Question

I know this isn't that good, and please no negative comments. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wAeZwuwg1H

Answer 1

@gottennis121 @uybuyvf @bringmetherain

Answer 2

Sometimes constructive criticism can be negative. If you want help sometimes negativity is the only way.
Its best to learn that now then to go through life saying "no negative comments please."
Just a thought. :)

Answer 3

@Atsie I posted something one time, and was given a comment that said I sucked and shouldn't sing ever again. That's what I meant by negative comments.

Answer 4

don't judge yourself, your vocal cord's arent done developing yet so it might sound better later on and it might not. Just give your vocal cord's time to develop fully then try again when they are.

Answer 5

Ok, thank you @adamgrimm makes sense. I will try that.

Answer 6

Yes, I do believe I was the one that said that.
I was being totally honest with you, because it just isn't for you.
Don't get me wrong, there are lots of people who want to sing and they just can't do it.
Now if you want to sing, and you want to learn to sing PROPERLY, and you want to get better, than constructive criticism will be useful to you.
As I also said in that comment before, that my intention was not to hurt you or be discouraging or anything of the sort but to simply tell you that I think this "outlet" lets call it, isn't something you should pursue.
But, as I stated before if you are totally serious about singing, I can help you, point out your flaws, what you could improve, and how to actually sing. But if you aren't interested in that, then I'm going to simply say don't pursue it.
This is all for your own good. Its not to be mean, hurtful, or basically a bully over. I don't believe in that nonsense.

Answer 7

I can't remember who said, but I don't think it was you. I would be very happy if you could please help me out, I want to get better at it.

Answer 8

@ilovehorses14

Answer 9

yea

Answer 10

wats up

Answer 11

Well did you listen to it?

Answer 12

yea

Answer 13

:)

Answer 14

Cool, how was it?

Answer 15

good

Answer 16

:P

Answer 17

That's good

Answer 18

:)

Answer 19

Keigh, that's the best I've ever heard you speak/ sing. Luv it. :D

Answer 20

yea its rlly good

Answer 21

thanks @gottennis121

Answer 22

:) You sounded like you were feeling great! Was @Axel2016 there when you were singing? xD

Answer 23

Yes @Axel2016 was there when I was singing, he was trying to sit in my lap. And as you could hear I was trying to get him away and now I owe him.

Answer 24

You must be tall and strong then. Not sure I could handle the weight of a 21 y/o... xD

Answer 25

Im confused

Answer 26

XD Yeah, I guess so @gottennis121 I had to push him away.

Answer 27

Why? I'm am not singing for anyone... ever. xD

Answer 28

Alright, so firstly the development of your voice regarding getting older is a rather minor factor. Anyone can sing, at any age, and at anytime. Its just a matter of singing properly.
I was never great, but I could sing a little at the age of 8 and 9. I didn't start to learn how to do it well enough till I was maybe 14.
As far as yours goes though, you have a lot to take into consideration.
I don't know what song this was that you were singing, but I know for a fact that this wasn't being done as efficiently as it could have been.
Not only do you sound more like you are half talking then singing, you also sound very flat, very mono-tonish, and extremely strained. You seem to have no idea as to where or how you should place your vocals.
You also lack melody. There is no flow nor any structure. Your all over the place and it seems so imbalanced.
I take my lessons from Roger Burnley...
http://singing-made-simple.com/
He has changed my life in regards to singing. He shows you a lot of important things, and the secret that is on his front page REALLY does work. You learn how to use the proper muscles and eliminate strain and so many other things.
Also you have to learn how sing from your diaphragm and breath properly. This adds to the fact that your voice is coming out sounding strained. I still to this day have issues with this, and to be frank I have a lot of issues and circumstances with my voice that do NOT go well, but I have been able to teach myself through most of it all.
Now, I know what your thinking. Everyone here is saying "omg, your great!" and you probably thinking "whats this Atsie chick talkin about. She's a sore loser"
Well, all I'm saying is that you SERIOUSLY need to work on yourself. I mean it. You need some help. Just try as hard as you can. Somethings bound to turn around. :)

Answer 29

The song was Shut up and Dance by Walk the Moon @Atsie Just FYI. :) Great pointers though.

