So I'm pretty much tone deaf, but living in a place where singing Karaoke is pretty socially important (Shanghai). I've been trying really hard to learn to sing, but even if I know the words my voice still just sounds terrible. I've been getting coworkers to go out with me to KTVs (karaoke bars with private rooms) to try to teach me how to sing, but considering my seeming lack of natural ability, and the difficulty of trying to do it all in a second language, progress has been extremely slow to say the least.
It's really painful for others to listen to me. The last time I was at a work function I think my peers really all left the room just to save me some face.
Of course, I know this might be tough, but I'm not the type to back down once I've started learning something, and I'm hoping that there might be someone on CP that could actually give me some basic pointers on how to develop a singing voice when nature has not provided one itself. Although I have always cringed at the thought of picking up a microphone, I'm willing to put in some time for this, and I would appreciate any advice that the font of CP knowledge could provide.
You'd really be contributing to the mental health of many a Shanghainese if you can tell me anything to make me better, or give any advice on how to make karaoke work when your voice just wont.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
try to find a couple of tunes that are in your vocal range. try different ones until you find something that suits you.
It took me some time to find some but when you find them, then practise them over and over.
breathing is very important and I find taking some good long deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth help.
try to find a couple of tunes that are in your vocal range. try different ones until you find something that suits you.
It took me some time to find some but when you find them, then practise them over and over.
breathing is very important and I find taking some good long deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth help.
I would say part of the problem is that I seem to have almost no vocal range. Or my vocal range is extremely weird. I pretty have monotone speech or girlish giggle with nothing inbetween.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
I would say part of the problem is that I seem to have almost no vocal range. Or my vocal range is extremely weird. I pretty have monotone speech or girlish giggle with nothing inbetween.
not knowing what your speech or vocal range is, it would be hard to determine an artist that would fit it.
try to find an artist that has the same tone as you. check out to see how much you have to stretch your vocal range in order to hit the highs and lows in the song. if you find yourself really stretching to reach those notes. skip it and move on.
without hearing your voice it would be tough to guess.
not knowing what your speech or vocal range is, it would be hard to determine an artist that would fit it.
try to find an artist that has the same tone as you. check out to see how much you have to stretch your vocal range in order to hit the highs and lows in the song. if you find yourself really stretching to reach those notes. skip it and move on.
without hearing your voice it would be tough to guess.
Thanks. I think that sounds like smart advice, and I'll start looking for some songs that suit me. Are there any other tips on how to actually improve a more or less useless voice though? Even when I try to stay within a limited range, my own range always seems far more limited. I would like to be able to improve my voice as well as finding workable songs.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
The best first songs to sing are nursery rhymes.
Other than that, see if you can do the standard scale do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do and record it and see how that goes.
Then after hearing yourself do the do-re-mi... I would recommend being able to sing along to this. Do it where you are able to record yourself and compare, so you can mess around with your voice. To be honest, you just have to sound as good as the kids..
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Tacitus: Rara temporum felicitate, ubi sentire quae velis, et quae sentias dicere licet.
breathing execises really work for me. like the one I mentioned before. tough to hold a note when you have no air left.
might want to get yourself a pitch pipe and try to work with the pitch pipe and your voice. it will help extend your own vocal range if you can start hitting different notes and sustaining them. thats where lots of practise comes in.
I sing with a band, a bit different than karokoe. which brings me to the last point.
its karakoe(sp) try not to take it too seriously. theres many people that sing out there that probably shouldnt, but it is afterall for fun. remember that, have a couple of brews and dont sweat it too much.
The best first songs to sing are nursery rhymes.
Other than that, see if you can do the standard scale do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do and record it and see how that goes.
Then after hearing yourself do the do-re-mi... I would recommend being able to sing along to this. Do it where you are able to record yourself and compare, so you can mess around with your voice. To be honest, you just have to sound as good as the kids..
Sounds like a place to start, which is what I need.
In the mean time, if there is any other advice out there, it would also be appreciated. I am actually going to try practicing this.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
breathing execises really work for me. like the one I mentioned before. tough to hold a note when you have no air left.
might want to get yourself a pitch pipe and try to work with the pitch pipe and your voice. it will help extend your own vocal range if you can start hitting different notes and sustaining them. thats where lots of practise comes in.
I sing with a band, a bit different than karokoe. which brings me to the last point.
its karakoe(sp) try not to take it too seriously. theres many people that sing out there that probably shouldnt, but it is afterall for fun. remember that, have a couple of brews and dont sweat it too much.
Thanks Sample. I really appreciate that advice.
