Learning to Sing (or how to suck less at singing)

I don't feel I'm a singer, but I enjoy singing, and I think I've improved my singing decently in the last few years. If you've been following my YouTube channel for some time, you'll know I'm responsible for a few atrocious vocal performances! Looking back at it now, I was making some very obvious mistakes that you're probably making too. :) So, today's lesson is all about helping you get over common singing mistakes.

But before we get started…

🚨I'm not a singing teacher.

I have had some singing lessons with super duper singing teachers and vocal coaches. Still, many singing teachers are teaching you to sing high level. They approach things like being aware of your breathing, making sure you're aware of the breaks in your voice, singing exercises, vocal warm-ups, etc.

But, honestly, that's not the singing I wanted to do. My goal was always to be able to sing well enough to sing a song that I've written and sing it in tune. I wanted to be able to sing a song in a YouTube video and not suck.

Back in the day, some of my vocals were pretty appalling, and people piled onto me. When you get loads of negative feedback on stuff, it ruins your confidence and makes you less able to sing!

So, today, I'll share my best tips and tricks that you wouldn't get from a vocal teacher. By the end of this lesson, you'll… be able to suck less at singing! :)

A Practical Approach With 10 Basic Points

We'll start from the very beginning, and you'll learn to identify if you're singing in tune and discover how to use your voice in a way that feels good. You'll learn my favorite tips to help you sing the songs you love in a comfortable way that works with your guitar playing.

In this lesson, we'll learn the first steps of singing and how to make the best out of your voice and sing songs you love in front of people. Without sucking or being out of tune. :)

We won't be approaching the best posture and technical things like that. If you'd like to learn to sing like that, looking for a vocal coach is your way. Starting with the basics is always a great idea.

Now let's explore 10 points to help you sing without annoying your audience. :)

Point #1 - Singing in Tune

Are you singing in tune or not? This is a very common question and the first thing you must learn when getting into singing. But how does that work?

A really good starting point is to play a note on the guitar and then try and sing that pitch. You probably don't want to start too high, which would be difficult even for a great singer.

💡C is an excellent starting point note for most boys and girls. It's the third fret of the fifth string!

A beginner exercise is playing a note on the guitar and then trying to find the pitch with your voice. Start with C and explore it from there, but don't forget: when you're learning a new skill, it's normal to suck at it when you first start.

The more you practice, the quicker you find the right pitch. Consider using a tuner if you're worried about finding the right pitch. It doesn't matter what tuner you've got. Just pick a note, play it, and try to reproduce it with your voice using your tuner to check you out.

🚨The down point about using a tuner is that you won't be developing your confidence in your ability to find a pitch.

You need to be able to find a pitch in a song. Watch the video for an extra tip and some practical examples.

Point #2 - Singing Dynamics

This was probably the biggest mistake I made back in the day. When I watch myself singing back then and sounding bad, it's usually because I was trying too hard and straining.

I've always been a heavy guitar player and attempted to hit the strings pretty hard, so I had to sing loudly and project my voice when singing and playing. It was when I noticed that I needed to work on my singing.

When watching singers like James Taylor, Chris Cornell, Sting, or whatever, they never looked like they were straining - maybe occasionally when they're really going for a note! But most of the time, they looked relaxed, especially James Taylor; it's like he doesn't even seem to open his mouth!

I started experimenting with quieter singing, which made much more sense. Suddenly, my voice sounded better, and I could sing in tune. I wasn't running out of breath, and my voice dramatically improved. I even started playing more fingerstyle, so my guitar would sound quieter, and I wouldn't need to strain my voice!

Point #3 - Learning to Talk-Sing

Mark Knopfler is a great example of this! Talk singing is a great way to get into a song and be able to sing it with confidence. That's because you can always rely on it. Think about your repertoire and what songs you could talk-singing. You can interpret a song in many ways; just be yourself and see what works for you.

💡Learn to play guitar and sing at the same time! If you can't strum and sing a song is because you haven't automated one of the parts. That lesson will teach you just that. :)

Once you can sing an individual pitch note and have worked on your dynamic, the next step is singing scales along with playing! Let's look at it.

Point #4 - Singing Scales

Singing and playing a Major Scale is an excellent starting exercise. Once you're confident, the next stage is trying to sing intervals. Playing and singing a scale up and down will help you discover your range. More about that later in this lesson!

Point #5 - Melodies on Guitar

Working out the melody of songs you want to play on the guitar is also very useful; just doing that will make singing easier.

💡Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley is a relatively easy song to try! It only uses simple chords, and it has a remarkable melody.

If you're one of those people who aren't sure if you are singing in tune, you think you might be, but you're not really sure, finding the melody for the song on the instrument is the way to go. Playing along with it and checking your pitching is one of the best exercises beginners can do. It'll benefit your total musicianship!

🚨One of the biggest beginner mistakes I see is not knowing the starting note. Make sure you always know what's your starting point.

Point #6 - Breathing Exercises?

Breathing is important. Your posture and how you breathe really can change your singing! Personally, I didn't find that breathing exercises helped me sing better. But an improvement in my overall fitness seems to have helped. So, I encourage you to exercise regularly; it helps to make your entire life healthier and improves the quality of your voice. :) A win-win!

Point #7 - Imagine the Sound

You must also imagine how you want your voice to sound. A good tip is listening to singers you love and observing how they phrase things. Does it sound relaxed or strained? How are they ending the notes? Are they holding notes for very long, or do they drop off quickly?

Imagining and researching how you want your voice to sound is a fundamental part of your musical journal.

Point #8 - The Hows & Keys

Experimenting with your voice to see what works and what your voice is capable of can be very empowering. And don't forget: you want to look for a way of sounding natural while staying comfortable.

Point #9 - Absorb Their Style

Copying the singers you like and trying to absorb their styles works great! It's like improvising the Blues, which might open many doors for you! You can find your own style by analyzing and experimenting with references that keep you inspired. Don't forget to notice what you don't like too. It's as important as noticing what you like. :)

💡 Open Mics are a great opportunity to observe how other artists sing. Be an observer and try to figure out what you link and what you don't like when you watch someone singing.

Have you found references and traces that inspire you? Try to emulate them! This process really helps you develop your own style.

Point #10 - Record Yourself

Recording yourself tells you what needs to be done to improve your singing - and playing. It'll help you realize what you do and work, and most importantly, what you need to improve. Recording yourself and listening back helps you identify problems and correct them!

💡Share audio or video of you playing in the JustinGuitar Community. Ask for feedback, listen to peers, and discuss your struggles and successes!

Record yourself and improve your confidence by noticing your improvements and how far you have come!

And… you can do it!

If you're not tone deaf, you can learn how to sing. I'm not saying everyone can sing and sound great - but everyone can learn how to sing! Pay attention to the song's dynamics, your voice volume, and how it all fits together.

Take it slowly, be gentle to yourself, but don't miss out on recording your progress and analyzing the things you can improve on. Ear training and some basic Theory will help you achieve your goals faster. ;)

Let's Play? Choose from one of my 650+ song tutorials!