How do people sing?

Question

Why can some people sing and others can't? Is it the shape of the vocal cords etc.? Silly question...I know, but just a passing thought.

Answer 1

There are many different reasons why. Some people have different accents and some people are from many different places in the world. It also depends on how long they can hold their breath, how they sound and how their vocal cords are shapes, lubricated and placed. It also depends on if you have a high or low sound or if your voice cracks alot.

Answer 2

It is part genetics (vocal folds can vary..they basically determine if you're warm/bright/airy/resonant/etc)..but a lot of it has to do with breathing and using your lungs because YOU are the instrument. This is what a voice teacher is for. They'll help you sing better.....usually. Some can't hear a note and sing it, or can't carry a tune. these people won't get too far because it makes singing impossible. Others just simply don't sound good or may get better as they get older. Voice lessons may make you sound better, but you definately cannot become really good if you don't have some talent.

Answer 3

Interesting thought. Not sure of a medical answer. But usually you can sing or you just can't. Some people have potential and then that may be cultivated through coaching. I guess everyone has some type of gift or talent to contribute to the world and that is just how God intended it. It would be pretty boring if everyone could do the exact same thing. We wouldn't have a sincere appreciation for each others talent. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to know if there was a scientific reason for why some people can sing and others can't.

Answer 4

Most people can sing. In particular, I think that since you were a child in grade school, someone would signal that you were to begin singing. (Let's call it "Happy Birthday.") The person would hum, "Mm-mm..." (Let's call it B-flat.) Then you would hum along with the other pupils, "Mm-mm..." (Also in B-flat.) Then you would sing a perfect "Happy Birthday," in tune. Next, the person hums an F-sharp, and you carry on, again perfectly. This is a part of gestalt psychology. There are certain structures built into your psyche, and you can perform in certain ways, regardless of the seemingly impossible complexities. So: It's not the shape of the vocal cords. It's the person's innate gestalt.

Answer 5

A big effect on who can sing and who can is how much musical exposure you had as a very young child. Children that grew up listening and trying to sing have higher chances of being good singers as children who listened to a lot less music and never really tried to sing.

One of the best examples of this existes in many african tribes where singing is a fundamental part of the culture- where everyone is expected to sing. Studies show us in these cultrures, normally only 2 % of the people, 1 out of every 50, can't sing, and everybody else can. .. This suggest that if we started learning music as babies and expected to be musical, probably only about 2 % of us would still be unable to sing, but the rest would.

Answer 6

I disagree with people claiming it's hereditary. No one else in my family can really sing, but I'm pretty good and I've never had vocal lessons. However, I started playing clarinet in 4th grade and was always interested in my elementary school music classes, so that might be why I'm not tone deaf. But with practice anyone can sing. Regardless of what your voice sounds like, if you can develop a good tone and sing clearly and steadily, you will be good.

Answer 7

Everybody can sing, others just don't have the right voice, as my choir director would say, everyone can sing though, some it's harder for than others and they might need practice. Some people cant care a single tune and others are "pitch death" and cant here the pitchs, they need more help than others.

Answer 8

First of all you must have an ear for music.If you are tone deaf theres no point.Singing is a gift ,some have it some dont ,if you can sing in tune i would suggest singing lessons ,as they teach you how to breathe properly etc.

Answer 9

I think your vocal cords have something to do with it, but mostly I think your born with it because me and all my cousins on my dads side can sing. Where as all my cousins on my step moms side suck at it. I guess everybody on my dads side was just born with "it". Good luck.

Answer 10

Actually, you are born with a gene that allows you to to hear differences between notes. Some of us have it, some don't.

Without this gene, you can still sing, but not as good. Your notes will come out as Dracula's hoops.