Answer 30

Ahh, good to know. I've heard that one about one time in my life, so I barely recognized it.

Answer 31

I took that as an insult @Atsie Just being honest.

Answer 32

Alright thank you @Atsie I will think about that.

Answer 33

No problem @Keigh2015 I'm sorry if I appear rude, but I'm just being honest.

And how was that an insult to you @gottennis121 ?

Answer 34

You said that you didn't recognize it, making me think that you thought his singing was bad. That's just the way I took it, I may be wrong though.

Answer 35

That is not at all what I was implying! I truly did not recognize the song. I said I've only heard it once in my life and that was like a whole 7 months ago.
Listen, to clarify for everyone my intentions here were not to be rude or mean. I'm sorry that I know a few things and that I wanted to share them to help out. Sorry if it seems like I'm a jerk.
Maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved as everyone is taking it wrong.

Answer 36

@Atsie you have great advice XD

Answer 37

I knew what you meant, and thank you very much for the advice @Atsie

Answer 38

Some people take my intentions wrong too. It's just hard to recognize the way someone is speaking over the internet.

Answer 39

Thanks @ayeedomo :) very much.

Your welcome @Keigh2015 :) I'm glad you did.

@gottennis121 Yes, I know. It happens

Answer 40

@Keigh2015
All I can really say is practice makes perfect!
Keep working on it and you'll get better :)

Answer 41

Thanks @ayeedomo

Answer 42

sup

Answer 43

I don't know if my opinion counts since I am your boyfriend. But I think it sounds pretty good, and does need a little bit of work.

Answer 44

You sound so happy! XD It's cute, but of course it needs work. It seems like you're having trouble with your breathing and hitting high notes. Try to tuck in your chin when hitting high notes, also I find it easier to hit high notes when I lower my voice and sing softer. And breathing, it's different with everyone but just try to work on that cx But overall making progress, just work on it :P

Answer 45

Hey there, I might be able to help you a little bit. I've been doing state and college competitions in singing for 12 years, and have won many awards. Try the ideas I give you below. They'll help tremendously. First of all, you don't want to tuck in your chin when you hit high notes. It squeezes your vocal chords and creates more of a strain. That is a common misconception on how to hit these notes. This is how many people end up with dead/damaged vocal chords. I personally have to hit my high notes very loudly and with a very open mouth. Focus on your "head voice." The best way to do this is to place your fingers gently on your nose and sing in a way that makes your nose vibrate. This removes the strain from your throat. If it hurts to sing, or your throat gets strained and tired after a few minutes, you are singing wrong. Try standing up straight, lifting your eyebrows, opening your eyes, opening your mouth most importantly, and then begin singing. When you have to hit higher notes, use your diaphragm. If you don't know what that is, its a part of your body, located internally, that moves when you breathe. When you breath in, your chest and shoulders usually go up. This pushes the diaphragm down. If you pay attention to your breathing, you'll notice the lower part of your stomach moves slightly down. This is what you need to use to breathe. NOT your shoulders. Place a book on your stomach with the top facing towards the wall, not the ceiling. When you breath with your shoulders as most people do, the book will not really move, but your shoulders will. When you breath with your diaphragm, the book will move because the breath is deep and being taken correctly, and your shoulders should not move. Another way to try this is by laying down flat on your back and breathing. There is absolutely no way to breath with your shoulders when you are laying flat on your back. When you breathe laying down, you are using only your diaphragm. You'll notice that indeed your stomach does move. Remember this technique and how it feels and then stand up and try again. This should help you take deeper breaths. Now the diaphragm is a wonderful tool for breathing, but it is also used for stability. When you go to hit a high note, instead of putting strain on your throat, use your head voice, but use your muscles to push down on your diaphragm. Make sure that when you're breathing, you do not breath in the middle of words, and you have enough air to carry your DIRECTLY through the entire phrase of the song. You don't want staggered breathing. The easiest way to compare this is to a bunny and an airplane. When your are hopping like a bunny, your air is unequal. This is how alot of people hit high notes, and this is why their voices crack. You want your air to come out of your mouth like an airplane whenever you are singing. This keeps the air steady, creating the perfect platform for a beautifully sung high note. Try to remember these techniques while you sing, it will help alot!

