Singing is one of life's greatest gifts, especially if you're already a musician. The human voice is one of the most diverse instruments in existence, thanks to our vocal cords' unique ability to stretch, thicken, and thin at any given moment.
The good news is that everyone (you heard that right) can learn to sing, at any age. While some may be more naturally inclined with vocal talent, we can all learn how to hit notes and reach singing success with enough time, patience, and practice. Below, we'll dive into the ins and outs of learning how to improve your singing abilities even if you're completely new to putting your vocal cords to work. Let's get into it!
Can Anyone Learn to Sing?
Yes, anyone can learn to sing! There is no denying that certain people may be more inclined to naturally sing well or have large vocal folds that support an amazing voice. However, most people can be taught to sing along reasonably well to their favorite songs, except in the case of a physical vocal disability.
Since children tend to have more mirror neurons and pick up on new skills more quickly, it may be easier to learn how to sing at a younger age. Even if you're not a young person, you can still learn how to improve your vocal ability - it just might take some extra patience. Growing up in a musical environment can also give you an upper hand when it comes to learning how to sing.
The good news is regardless of who you are or where you come from, you have the ability to start singing instead of trying to make do by humming along with your speaking voice.
Not convinced? Look how much this creator, Tristan Paredes, improved his voice after committing to learning how to sing for several years:
Voice Talent Vs. Voice Training
Those who haven't started singing may assume that all professional singers were born with their obvious vocal ability. It's true that good singers often sound good from a young age, but even the most professional singers require regular vocal training. Actual singing has a lot to do with your vocal training, or the cultivation of proper vocal technique.
We all have a unique pair of vocal cords and vocal folds which thicken and thin determining our vocal range and baseline capability. Singing lessons train our cords so that we can make the most out of our anatomy, allowing us to learn how to hit notes, navigate between chest voice and head voice, and sing comfortably for longer passages of music.
Is It Possible To Be Tone Deaf?
Some people might excuse their lack of singing by believing they suffer from tone deafness, but in most cases, this is a bit of a mischaracterization. Tone deafness, otherwise known as amusia , only truly affects one in twenty people, making the condition fairly rare. You might not be able to match your vocal pitch to a note on first try, but if you can identify differences between pitches, you are not tone deaf.
If you're still unsure, you can use tests like this one or watch the video below to determine if you suffer from tone deafness:
Essentially, if you can properly distinguish the sounds of different notes, you can learn how to match your voice to notes, and therefore, learn singing.
Understanding Perfect Pitch
On the other side of the spectrum when it comes to tone deafness is perfect pitch. This condition is exceedingly rare, with just 0.1% of the population possessing the capability to identify exact pitches without a reference note. Fear not, you do not need perfect pitch either to learn how to sing! It's useful to know that most singers fall on a spectrum when it comes to pitch recognition, and while it's an important consideration when it comes to building a great singing voice, it's not the only consideration.
The Key Components of a Great Singing Voice
Talent is just one component of a good singer. To learn how to sing properly, it's key to understand the main considerations behind a standout singing voice. The good news is that just about anyone can learn how to master the power of these key musical elements:
Musical Ear
Many beginner singers do not realize that listening accounts for a huge portion of vocal training, since active listening helps you learn how to match your pitch to the notes or melody of a song. Focusing on identifying pitches and matching your voice accordingly is an excellent way to improve your singing voice and as you train your ears, you may notice that singing also becomes a bit easier.
Anatomy
Your vocal cords will determine your starting vocal range, and tend to place you in one of the defining vocal groupings: Baritone, Bass, Tenor, Alto, or Soprano. There are limits to expanding your range due to your anatomy, but understanding where you naturally lie will help you learn how to transition more artfully between your head voice and chest voice.
Vocal Training
Certain vocal exercises and guidance can help you make the most of your vocal range and even help you sing high notes and low notes with enhanced confidence. Vocal training can also help you harmonize and sing amongst other vocalists, or instrumentalists.
Practice
Remember that your vocal cords, or vocal folds, are essentially bands of muscle tissue. That means they need to be exercised to maintain their flexibility, much like any other muscle on your body. You can learn to sing, but to stay a strong singer, you'll need to commit to a routine of exercising your voice box. Even if you don't feel like committing to a full vocal session on a daily basis, find ways to incorporate singing into your regular routine.
Maybe that's working through vocal exercises on your car ride to work. Maybe that's challenging yourself to sing a new genre of music in the shower. Learn to sing by, well, singing.
How To Learn To Sing At Any Age
Here are a few tips, resources, and strategies that are bound to help you hit the high notes and start singing on a regular basis:
Take Voice Lessons or Find a Vocal Coach
A voice teacher is arguably the most effective method when it comes to learning how to sing since these experts can provide personalized advice. Everyone comes with a different set of vocal cords, and while generalized vocal training and exercises can be helpful, there is a limit to what can be taught in terms of technique. If you have the resources to do so, seek out a local or online vocal coach, or start with group vocal classes if you find yourself hesitant to train on your own.
