[johnray777]

I recently started singing in the youth band at my church, and I would like to get better. I'm not the best at singing, but I'm not like the lead singer. I'm more of a background vocalist.

But, I'll cut to the chase! Is there anyway I can get better without having lessons? Is there any videos I can get that'll help me?

Any advice or help would be soo appreciated!

God Bless

[Ax]

That's really hard to do as what you hear when you sing is not what everybody else hears. There are several tips in th VAT but without somebody who can recognize when you're singing out of key/tune it's really hard to do.

[roscoestring]

When I was a kid I heard Elvis on a television special singing Amazing Grace. I started copying him in an effort to poke fun at what he was doing. Then someone heard me. They told me how good it sounded. I was about 12 at the time. Being very impressionable I started copying everyone that I heard - Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The BeeGees, etc. After a while I decided that (in my own mind at least) I was good. Then I would sing the same songs but in my own style.

Years later I picked up the guitar. I would sing along whil playing in the key of G. Then I'd play the same song and sing along with the capo on the next fret. Then the next fret and the next until I had played and sang in nearly every key. This, I think, strengthened my voice to where I could sing in any key with little effort.

Singing is like anything else that you do. If you want to be good at it you have to practice constantly.

What Ax says about "what you hear is not what everybody else hears" has truth to it. I heard once that the reason you don't hear your own voice the same as everyone else is because when you speak (or sing) the bones in your head vibrate. If you play a recording of yourself it sounds funny to you. Others may think it sounds amazing. Try listening to a recording of yourself while humming (which will vibrate your head bones) and see if you can notice the difference. I did.

. . . and practice.

[Ax]

The best place to get an idea of what you sound like is in a place like the bath room. No joke, most of them have floors and walls that reflect the sound because they're hard and often either plastic or ceramic. It won't be perfect, but it's better than a cheap microphone or a poorly setup PA system.


It's where Steven Curtis Chapman writes all his music. Seriously, he said it at a concert of his that I attended. He gets his guitar, goes and sits on the toilet with the seat down and sings... must be awkward if he gets inspiration while his wife has to go though.

[Rathe]

Hahahah, Great fact about Mr. Chapman. I should try that...lol.

Roscoestring has a good point. Just listen to the artists you really like, and try and hear how they do something. Then mimic it. I did that for years before taking any voice lessons, and when I did start voice lessons, we were able to skip stuff because I'd already picked it up from listening to people sing. I say that in no way to brag, just to say it works. Obviously you want your own style, (you don't want to sound like everyone else) But, you'll get it.

In all honesty, if you concentrate on not singing through your nose, using breathe support, and head resonance, then you'll be on your way. There's a lot more to it than that, but, it'll sure get you started.