How to Find Your Own Singing Voice

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Refine your vocal skills and find your unique, personal sound

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Finding Your Range

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Practicing with Songs

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Refining Your Voice

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Have you always wanted to be a great singer? You might have a wonderful singing voice waiting to be heard—you just have to find it. The key to becoming a better singer is to find your vocal range, then use the correct technique and put in a lot of practice. A few vocal tricks might be all that is keeping you from belting out beautifully and magnificently!

Things You Should Know

To find your real voice, start by identifying your range. Starting on middle C, sing as far down and then up as you can go along with the piano.
Then, identify what your chest voice (low notes that resonate in your chest) and head voice (high notes that ring in your head) feel and sound like.
Choose songs that fit in the most comfortable part of your range (your tessitura). Transpose songs that sit mainly in your extreme low or high notes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Finding Your Range & Vocal Registers

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1
Find your vocal range. Your vocal range measures the octaves you can sing, from your lowest note to your highest. Find your range by singing scales starting on middle C. Sing downward along with a piano until you reach your lowest possible note and write it down. Then, do the same but going upward from middle C to find your highest note.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Use an online or physical keyboard to help find your notes.
- Some apps, like SingScope, can help you determine your vocal range by identifying the highest and lowest notes you can sing on pitch.
- Scales are ordered sequences of notes, like do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.
- Octaves are musical intervals of 8 notes. For example, do to do or the distance from one note, like C, to the next note of the same name.
2
Match your vocal range to one of the 7 main voice types. The standard voice types from highest to lowest are soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass. Your vocal range may not exactly match the given notes for each voice type, but it should fit generally in one of these ranges.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Sopranos sing from middle C to high A or soprano C. This range is musically noted as C4–A5/C6.
- Mezzo-sopranos sing from the A below middle C to the F above the next C. This range is musically noted as A3–F5.
- Altos sing from the F below middle C to the second F above middle C. This range is musically noted as F3–F5.
- Countertenors sing from the G below middle C to the second E above middle C. This range is musically noted as G3–E5.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Tenors sing from the C an octave below middle C to the B above middle C. This range is musically noted as C3–B4.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Baritones sing from the second G below middle C to the E above middle C. This range is musically noted as G2–E4.
- Basses sing from the second E below middle C to middle C. This range is musically noted as E2–C4.
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3
Find your tessitura. Your tessitura is the range at which you are the most comfortable and at which your voice sounds the most pleasant.^{[5]XResearch source} Your vocal range might exceed your tessitura. You might be able to sing very high notes or very low notes, but your tessitura is the range of notes that your voice can produce with more power and ease.
- What songs do you typically enjoy singing along to? If there are some you love to belt out, it's likely because you can feel that you sound good singing them. Pay attention to the notes in these songs.
- With training, you may be able to expand the range of notes you can sing with great power.
4
Find your chest and head voices. When singing scales, your voice will "crack" or break at some point in your natural range. This “break” is the division between your chest and head voice.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Chest voice is used when singing in lower notes, and you feel the sound vibrating in your upper chest.
- Your head voice is the high end of your range that resonates in your head, often considered classical or airy-sounding.
5
Develop your mixed voice. A mixed voice blends your head and chest voices so you can safely belt or hit higher notes with more power. Use your mixed voice to sing strong notes in spots where your voice typically breaks. To learn what your mixed voice feels like in your body, try this simple exercise:^{[7]XResearch source}
- Put your hand on your chest and say “hey” in your speaking voice: that’s your chest voice.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Keep your hand on your chest and say “woo” in a high voice like you’re cheering: that’s your head voice.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Say “hey” again in a whiny voice, but make sure your pitch is up in your head voice range: that’s your mixed voice. It should feel like a combination of your chest and head voices.^{[10]XResearch source}
6
Use good posture and breathing techniques to support your voice. If you have yet to use the right technique, you might not even know what your voice really sounds like. Using the right technique will help your voice sound clear and strong. Keep the following pointers in mind as you practice singing:^{[11]XResearch source}
- Have good posture. Stand up straight so you can breathe more easily. Keep your neck upright but relaxed, with your head held straight up.
- Speaking of breathing, ensure you're breathing from your diaphragm, not your chest. Your stomach should expand when you breathe in and deflate as you breathe out. This technique gives you more control over your pitch.
- Open the back of your throat and enunciate your vowels when you sing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Techniques to Practice Singing

