Teach Yourself To Sing

It is quite possible to teach yourself to sing. There's obviously more to it than just opening your mouth and hoping for the best. Learning good technique is essential in order to maintain healthy vocal chords and ensure you can enjoy singing for many years to come.

You want your voice to last a lifetime and sound the best you can whether you just want to sing for a bit of fun or if you are looking for a career in singing. In order to get the best from your voice you need to be physically fit, avoid too much alcohol and certainly shouldn't smoke.

While you'll certainly see some famous and successful singers abusing these ideals, those that have latest the longest tend to be the ones who take care of themselves the most.

If you want to take singing seriously you really should look at some training to help you sing effectively and to maximise your performance. Think about it. Any professional needs some training whether it is a lawyer, teacher or accountant etc. Don't think that singing is any different. However, like a lot of things you can also teach yourself with the right instruction such as an online singing course. With products like Singorama and Singing is easy it makes your task much easier.

Top of the list for any course or instruction is to sort out your posture and breathing – something that you need to get right. Standing upright with your feet hip width apart with one slightly ahead of the other you should have your shoulders back and your chest high. However, it doesn't have to be super strict military style.

A Couple of Simple Exercises
This exercise will help achieve your ideal singing posture.

1. Stand as above with your feet hip width apart and arms to your sides
2. Make rapid circular motions with your arms going across your body and raising onto your toes as your arms go over your head taking a deep breath at the same time
3. While keeping your shoulders and chest in the same position bring your arms down to your sides while exhaling

Breath support is all about not causing throat strain while maintaining a pleasing tone.

1. Your midsection should swell as you inhale with your abdominal, spinal and diaphragm muscles all working together
2. After taking a deep breath make a hissing sound as you breathe out while maintain your midsection expansion

Strengthening those muscles will take some time just as it would training other muscles in a gym. Keep at it though and you'll condition your body to sing in a healthy way giving you less vocal fatique and much better tone along with it.

Breath and posture support are just the building blocks on your road to singing well. The next stage is learning to improve tone quality and placement. Your tone resonates from three main areas:

1. The chest (where the lower notes come from)
2. Head (for higher notes)
3. Pharynx (mouth and throat)

Generally you'll want to use what is known as "mixed tone" where the sound comes from both the head and the pharynx. This combination is known as "mask resonance" because you want to feel the sound vibrating in the area that would be covered should you be wearing one of those half face Halloween masks.

Here's another simple exercise that allows you to feel it.

1. Take a good, deep breath
2. Singing the syllable "hee" or "hoo" start at the top of your range and slide down to the bottom

A little like yawning the feeling will vibrate the soft palate (at the roof of your mouth) and in between your eyes at the bridge of your nose.

Work hard at mastering these basics and you'll be well on your way in your quest to teach yourself to sing.

Become a Better Singer in 90 days! (FREE REPORT)