Answer 46

And please read that. It took forever to type. Haha.

Answer 47

Wow! You go girl! :) @kcountrygirl98

Answer 48

Thank you. @Atsie I'm just trying to help.

Answer 49

I'm delighted to see someone actually trying to give constructive advice! :)

Answer 50

That's true! @kcountrygirl98 That's all amazing information (;

Answer 51

That is some really good advice. Thank you @kcountrygirl98

Answer 52

Thanks y'all! I've done it my whole life and I love music more than probably anything! I never see a reason to be critical. There's no reason to be "brutally honest" to somebody that wants music to become as important to them as it is to me. And @Keigh2015 medal? I would really appreciate one, but if you don't want to that's fine! :) I'm just glad to help

Answer 53

I should add when I sing I do lose my air quickly. I can't take that deep of breathes. After I read that some people could hear that I sounded like I had a trouble with my air control. I was like "oh wait, I should say asthma is part of the cause."

Answer 54

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1wDaPh7R4Ga Okay, I know this one sucks pretty bad but I just thought about making another one. So I did.

Answer 55

I can barely hear anything XD

Answer 56

Great advices, @kcountrygirl98 & @Atsie!
I'm impressed that you gave an honest opinion and that you advised and guided her through the points. Not many people do that.

It can be harder for your vocals to develop fully if you sing the songs which include high notes, loud lyrics, and one-breath sentences. Try singing softly, lowly, but clearly.

You can pick up a song that you like and are comfortable with. Start by humming or gently singing the song, experimenting with trying to stay as close to the melody as possible.
Secondly, learning how to breathe is important. When you inhale, your chest expands and your diaphragm contracts. When you exhale, your chest contracts and diaphragm relaxes. While singing, breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your nose AND mouth. Avoid raising your shoulders as your breathe in, keep them relaxed!
Finally, keeping your torso (upper body) straight is important as well. Using your diaphragm to dismiss the stiffness in your gorge makes it much easier to hit the high notes, giving you some more power and strength and power you never knew existed

Answer 57

I can barely hear anything myself @Keigh2015
Maybe you should redo it and put the mic closer.
And yeah I understand that whole asthma thing. I have problems with that myself. Singing with asthma kinda feels like an elephant sitting on you and stopping your air flow. Its no fun.

