How can I become a better singer?

Question

Any certain vocal exercises you reccommend? I've heard working on your abs a lot will help your vocal tone, is that a true statement? I need to develop a strong voice for my solo music project. Any tips are very appreciated and I will be trying it hah.

Answer 1

hold out a note in your range for as long as possible and do it for longer every day. since your vocal cords are muscles, they will get stronger.

Answer 2

all your previous answers have one thing in common, and they are right. Breathing properly is the best start. Yes, working on your abs will help, but there are four sets of muscles in front and two sets in your back that all need attention, not just "abs", so before you start doing sit-ups, crunches and what not, do something a lot easier. LAUGH, a great big belly laugh, and watch what is working, and what is not. Your upper body and chest should stay pretty quiet, while everything around your middle will resemble jello. This is the area where breath support happens. People generally name it diaphragmatic breathing, but that's a bit of a misnomer. the diaphragm does move up and down when we breath, it's designed to do just that, but it doesn't do its job without those laugh muscles. So pay attention to those while you sing. It's very easy to watch the ones up front, but you'll need to use your imagination for the ones around the back. Some visual imagery that might help:
you are snuggling your lower back into a warm comfy easy chair;
you are just edging your bottom onto a tall bar stool;
you are riding bareback in the New Year's Day parade;
you are a little kid and have to wear a swim ring around your tummy at the pool;
anything that diverts your attention to those muscles around the back!

After this sort of breathing starts to make sense, then you can switch your main attention to your throat and jaw. Again, a real easy beginning step- YAWN.
Watch what happens ( yeah, eyes open in front of the mirror)
when you just start that yawn- your throat widens,the air rushes in, and your lower jaw sinks down and back. Can you stop right there? That's perfect singing position!
Don't be fooled, it's only that beginning position we can use, otherwise your jaw is overextended for singing.
Now, how to combine these two major principles?
Good, breathe in deeply, and let out only as much air as you would for a big contented sigh. That's how much energy you need for singing. Feel how easy it is in your throat? It should never get tighter or stronger than that. Your voice will float out.
If you want to sing louder than that, add energy ( not strength, not force) from down below. Let your belly get excited about it. The volume will increase without having to push it out your throat.
Now, scales and notes. Do start in the middle of your voice, and gradually reach down into the lower part, tone for tone. Use vowels in combination: "oo ee" is good, or "oh ay" rather than old boring ahh. Let the vowels mix and mesh into one another. Try and move your mouth as gently and as little as possible, without getting stiff. It still feels like a sigh, remember?
Now start back in the middle, and work your way, tone for tone, going up. This is undiscovered country for most people who have not yet learned how to sing, so take it slow and easy. No machetes in this jungle, please! Once you get comfortable with how your voice feels up there, it will be much easier to build up range.
Now that I've said all this, the most important advice: FIND A GOOD TEACHER. A REAL PERSON; NOT AN ON-LINE BUDDY. You'll need one. If you're at school ( college or university) check out their music dept. There will be plenty of singers who would like to make some pocket money ( charging less than the profs) and you'll benefit.
Best wishes and keep on singing

Answer 3

Do tuck in your stomach muscles when you sing, and use your voice and diaphragm to sing instead of singing on air from your lungs. Also do a scale for warming up before starting to sing or you'll end up with a bad sore throat after a while.

Using your diaphragm to sing will give your voice more true tone instead of the fake falsetto that you can only do on air.

Answer 4

Singing from your diaphram is most important. Take DEEP breaths into your diaphram, and let the tone come through your diaphram instead of your throat. Open your jaw and the back of your throat while you sing and relax the back of your throat also. I hope this helps a little bit. You might want to driink some tea and try some yoga. When you do yoga, exhale out a "AH" tone. These things all help me!

Answer 5

if you lay on your back on a level floor it helps power your vocal chords and your stomach to make a bigger sound, it takes alot of work though so don't expect it to sound perfect on the first shot. Working on scales also helps, do a full octave (doe to doe) getting faster each time, helps control your voice.
good night

Answer 6

Take classes and practice.