Your voice is your instrument as a singer. It’s the most precious tool you have in any performance. Whether you enjoy singing for fun in the car or are interested in pursuing a singing career it’s really important to learn how to improve—and protect—your voice.
So how can you improve your singing voice?
Just like you replace guitar strings and tune pianos, your vocal folds need care and attention. We’ll discuss the anatomy of your voice, vocal care tips, and how to improve your singing voice in this extensive guide. Be sure to read from top to bottom!
The Anatomy of Your Voice
Before we get into how to improve your singing voice it’s important to understand your instrument. Just like you’d learn the parts of a cello before learning to play, it’s important to understand all the parts at work when you sing.
What Are Vocal Cords?
Your vocal cords aka vocal folds sit over the top of your windpipe within the larynx (sometimes called the voice box). Your voice box sits behind your Adam’s Apple, or where the Adam’s Apple would be for all you gals. You want your vocal folds to be smooth, soft, flexible, and free from inflammation.
The glottis (aka the opening between vocal folds) opens when you breathe and closes when you speak or sing. Okay, now that we’ve covered the anatomy of a voice, let’s talk about how you create sound—and what can damage your instrument.
Can You Damage Vocal Folds?
High notes are caused when your vocal folds vibrate quickly. Low notes are caused when your vocal folds vibrate slower.
That’s why it’s so essential you take care of your voice while singing low and high notes! Damage to your vocal folds occurs from allergies, smoke (first and secondhand), tension, overuse, and abuse (like screaming).
Irritated and inflamed vocal folds won’t close efficiently which prevents you from hitting higher notes in your range and produces a rougher, more breathy sound.
How to Take Care Of Your Vocal Folds
Before we can talk about improving your singing, we have to understand how to care for your instrument. Here are a few singer must-dos to keep your instrument in tip-top shape.
- Warm Up and Cool Down: Always warm up your voice with facial muscle exercises and light vocal work before singing, and cool down with gentle lip rolls after.
- Stay Hydrated: Keep your vocal folds lubricated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
- Humidify Your Space: Use a humidifier to maintain moist air and protect your vocal folds from dryness.
- Take Vocal Breaks: Rest your voice regularly, especially when it’s tired or overworked, to prevent strain.
- Avoid Harmful Substances: Stay away from smoking and alcohol, as they can damage and dry out your vocal folds.
- Sing from Your Core: Use your diaphragm for breath support rather than straining your throat muscles.
- Stop if It Hurts: If singing causes pain, rest your voice immediately to avoid long-term damage.
10 Full Proof Ways to Improve Your Singing Voice
Now that you are fully acquainted with the parts of your instrument and how to best take care of it, let’s explore how to get the most out of your voice. Here are 7 tips for how to improve your singing voice.
Tip #1: Always warm up and cool down your voice.
Just like athletes need to prep their muscles before a workout, singers need to warm up their vocal folds to avoid straining them. Use simple vocal warm-ups like lip trills, humming, and siren sounds to ease your voice into singing.
Remember to cool down after singing to prevent vocal fatigue. Hum lightly and perform a few vocal slides to relax your vocal folds. Remember warm ups and cool downs help to build stamina in your voice!
Tip #2: Develop breath control and support.
Breath control is fundamental to singing. If you have proper breath control you can sustain notes, control dynamics, and deliver powerful performances. Strengthen your breath support through exercises like diaphragmatic breathing and control drills.
You want to focus on maintaining consistent airflow while singing to avoid shallow or breathy sounds. Your singing technique will dramatically improve if you can master breath control.
Tip #3: Work on proper posture and body alignment.
If you want your voice to sound it’s best you need to stand up straight—seriously! Proper posture affects everything about vocal production. Stand or sit with a straight back, relaxed shoulders, and an aligned head and neck so that you have optimal airflow and capacity.
Excellent posture helps with vocal resonance and prevents muscle tension that limits your vocal range. Practice good posture daily so that your singing is at its strongest.
Tip #4: Practice pitch and intonation.
You don’t have any hope of becoming a better singer without working on pitch and intonation. Develop your ear by practicing simple scales and working up to more challenging melodies. Use a pitch-matching app or a piano to improve your pitch control.
If you practice ear training regularly you’ll be able to consistently hit the right notes and increase your vocal precision which will improve your singing significantly.
Tip #5: Expand your vocal range and flexibility.
If you’re ready to start singing a wider variety of songs, it’s time to expand your vocal range. Start by identifying your most comfortable range by performing vocal warm-ups that target your lower and upper registers.
Each day you can go up or down from your comfortable range with lip trills, sirens, and slides to increase your range. Slides in particular will help you practice vocal flexibility and make sure you’re transitioning smoothly between registers.
Tip #6: Create vocal resonance and projection.
Vocal resonance adds richness and depth to your voice, making it fuller and more vibrant. In order to develop resonance, adjust your tongue and soft palate so that it feels like you’re yawning while singing. Your goal is to project your voice forward rather than forcing it from the back of your throat.
Practice resonance techniques regularly to improve your voice quality and ability to project. This will help you create a more dynamic sound without straining your vocal folds.
Tip #7: Improve your articulation and diction.
If you want your audience to understand what you’re singing, you need to work on articulation and diction. Practice tongue twisters and target tricky sounds to improve clarity while singing. Focus on enunciating constants and shaping vowels correctly.
Mommy made me mash my M&M’s is a fun one to practice enunciating constants and vowels.
Tip #8: Add dynamics and expression to your performances.
Take your vocal performances to the next level by adding expression and emotion to your songs. Play with the dynamics—softness or loudness—of a song to convey emotion. Practice singing in the mirror to watch your facial expressions as well.
Your performance will go from good to great if you take the time to analyze the emotions and intent behind a song and practice the song with those in mind. Allowing emotion to shine through will make your singing more captivating and memorable.
Tip #9: Master various vocal techniques and styles.
Become a more versatile singer by exploring vocal techniques and musical styles. Experiment with different genres and learn to adapt your voice to those styles. Study renowned singers’ use of vocal techniques across genres and incorporate them into your own practice.
Tip #10: Get professional coaching.
A vocal coach is going to take your self-guided practice and accelerate your vocal improvement. You’ll get personalized guidance, learn correct vocal techniques, and get invaluable feedback from an industry professional.
If you want a surefire way to improve your singing, signing up for voice lessons is the best way to guarantee success.
How to Improve Singing Voice: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my singing voice better?
To improve your singing voice, practice regularly, warm up before singing, focus on breath control, and maintain good posture. Work with a vocal coach to strengthen your vocal muscles, expand your range, and train your ear for pitch accuracy will help as well.
How to improve your voice naturally?
To improve your voice naturally, stay hydrated, practice good posture, and avoid straining your vocal folds. Breathing exercises and vocal warm-ups also support voice improvement. Consistent practice and rest are key to allowing your voice to develop without overuse.
How to improve singing for beginners?
Beginners should focus on building strong foundational techniques. Start with simple vocal exercises like humming and lip trills and gradually work on extending your range and vocal flexibility. Consistent practice, listening to your voice, and signing up for voice lessons will help.
Do singing lessons work?
Yes! Through tailored instruction, you can learn breath control, pitch accuracy, and expand your vocal range. A good teacher can also improve performance skills and boost public speaking abilities.
Improve Your Singing Voice with Singing Lessons at Chambers Music Studio
Ready to take your voice to the next level? At Chambers Music Studio, our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way to help you develop your vocal skills and reach your full potential.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced singer, our personalized lessons are designed to bring out your best voice. Enroll in a trial lesson today.
