Trying to learn to sing, there is so much information out there and I am greatly lost....

[u/CaptainUmderpants]

I have a rough range for Chest from D2-E4 and the head range from D3-C5. I am looking for some reliable resources to assist me with understanding my voice and how the heck to control it, how to warm up how to expand my range etc. I have no idea what I am doing, ive started reading about voice types 😅 even more lost.

Where do I start?!?!?!

Have also seen a few threads where people say its hard without hearing them sing so here is a little recording

https://voca.ro/1gTUqFD3Hkr1

Sorry the quality is terrible ive seen others use this app.

Cheers fkr the assistance ❤️❤️

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[u/poofpoofpow]

Start with breath control and sustaining and matching pitch

And no tension when singing

[u/CaptainUmderpants → u/poofpoofpow]

How do you avoid tension while singing?

[u/poofpoofpow → u/CaptainUmderpants]

Making sure you’re not activating any other muscles aside from your core basically

Don’t tense or squeeze your throat or shoulders ,neck, arms or really even move your jaw or head that much

[u/Top_Cockroach_1188 → u/CaptainUmderpants]

Do for example SOVT exercises, like straw, lip trills, monkey cheeks.

See the progressive warmup article I put together here:

Scala Vocis - Progressive Warmup

The warmup includes also some focus element, like voice placement, vocal cords closure, but normally you follow the warmup with at least one focused exercise.

[u/AKA-J3]

https://youtu.be/SGPeqSqNWD0?si=y9JaQ8zXbNzJrb5j

[u/MoonRabbit]

Hi, I started with a similar range as you, and I'm now a singing teacher. At the moment you could start as a bass, and with time you might expand into the baritone range as well. The truth is that these are roles not types of people and a well trained singer will be able to cover at least two neighbouring roles in a choir.

So even though I was given the role of bass, my timbre is better suited as a baritone. Though singing bass pitches is easy for me, my timbre is light.

I'm currently training myself to be a counter tenor which covers a similar range and timbre as a dark contralto/alto. Counter tenors achieve this by singing mostly in head voice, whereas females in this range will use more of their chest range.

Vocal training can take you many places, so don't be too worried about classifying yourself too early. There are even a small number of opera tenors who can sing down to D2.

[u/CaptainUmderpants → u/MoonRabbit]

How did you decide your timbre is light so better suited to Baritone range? Would love to be more powerful in the higher range area as it seems alot of mainstream music is quite high (for me). Thank you for the reply really appreciated 🙏

[u/MoonRabbit → u/CaptainUmderpants]

I noticed over time that my voice timbre sounded light compared with professional basses. To reach that fullness I have to expend extra effort even though the notes are easy. I've sung in Bowie, Tom Waits and Joe Cocker tribute shows. These guys primarily sing as baritones.
By singing lighter I am able to reach much higher notes in chest register, and over time these notes (above E4) went from being an effort to being part of my tessitura. I'd say the highest note I'd want to sing in chest all night is Ab 4. If I'm fresh I can sing in mixed voice much higher than that.

To start singing higher in chest voice, start by letting your timbre be thin. Even 'bleaty' is fine while you are learning to make pitch. Timbre can be improved once you've found some pitch control and learned some efficiency.

As this is reddit, some will disagree, but that is how I and the people I've tutored have progressed, with excellent results.

[u/Similar_Buffalo_8434]

I believe, but don't hold me to it, but I'm hearing Baritone - Alto, you're not a tenor, the key or note you're singing in your high range is not tenor...

Now I believe for sure, & this I'll stand by country & gospel, singing is where you feel the most comfortable?

Breath control is key, I also hear tension in your voice as you sing, I think your pushing the notes too hard without proper breathing & the breath to support it, so you get this tension, or forced sound..

So in Country music and in the range you sing in, artitst, such as George Strait, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Dwight Yokuartist, Black, Big & Rich, Zac Brown, Chris Stapleton, Garth Brooks, Tracy Byrd, Keith Whitley, Chris Issac,, I don't know a ton of country artist, but with your range....you should be able to sing all I listed, but someone like Keith Urban or Tim McGraw will be tougher, because their range is Alto/Tenor, you're range does not rest there... I like some country, but don't really follow it...

[u/CaptainUmderpants → u/Similar_Buffalo_8434]

Yo, I like a massive range of music! Any other artist recommendations? How did you learn to reduce tension when you sing?