Answer 58

Hey @Keigh2015 I listened to it again and your most recent song you posted. I am right along with you and @Atsie . I know how difficult it can be to sing with asthma. That's why I suggested using your diaphragm instead of your shoulders. When you breath take breaths from your diaphragm not just your chest. It helps the breathing resonate mainly in the lower part of your lungs making the breathing deeper allowing more air to fill your lungs. One MAJOR thing I noticed which will change your singing dramatically if you will do this is OPEN YOUR MOUTH when you sing. I can tell you're just kind of sliding up and down the notes and I can barely understand what you're saying sometimes. You want to sing EVERY song like you're singing to a crowd of people in the back of a huge auditorium that can't hear very good and don't know any of the songs you're singing. This is how I used to do my training. I used to go to my friend's theater that her dad owned, and sing to the very back wall as if it didn't know anything (which it didn't). Try sitting on one side of your room and singing to the other side as if it was a huge room. Open your mouth, and when you pronounce words, pronounce them with the front of your mouth not in the back of your throat. The biggest thing about 7 years ago that helped me when I was struggling with this was learning to sing as if I were British. When an American does a British accent, usually they have to use the front of their mouths and their lips to pronounce American words that are harder to say in British. But, if you sing like you're British, nobody will notice except you. And you're words come out SO MUCH CLEARER! :) Believe me, I didn't even know the band One Direction was British the first few songs I heard of theirs until I looked it up. And there were 5 of them, and I've been a part of competition judging before, so I would have recognized it just as much as anybody if not more. Singing with a British accent tells you how you are to sing your vowels. Also try putting your hands gently on the side of your face keeping your mouth open. Then, say your vowels without changing the shape of your open mouth. These probably sound weird, but this is actually how you're supposed to sing your vowels. Then, put your index fingers on the very edge of your mouth on each side where your lips meet. Put them flat against your mouth so that you're pointing towards the ceiling. Say your vowels again. It should sound the same, your mouth should be open, but not as much so you don't look like a silly opera singer. Try singing a song with your fingers there the whole time. Notice how you have to take deeper breaths and keep your mouth open. Try recording "Shut up and Dance" like that, or the first verse and chorus. Compare it to the first one you posted. Notice how you're sound resonates more towards your voice and not your throat. Remember what I said about the head voice and making your nose vibrate while you're singing. Also, I was reading comments. I absolutely do not agree with just "waiting until your voice matures." I have been singing in competitions since I was 5. That year I got first place and showcase among 20 different schools grades 1-4. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to! Don't let anybody tell you different! My mom said what those people are saying about waiting and that isn't what I really want to do. You don't have to make a career out of it like Carrie Underwood, but you can let it become a very important part of you that you'll never forget. That's actually usually the one thing that elderly people with Alzheimer's don't forget. The songs they learned as a child and kept with them as an adult. And I used to work on that floor in the hospital before I got my job in the ER. So let this become a part of you forever. You don't regret it. Try this and let me know how it works out! Sorry I type so much! I LOVE to help new singers get going! This is the second time I've been able to give advice to somebody with actual potential. Most kids come to me wanting to sing but not listening. So please, since I'm taking the time to write all of this, please do it and listen and you'll be well on your way to singing great!

Answer 59

omg you are really good

Answer 60

I have a hard time pronouncing my English when im singing, I have a major German accent. It's easier when I am talking to hide the accent but not when I am singing.

Answer 61

I worked on it forever but I think this one is better. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1WN1NNVHPXC
Although my boyfriend had friends over and they were talking in the background.

Answer 62

@fieldhockey00

Answer 63

This one is much better then all the other ones! Great job! You've improve <3

Answer 64

Thanks!

Answer 65

@Keigh2015
Listened to your recent recording, and I must say you have definitely improved.
I can tell you've been working on it and trying harder. Thats really great!
Now, I'd provide one other suggestion.
The intonation of your singing is pretty soft spoken and quiet. This I can tell where your asthma and breathing flow is restricted sounding. Nothing against that, I totally understand it, but thats the main goal I think now. Getting some power, not only into your lungs, but also from your vocal cords. This shouldn't mean that you push and push till you sound strangled and everything, but that you develop a proper way to breath that will enable your singing to flow better.
Singing should in a way be like talking. Talking to all of us as humans comes natural, and we know how to take breaths, and even where to take these breaths so that we may say our next sentence or paragraph in better flow.
The same applies to your singing. Breath in the proper spots, but still keep your timing with the music.
Practice an "ahh" note for a period of 5 seconds with your stomach puffed out, then stop and breath for 2 seconds, and then do it again only making a different sound, maybe an "ooohh" sound.
Try various forms and exercises, find what works for you, and conquer both your shyness and your asthma so that a way breathing may become easier for both you and the song.
But nevertheless, I'm really really happy to see that you've been working on this. Don't give it up!! :)

Answer 66

Thanks for the advice @Atsie

Answer 67

No problem :) @Keigh2015