It can be daunting to step out of your comfort zone and take singing lessons, but remember that even the best singers have a vocal coach to provide guidance and a musical ear for clear, effective feedback.
Work On Your Vocal Range
There may be a limit to how much you can expand your range based on your anatomy, but anyone can expand to some higher or lower notes with some time and practice. Use exercises like lip trills, siren vocalizations, and singing up and down the scale on a regular basis to put your cords into practice. Overtime, you might have enough elasticity to work up to a higher or lower limit to your range.
Practice Tuning With Active Listening
If you have access to an instrument like a guitar or piano, experiment with playing a note and then challenging yourself to match that pitch. It might take a while for you to do so in the beginning, but in time, you're bound to become more proficient. Once you get the hang of matching to individual notes, challenge yourself to start singing along to your favorite songs. You can record yourself and play it back to reflect on what sections you nailed, and which parts might need some improvement.
Work On Breathing Exercises
We often forget about rhythm, support, and strength when it comes to vocal training, but each of these principles is incredibly important when it comes to vocal endurance, especially in a live setting. Use breathing exercises to help you sing for longer stints, execute more styles of music, and hold more confidence as an artist. Fortunately, there are plenty of free guided breathing exercises available online like this one:
Learn Basic Music Theory
You certainly don't need to learn basic music theory to learn to sing, but understanding the principles behind pitch and harmony can make it easier for you to execute proper vocal technique. Ear training can help you match your voice to your favorite songs, and understand how to perform as a vocalist within a group or larger musical context.
Join a Choir
Joining a choir isn't just a fun, communal, activity. It also provides the very valuable experience to sing and tone matching to other vocalists. Choirs are an excellent place to cut your teeth on vocal technique and learn from other singers around you. You can also learn to harmonize which is an incredibly valuable skill, even if you plan on singing primarily on your own accord.
Sing Basic Songs From Every Genre
It's understandable that many of us are inclined to sing along to our favorite songs, or practice on songs everyone knows like Happy Birthday . That being said, once you become somewhat comfortable with your voice, challenge yourself to venture out to study and sing different types of music. Whether you're an opera singer, pop princess or prince, or scatting superstar, experimenting with new techniques and genres can help you improve your vocal range.
Use Software
There are several apps like Erol Singer's Studio to help you learn pitch accuracy and serve as a virtual coach on your training journey. Typically, singing apps and software aids focus on note accuracy, and also might include breathing, tuning, or other tonation exercises to help you exercise your voice.
These can be a helpful studying aid, but remember that apps alone probably won't provide the same level of personalized advice as most voice teachers.
Try Online Resources
One of the best parts of living in the age of the internet is having ample access to free resources to assist you on your journey, whether or not you're already taking singing lessons. You still need discipline to commit to regular practice, but there are plenty of YouTubers that put together entire vocal training courses from start to finish so that you can learn and improve at your own pace. You also have access to some of the best vocal coaches available.
Just look at this free training resource from Cheryl Porter, who has shared the stage with the likes of Mariah Carey and Bono:
Online aids can be helpful and help you jumpstart your vocal training journey, but if you have access to in-person singing lessons or a vocal coach, you will receive additional personalized training that can help you efficiently identify your strong suits and areas of improvement so that you can quickly improve your vocal range, tonantion, and overall ability.
Singing FAQs
Anyone can learn to sing, but learning about the process will make it much easier. Here are a couple of commonly asked questions and answers to spark some inspiration:
Can you learn to sing or is it natural?
Singing talent, which may consist of having a naturally good singing voice and sense of pitch, can be innate. Some might be more inclined to sing naturally from the get-go, but that doesn't mean others can't sing. Everyone can learn how to have a good singing voice with enough time, effort, vocal exercises, and potential help from outside parties.
Can you actually teach yourself to sing?
Teaching yourself how to sing is possible, especially with the myriad of free online resources available today. That being said, it can be helpful to have a professional vocal teacher to guide you through the process of training your vocal cords.
Can anyone sing or is it a gift?
The anatomy of your vocal cords and general musicality can be attributed to some level of natural talent. However, everyone can learn to use their own voice with practice and potential vocal coaching.
Do you need singing lessons to have good vocal technique?
It's possible to learn a lot of technique through self-education and online resources, but voice teachers can help you identify areas of improvement in real-time. Even the most successful singers have voice lessons to help them use their vocal cords most effectively.
Can someone with no talent learn to sing?
Yes! Some may be more naturally inclined to sing than others, but ultimately, cultivating a great singing voice comes down to practice, vocal training, and developing a musical ear.
Even the greatest singers require musical training on a regular basis. Practicing good vocal technique is just important to help you sing properly, it's essential to building your vocal muscles and improving your singing ability. With that in mind, anyone can learn how to comfortably sing along to their favorite songs with enough practice and patience.
Use the strategies outlined above to help you kickoff your vocal training, but don't hesitate to reach out singing teachers or broader music education programs to improve your craft. Natural talent is important, but a great work ethic makes a huge difference when it comes to becoming a better singer. The more you commit to singing while actively listening on a regular basis, the closer you'll get to nailing all the notes.
