How to Learn to Sing: Teach Yourself with 12 Simple Steps

Start Singing: A 12 Step Guide to Teaching Yourself

No vocal lessons? No problem. With some basic instructions, everyone can learn to sing. Here's a twelve-step guide for starting singing and honing your craft:

1. Determine the right kind of music for your voice. That could be anything from classical to pop to jazz or rock. Find a few styles that suit your voice and stick with those.
2. Learn to understand note names. Get familiar with the notes of the scale and be able to sing in solfège. Keep your mind open to different musical formats and find one that works for you.
3. Listen and learn. Listen to vocalists you enjoy and try to replicate their phrases. Be sure to pay attention to how they approach each phrase and how they use their voice on different pitches.
4. Choose a song or two. Find one or two songs that you think would be great for your voice. Once you have a few pieces, focus on learning the notes and pronouncing the lyrics.
5. Practice your song(s). Start with the the basics: hum or sing along with the songs without focusing on phrasing. Then, move on to the challenging steps – learning the melody, phrasing and lyrics.
6. Improve your breathing technique. Take some time to focus on inhaling and exhaling correctly. Remember that the key is to keep the air moving freely from your lungs to your vocal cords and out your mouth.
7. Sing with the proper technique. Use proper vocal posture, and make sure you warm-up your voice before you start singing. Keep your mouth open while singing and start on a gentle, low-pitched note.
8. Record yourself. Listening to recordings of yourself will help you identify areas that need improvement. It can be tough to hear mistakes, but this is the most efficient way to track your progress.
9. Find your vocal range. Test out different songs and vocal styles until you’re able to determine what range you sing in. Once you know where you’ll be comfortable optically, you'll be able to take it up a notch and sing in other registers.
10. Train your ear. Work on hearing pitch and knowing when you’re in-tune or out-of-tune. Ear training will help you hit the right notes and improve your vocal accuracy.
11. Develop your vocal style. Experiment with techniques like running, growling and vibrato to add character to your performance. Find a style that you’re comfortable with and want to express.
12. Improve constantly. Keep working on the basics. Find a mentor or even take a class to give yourself the proper push to become a better singer. Keep singing no matter what and don’t be afraid to bravely share your talent!