I know it's just karaoke too, but when I get going on trying to improve myself in some way I like to really try my best. Also, karaoke here isn't like it was in Canada. All my friends here have been singing their whole lives and either sound like Celine Dion or Nat King Cole. It's like there's some weird Chinese breeding program for only children with super-voices. I am taking it light heartedly, but I'd like to be able to impress with my progress the next time I'm out with bosses and friends singing a song.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
There are lots of great CDs for practicing in the car. I suggest these. I have a buddy who always had a good voice, but now he has vocal technique and sounds 10,000% better.
What is your favorite song in the world? Find a favorite song that you absolutely love and therefore would like to try to sing and practice it...even if you can't hit higher notes, do falsetto so that you get used to pitch of notes. Or start with what the other poster said, childrens songs or maybe stuff from musicals that are whimsical/happy songs that mainly stay in the major keys.
Finally, sing in the shower everytime you are in the shower, the smaller space means sound rebounds off the walls and you can actually hear yourself. Another way to hear yourself when not in the shower is to plug your ears with your fingers and then sing.
You have described yourself as someone born with no natural talent for singing. Not much you can do about that I am afraid. But you sound desperate to find something to join in at the Karaoke bars when you go with your friends.
Next you described your voice as pretty monotone, with not much of a range. Ok, forget ordinary songs that will go up and down, confuse the heck out of you, make you nervous and then you will sound even worse.
Find some sort of rap song, something that has a good rhythmn and beat, something that fits the age group you hang out with, and get up there and just talk along with the music. I would then concentrate on some other type of moves, get your feet and arms going, some dance moves, something along that line. Find some song that maybe your friends can clap along to. At least then you will look musical, even though you might not have a voice to sound musical. Fudge it and try and perfect what you can do and what you are comfortable with.
Singing is all about learning to hear your own voice. Anyone can learn to be a 'decent' singer (carry a tune).
Try singing along with songs you are familiar with (or the above attached clip) and use a finger to plug one of your ears. This makes it much easier to 'hear yourself' allowing you to match your voice to the song.
Also, sing from your chest, not your throat or mouth. I have found I really have to belt it out to do this and require some privacy where I will not be too self conscious (in the car, or when everyone is out).
Singing is all about learning to hear your own voice. Anyone can learn to be a 'decent' singer (carry a tune).
Try singing along with songs you are familiar with (or the above attached clip) and use a finger to plug one of your ears. This makes it much easier to 'hear yourself' allowing you to match your voice to the song.
Also, sing from your chest, not your throat or mouth. I have found I really have to belt it out to do this and require some privacy where I will not be too self conscious (in the car, or when everyone is out).
Good luck.
~firebug
Geez, next you will be telling us that Paul Potts is the greatest opera singer in the world.
The first key thing to do when you want to sing is to relax. It is hard to breathe correctly when you're really nervous. Singing is all about breathing. Sometimes a drink might put you at ease a little...not too much though because you can be too relaxed!
Also, as mentioned before, pick out a song or two that you are really comfortable with and get really good at it. Once you have confidence in your ability to sing, you can try some other stuff. The biggest problem that I see when people do karaoke is that people pick songs that they love but can't sing. Just because you love a song doesn't mean that you will sound good while singing it.
Is there anyone (ie. girlfriend) who might be able to listen to you when you sing a few songs and give you their opinion? If you're tone deaf you don't know which songs you can sing and which ones you can't - so, until you develop an "ear" for your own voice, you may want to take advice from others.
Tip: Stay away from music by Bon Jovi...his songs are usually very tough because he has a tremendous range while maintaining full voice. I've never heard anyone do a good version of "Livin on a Prayer"! A lot of country music is pretty easy to sing as a lot of it is low and not particularly rangy. Try picking songs that the crowd will join in and sing - it will help you feel like you are entertaining and will distract them if there are any flaws in your voice.
A good place to start is with Greenday tunes. Try either 'when I Come Around', or 'Macy's Day Parade'. Trust me, Billy Joe is perfect fr people with limited vocal range, and then you can move on from there.
A lot of guys, when they first begin singing, don't have a lot of range. However, with time and practice, a greater range sort of gets "unlocked." The more you work on it, the easier it gets. If you've got a guitar, it's easy and fun to learn some basic songs to sing while strumming chords.
I want to say thanks to all who have offered suggestions to me in this thread. Taking your advice, and with a little help from my Chinese friends I have found some easy Chinese songs with which I think I can start building some abilities. I got myself an MP3 player with voice recording, and I've started working on my breathing during singing and trying to expand my range as well.
I think I may start making a few solo trips to the KTV too, where I can sing without being self-conscious if I get a room of my own. Some day I shall wow everyone that hears me, by the fact that their ears shall not bleed. I am determined, and I appreciate all the advice.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
