While there are no shortcuts to sustainable artistry, there are some tricks that can make an amateur vocalist sound immediately better. Whether you have an impromptu performance looming ahead or you simply want to explore the capabilities of your voice, here are our top 5 easy singing hacks for you to try out!
1. Open Wide and Sing on the Vowels
One common mistake among beginner singers is not opening their mouths wide enough. Unlike speaking, singing requires a different approach to articulating words. Here are two general rules that can instantly improve your vocal sound:
- Open up wide and ensure your words are clear.
- Sing on the vowels of words rather than the consonants. For example, if you’re singing the word “run,” it will sound fuller if you elongate it as “ruuuuuuuuuun” instead of “runnnnnnnnnn“.
2. Simplify the Melody
Professional singers often add embellishments to their songs to make them more unique. While these embellishments can be exciting for the listener, they can be challenging for beginner singers. Riffs, runs, and vibrato are advanced techniques that require practice. As a beginner, it’s wise to focus on holding the melody notes a little longer instead of attempting these difficult passages. With practice, you can gradually incorporate these stylistic elements into your skill set in a controlled manner.
3. Pick Songs That Flatter Your Voice
Every voice is unique, and just like an outfit that looks great on one person but out of place on another, the same song can suit one singer and not another. For beginner singers, it’s helpful to choose songs by artists who have a similar voice type to theirs. This will make it easier to match the tone of the song and feel more natural. Once you become more advanced, you can explore performing songs by artists with different voice types than yours.
4. Cut the Sustain
Singers often enjoy holding notes for extended periods, especially during climactic sections. While this can sound impressive, it requires coordination of range, breath control, and tone. An easy way to sound more in control is to not worry about long sustained notes. Simply cut off each note when you feel you start to lose consistency. This way, you can play to your vocal strengths and maintain control throughout your performance.
5. Find a Balanced Placement
Vocal placement is an advanced concept that significantly affects vocal tone. Simplistically, a singer can either place their voice forward (nasal), balanced (clear), or back (operatic). While this concept is nuanced, a singer can quickly sound more natural by finding a balanced placement. Here’s a quick trick to help you find it:
Sing a line from the song you’re working on and plug your nose. If you sound like the voice on the school announcements, you’re too far forward. If you sound like Kermit the Frog, you’re too far back. If your voice sounds pretty much the same as when your nose is not plugged, you have found a balanced placement.
Closing Notes
These five easy singing hacks are a great way to instantly improve your vocal performance. If you’d like to delve deeper into vocal training with one of Toronto’s best vocal coaches, feel free to reach out to us today!
