Singing - tips?

I'm the "singer" in a band, and have ben for a while. I plan to get vocal coaching this summer as I've always felt my voice was the weak link in the band, and I don't want to let the boys down.

Has anyone got any tips or advice on how to sing well? I can hit notes, and I have a fairly good idea of a warm-up, but I have no microphone technique, I don't know how to sustain notes without them sounding rubbish and my phrasing is variable at best, crap at worst...

Any tips would be really appreciated.. I've trawled the net and only come up with crap about the role of a good singer, nothing about technique.. so good links are equally appreciated!

I know the best advice is practise, but I've been doing this for 5 years now and my voice, whilst stronger, still has the same problems it always did...

Just keep singing... everywhere.

Drive everyone nuts, don't even care.

You'll get better with practice.

record a tape of yourself singing and send a copy to everyone in your local phonebook.



ask them for feedback

KGR, thanks, will probably get punched in the face a few times but it's worth a try

UCOF, takes one to know one good idea, minor problem is my tape shortage.

Depends largely on what type of music you sing.

i need to read topics twice before reacting. thought you'd been out and singed your tits.

anyhoo try contacting local bands/singers/UCOFs etc

"thought you'd been out and singed your tits."


Why contact me?

I have no recording studio.

UCOF, you have hot breasts as well. That's why.



You could give him tips on how to fend off the laaaaaadies.

edit: local bands/singers/village idiots

My breasts are the bane of my life.



*withdraws from the thread leaving a trail of slime....*

SERVED! SERVED! SERVED! SERVED!

jkjk

but no, seriously...

(Thinks up more comments on UCOF's chest and decides to shut it)

It's OK, I'm willing to edit the thread title to "John's Tits" if you'd rather

I bet the thread would get far more traffic.

Mayhaps you should sing a song about them.

OK. Based on all John's posts in this thread, for added insanity

His name is UCOF, he's got luvverly tits
They're the size of an ape and create general bliss
And well may you cough when his dulcet tones
Bemoan his lack of microphones

His boobies have been his rival from birth
Perhaps it is due to their phenomenal girth
And he's some kind of snail, but a snail with breasts
That's some kind of unimaginable fantasy chest.

Yeeeah, that shut you all up, didn't it?

no, it's now my signature.

I aim to please

As said before, lots of practice.

If you're having trouble sustaining notes and your phrasing isn't that great, it's most likely due to poor breath support. Every note you sing has to be supported, no matter how long or short, high or low, loud or soft. A lot of people can hit the notes, but the breath support isn't there so they can't sing nearly as well as they could with it.

The best way to improve, in my opinion, is to get a voice teacher. Practicing on your own helps tons, but a voice teacher is the safest way to go. You don't want to practice techniques and whatnot that are bad and/or could damage your vocal chords. An online site probably won't help you much. Every person's voice is different, so a general online instruction won't do you much good. Also, a site can't tell you if you're doing something wrong. It could sound correct to you, but be the total opposite of what you ought to be doing. Spend the extra money and get yourself a teacher. It really is the best way to go.

Lots of luck!

also, remember that dynamics are key... a sustained note is nothing if it doesn't do something dynamic... creshendo's or diminuendo's are the key to powerful sustained notes... also, kicking yourself in the nuts can help with the high notes.

*winces*

nice pair of g-clamps work wonders for the high notes ive been told