If you use an app to find your vocal range, you will be directed to record your voice using your phone’s microphone. Depending on the app, you may be able to record anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, generally singing the song of your choice. The app will then take the median frequencies of your voice to give you your general range. Vocal ranges can be broken up into voice types. From highest to lowest, the voice types are soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass. Each voice type also has subcategories, such as lyric and dramatic, to help better characterize individual vocal abilities.
It’s important to give yourself a guide track, like a blank karaoke track, to find out whether or not you can match tones and stay in tune while you’re singing. Blank karaoke tracks are readily available online through sites like YouTube. You can also check out the pre-programmed tracks on Casio keyboards, or the instrumental version of songs from albums you might have. Before you record, play around with songs in a few different keys. Find one that feels comfortable for you.
While it’s not necessary to invest in fancy recording equipment to listen to yourself, you do want to make sure you’re using a quality recorder. If the recording app on your phone makes others’ voices sound weird, it will probably distort yours, too. If you’re nervous about singing in front of others, this is a great way to get around the performance anxiety. Nobody needs to hear your recording but you. Note that professional singers record themselves to help improve their tone![5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Listen to the track in a variety of ways. Check it out on your cheap computer speakers, then plug the track in and listen to your car speakers, then check it out on headphones. Different qualities and types of speakers will give you different results. People are often their own worst critics. A gut reaction is important, but it should also be paired with further evaluation to help counter your more critical instincts.
During this listen, you should also be wary of things like your voice cracking or unintentionally wavering. This can be a sign that you’re over-extending your vocals or that you don’t have full control of your range.
As you evaluate your timbre, pay attention to whether your voice is hard or soft, hoarse or smooth, light or heavy, etc.
Musical talent often develops side-by-side with musical aptitude. Start studying vocal techniques and learning about the voice as an instrument. The more you know about what goes into singing, the more you get out of your practice.
If you have any friends taking vocal lessons, ask them who they train with to get some recommendations. Choir teachers, local bands, and local a capella groups may also have some good references for vocal coaches. Many vocal coaches will let you take an introductory lesson for free or for a discounted fee. Sign up for intro lessons from a few coaches to get an idea of who will work best with you. Did the coach encourage you to sing? Did they spend most of the lesson talking? Did they focus on just your voice, or on your physical technique as well?
If someone tells you that you can’t sing, but you’ve got a passion to work on your voice, then continue practicing and working hard to get your voice improved. Don’t listen to the noise. Even so, some people can just never sing no matter how hard they practice. You should already know if this is you.
Singing the same voice part with others can improve your pitch recognition and even help you learn to sing more complex melodies. Talk with the choir director about ways to increase your singing ability. In addition to helping you sing better, group singing is often linked to jump-starting social bonds and improving your overall mood.
Most online tone deafness tests consist of several short clips from well-known songs or tunes. Listen to the clip, then indicate on the test form whether or not it was played correctly. Tone deafness does not mean you have an inherently bad voice, but it can indicate that you struggle to match your voice to the tune of the song you’re singing. Likewise, struggling to control your singing voice does not mean you’re tone deaf. There are a lot of factors that contribute to being a good singer, and it may be that you simply need to work more on honing vocal control.
Pick people who you trust to give you honest feedback. Don’t look for someone you know will tell you that you’re great no matter what, and don’t trust someone who is prone to tearing you down even when you’re doing well.
Pick a room that will help you present your voice at its best. A large room with high ceilings will make your voice sound better than a carpeted basement with low ceilings will. When your performance is finished, ask your audience to give you an honest opinion. Remember that some individuals may try to spare your feelings, while others are hyper-critical. Look for an average consensus rather than taking any one opinion too hard. Another way to get feedback from the public is by busking in a train station or in a busy shopping area. If you can, set up a microphone and a small amplifier and see if people will stop to hear you sing. Just make sure you have all necessary permissions from whoever owns or regulates the property first. Some areas, such as subway stations, may require city permits.
