding it as you inhale. Take a few minutes to practice breathing through your belly daily. You can do this either standing up or laying down. Again, be sure your belly is rising every time you take a deep breath.
There are seven main ranges: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass. The first 3 are typically the ranges of women, while the last 4 are men’s ranges. To find your range, picture your voice like a Ferris wheel. Start at the top, singing the highest note you can and go down the scale to the lowest note you can hit. If you need help finding your range, use an app like SingTrue. Play notes on a piano to compare your pitch to the piano notes to help you find your range.
Remember that warm-ups are not intended to sound good. In fact, most of them sound rather silly and obnoxious, even if you have a professional singing voice. Find a private place to do your warm-ups if you don’t want to disturb others. Be sure to warm up both the head and chest voice. The head, or upper, voice is breathier and lighter-sounding than the chest, or lower, voice, which is more solid and loud. To find your upper voice, mimic an opera singer. Your lower voice is closer to the range in which you generally speak. Practice warm-ups that stretch your mouth. Do scales with an “Ooh wee ooh oohweeoohweeohh” sound stretching the corners of your mouth wide. Or practice tongue trills while starting at your highest note and moving down the scale to your lowest. [8] X Research source
The sharp notes are the black keys on the piano to the right of the corresponding note on the white key.
Though everybody has a natural range, you can actually expand the upper and lower limits of your vocal range over time simply by practicing often and doing your exercises. Sing along to your favorite songs for practice. Keep in mind though that you may not have the same voice as your favorite singers. You won’t become a better singer by mimicking other singers only. Sing in your own voice.
Consider getting private singing lessons from a voice teacher who can help you with techniques that will develop your unique voice. Meet with at least 3 voice teachers before choosing one to ensure you select the person who will be the best fit. If you’re in school, consider joining the choir. Joining a choir is a great way to become a better singer as it will help you to learn how to sing with others, read music, and can give you confidence by not having to sing alone.
Don’t drink alcohol or caffeine before you sing because these substances dehydrate you. You also want to avoid sugary drinks as well.
Additionally, salty and spicy foods because these foods can irritate your throat and vocal chords. Other foods that may cause acid reflux like heavy or spicy foods can also make breathing harder and irritate your vocal chords.
If you are a smoker and want to become a better singer, you should consider quitting. However, in the meantime, make sure to drink extra water, smoke lighter cigarettes, and avoid smoking as much as possible on days when you have to sing.
You can combine breathing exercises and improve your breath with yoga, or going on runs. Train like Mick Jagger. The singer is notorious for training for his concerts by running and cross-training while singing to ensure that he can move freely across an entire stage without running out of his breath. [14] X Research source
