As a beginner singer, you may wonder what vocal techniques you need to know to improve your singing voice. The good news is that several easy vocal exercises can help you develop a stronger, more vibrant singing voice.
Some beginners take advantage of the online resources available. Others use singing books, like John Henny’s best-selling book for beginners. This will help you sound your best and avoid damaging your vocal cords.
Keep reading to find out more about vocal techniques!
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Improve Your Singing With These Vocal Techniques
5. Set Good Intentions While Singing
Improve Your Singing With These Vocal Techniques
There are certain vocal techniques every beginner singer needs to know to improve their voice and make sure they’re getting the most practice time.
Let’s take a look at the proper singing techniques you need.
1. Posture and Alignment
Proper posture and alignment are also crucial for good singing technique. If you’re not properly aligned, supporting your chest and head voice won’t be easy, and projecting it outward.
Here are a few tips for good posture and alignment:
- Stand up properly with your shoulders back.
- Resist the urge to hunch over or round your shoulders — this will only constrict your breathing and make it harder to sing those high notes.
- Open up your chest by tucking your chin slightly and retracting your shoulder blades.
- Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to tilt your head back when you sing — this can strain your muscles in the neck and jaws.
- Just keep your chin level and slightly tilted forward so that there’s a clear path from your mouth to your lungs.
2. Phonation
It’s the process of producing sound with your vocal cords.
To produce sound, the cords vibrate when air passes through them. The pitch made depends on how fast the cords vibrate.
To produce a higher pitch, the cords must vibrate faster. To produce a lower pitch, the cords must vibrate more slowly.
3. Breath Support
Proper breathing is essential for proper singing technique. This is what gives you the power and control to sing those long phrases without running out of breath. Without proper breath control, singers often run out of breath before they reach the end of a phrase.
To do this, use your diaphragm — a muscle located between your stomach and chest. Try to push your stomach out when you breathe in while keeping your chest still.
Many beginners tend to hold their breath or tighten their throats when they sing because they’re afraid of losing control. But this only makes matters worse — it makes it harder to hit those notes and can lead to strain on your vocal range.
4. Vibrato
Vibrato is created by rapidly oscillating between two notes. Beginner singers can practice vibrato by singing scales on two adjacent notes.
One common misconception about vibrato is that it should be fast — but that’s not necessarily true. A good vibrato is actually quite slow, around 6-7 times per second. The trick is not to force it but instead to let it happen naturally.
5. Set Good Intentions While Singing
Regardless of the genre, whether it’s classical music or pop, setting good intentions can be extremely beneficial. It helps to keep the focus on the purity of the music and the message that is being conveyed. When the intention is clear, it is easier to let go of distractions and be present in the moment.
Here are important steps to take to set your intention while singing.
- Imagine that your natural voice is a strong beam of light that is shining forth from your heart.
- Make sure your mouth is in the shape it needs to be for the sound you are trying to create.
- Let the sound flow out of you without forcing it.
If you take these steps, you will be well on your way to setting good intentions while singing any pop music.
6. Articulation
This refers to the movement of the articulators (tongue, teeth, lips, and palate) to produce speech sounds. Different articulators are used to creating different sounds when making speech sounds.
For example, the sound “p” is produced by placing the tongue tip against the back of the teeth and Releasing it suddenly so that air escapes from the mouth. In comparison, the sound “b” is produced by placing both lips together and then releasing them so that air escapes from the mouth.
7. Resonance
This pop vocal technique amplifies sound waves as they travel through a medium (such as air or water).
When you sing, the sound waves produced by your cords are amplified by resonating cavities in your head and throat. For example, the largest resonating cavity in your body is your oral cavity or mouth.
Final Thoughts
So you want to be a singer? Super! You’re in for a lot of fun. But before you can start belting out those show-stopping tunes, you must master the singing techniques above.
If you’re getting more serious, it’s best to work with a professional vocal coach who can help you develop proper technique and hone your skills. Voice lessons are an investment in your future as a singer–so don’t wait any longer to get started!
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