Starting Your Singing Practice: Finding Your Natural Voice

When you first start singing, your voice will feel and sound odd. Most people try to belt out a show tune or a power ballad right off the bat, but the best way to begin is to focus on precision. Forget about power or emotion for now and aim for clear, consistent tone instead. Steadiness is more desirable than loudness, and you’re more likely to develop a strong foundation if you focus on precision and clarity at the outset. The first step is to tune into the sound of your own voice.

Try humming. Humming is an easy way to get a feel for your own resonance without straining your vocal cords. Start with your mouth closed and focus on the sensation of the hum in your nose and sinuses. Hum for about a minute before opening your mouth and singing a vowel sound, like an open “ah.” Choose a pitch that feels easy and comfortable, then hold the note for a few seconds. Focus on the way the air feels moving through your vocal cords, and pay attention to the way your breath supports the note. You don’t need to worry about pitch or tone at this point, just try to keep the note steady. If the note wavers or falters, pause and take a breath before you start again.

It’s common for new singers to strain and reach upward when they’re trying to hit high notes. This makes your neck and shoulder muscles tighten, which will actually make it harder to find your pitch. When you feel tension creeping in, try dropping down to a lower note and starting again. Imagine the note floating up to you instead of pushing it up toward your throat. Try to keep your jaw and your tongue relaxed. If you have trouble, try humming again before going back to an open vowel sound. If you’re singing too loudly, you might not be able to feel tension. Try practicing soft singing. Step 2: Establishing a Regular Routine

Consistency is key. You’re better off practicing for just a few minutes a day instead of trying to cram all your practicing into a long session once or twice a week. Start with 15 minutes a day and build up as you get more comfortable. Begin with a few minutes of deep breathing, simply inhaling slowly through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. Follow your breathing exercise with a few minutes of humming. Experiment with different comfortable pitches and focus on the way your body feels when you hum. Next, try singing simple vowel sounds. Start with “ah” and hold the note for a few seconds. When you feel comfortable with a single note, try sliding up and down to find adjacent notes. Finish up with a simple song. Try something basic, like “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and focus on keeping your breath steady as you sing. You’re not aiming for performance quality here. You just want to get comfortable coordinating your breathing with your pitch. Step 3: Fine-Tuning Your Sound

Learning to listen to yourself is an important part of developing your singing voice. Try recording yourself on your smartphone. Sing a simple exercise or song, then listen to the recording. You might hear that your tone is breathy or that you tend to go flat on certain notes. Don’t be discouraged. Instead, treat your recording as information. If you sounded breathy, slow down the tempo on your next take. If you went flat, start again and try to attack the note more softly. If you practice every day and make small corrections as you go, your voice will start to feel stronger and more balanced within a few weeks.