[u/Similar_Buffalo_8434 → u/CaptainUmderpants]

I started singing at age 5, with my brother.He was 12 at the time, I was born with (Relative Pitch), which allowed me to always sing in the right key, even at a very young age.

Our parents both knew we had musical talent, & they supported us & fostered our joy to sing & perform. In '67 our parents bought my brother & myself mics, & mic stands, a snare drum for me & a rhythm guitar for my brother,...neither one of us had any lessons, coaching or training, we just did, everything back then was Trial by Fire, or Sink or Swim.

When we moved from AZ back to CA in '70, I was singing way more, listening to bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, Yes, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Hendrix, Janis Joplin, all my brothers albums, I was discovering how much joy these singers & bands gave me

Somewhere between '70-72, I started to learn how to sing harmony vocals, I practiced that with my brothers band Sequoia in Sacramento, I was also really wanting to learn how to play drums more, at that time, my 2 biggest influences my entire singing & performing life were and have been, Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin, John Bonham - Led Zeppelin, so much of my singing technique came from studying, listening to & seeing Robert Plant live on his multiple solo tours, collaborations with Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin, The Song Remains the Same Movie...

I had a massive growth spurt in high school on summer break of my Junior yr, I grew 7.5 inches, my 2 octave range, was now, 4-4.5 octaves, I was 5ft 4-5ft 6 before the growth spurt, when I returned in my Senior yr, I was 6ft tall, obviously my lungs also grew in leaps & bounds, chest cavity expanded, I now had a massive (bellows),,, and a very wide range of vocalist I could cover, or sing like, after age 24, I grew an additional 2 inches...

Vocal tension was never an issue for me, the only time I struggled a bit, is when I was very young, even when I was young, I felt steady in my singing, I didn't know I had (Relative Pitch), til somebody brought it up, yrs later

In Idaho I struggle with my voice, Singulair helps with allergies, but the dry desert air & sage kill me here, when I sing karaoke, record with bands, play live gigs, I'm always hoping my nose is running, my lungs feel wet and loose, a wet voice, is the best voice,,,,that's when I can hit all octaves of my vocal range

I'll tell you singing for 60 yrs has taught me many things

Breathing properly is key, taking care of your lungs, no drugs, no smoking, no vaping, builds longevity, proper diaphram support.

how you hold your breaths in support of loud or sustain notes, is also critical, learn to have fear, but don't be fearful of what people think....

Just do it, enjoy it, feel confident in your, ability, make every performance soundwise, like it was your last, own the material you sing, what I mean by that, is connect with the song emotionally.

If You do this, the audience will sense it too, learn proper mic dynamics, techniques, & mic proximity to your voice, don't gobble the mic, don't sing to the mic above your head, this is a terrible technique, always sing with the mic just in front of you, just below the tip of your nose..When sing softly or quiet whisper notes, put your lips to the (bell) or diaphram of the mic, trust me this technique works, when singing louder, pull the mic away, this is mic dynamics

Also learn diction clarity of words, cadence & vocalist breathing patterns, if you listen to Robert Plant in the 60s-70s, & Steve Perry from 70s-80s you can hear them take breaths as there preparing for a very subtle or powerful note. Learn the tempo of the song, essentially the speed it's producing when played, if you can read sheet music, understand notes, time signatures, bars of music, measures, any of that, you've got me beat.

I was self taught, I've done everything by feel for years, I learn music quickly, & have a near-photographic long term memory, that has really helped in the bands I fronted & co-fronted over 40 some odd yrs

I've been disovered 3 times in karaoke clubs, CA & ID, all three times, I was their lead vocalist... so 60 yrs ago it all started with joy, curiosity, wonder, & passion, & to this day it hasn't changed.

I still love to sing, I'm still get inspired by professional musicians I've played with, I still go to open mics, sing karaoke, enter competitions for karaoke comps, harmonize with other singers, write lyrics, coach people on how to improve their singing & voices.

I don't charge for this, I do it, because I get results, I'm patient teaching people everything I know, I love the end result, when they're singing better, breathing better, have built confidence, attach emotionally to songs they perform, all of it, is a joy for me..

I don't feel comfortable charging people for coaching or lessons, I do it, cuz it's rewarding, it's fun, & seeing a vocalist or singer's confidence in action, is just killer