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1
Warm up first. Your vocal cords are muscles that need time to warm up so they don't get overstrained. Start by singing scales slowly for about 10 or 15 minutes. You can start singing your practice songs when your vocal cords feel warmed up and ready to go.
- You can also sing scales and songs on lip trills to help warm up your voice. These exercises help engage your breath support while keeping your vocal cords relaxed.
2
Pick songs you enjoy that comfortably fit your range. Choosing songs that fall into your voice’s sweet spot or tessitura will give you the best chance of singing well and finding the great singing voice that's been hiding within you for all this time.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Sing along with the recordings of the songs you pick until you feel comfortable with the songs.
- Practice singing the songs without the recording. You can play the instrumental part but don't play the vocals.
- Try singing songs in a range of genres. You might love hip-hop best, but you could discover you're better at singing jazz or country songs. Give all types of music a chance.
- If you love a song but can't sing it in the key it was written in, use an app like AnyTune to change the key while maintaining the tempo. Or, use the app to slow down the tempo while learning difficult passages.
Use a phone, tablet, computer, or another recording device to record yourself singing after you've warmed up and practiced. Take note of things you need to work on, as well as what sounded good.
4
Perform for other people. Sing for your family or friends, and ask them for honest reactions to your voice. Performance anxiety can also affect your voice, and you may sound shakier or tenser than you do singing at home. Learn how your voice is affected when performing live and use it to improve your voice in practice.
- Remember to warm up before performing.
- Sing in a big, open room with high ceilings if you can; your voice will sound better in that environment than in a low-ceilinged room with carpet.
- Incorporate constructive feedback into your next practice session.
- Karaoke clubs are a great place to practice singing in front of others.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Refining Your Voice Over Time

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1
Find the genre and singing style that fits your unique voice. What makes your voice unique? Once you understand the limitations of your range, you can experiment with different singing styles to bring out the best in your voice.
- Perhaps you have an operatic voice; practice singing classically.
- Maybe you have a pleasant nasally country twang. Play it up!
- Even scream-singing and whispering have their place among rock legends. Nothing is off-limits.
Taylor Swift, Singer & Businesswoman
Embrace your passion for singing. "I have been singing randomly, obsessively, obnoxiously for as long as I can remember."
Singing with other musicians is a great way to get more creative with your vocal style. Sign up for a choir or music club at your church or school, or get together with some friends to start a band where you're the lead vocalist. You could also audition for a musical or start busking in the subway if you're itching to perform.
3
Take voice lessons. If you're serious about finding your singing voice, getting trained by a professional instructor is the way to go. Voice teachers can teach you how to use your voice as an instrument. You'll probably find that you have a greater range than you thought you did, and your teacher can help you figure out what style fits your abilities.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Ask for recommendations from friends or conduct an online search to find voice teachers in your area. Look for voice teachers who sing and teach the genres you're interested in performing. Meet with at least 3 teachers before choosing 1 so you can find the best fit.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Will gargling with warm water improve my singing voice?
Annabeth Novitzki
Music Teacher
Annabeth Novitzki is a Private Music Teacher in Austin, Texas. She received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis in 2012. She has been teaching music lessons since 2004.
Annabeth Novitzki
Music Teacher
Expert Answer
It could help bring blood to your vocal folds before your warm-ups. My favorite method of this kind of vocal care is using a personal humidifier (with just water- no medication packets).
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What if you think your voice is ugly?
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
How.com.vn Staff Editor
Staff Answer
It may not be "ugly"––it is commonplace for many people to dislike the sound of their own voice when they hear it, especially when it's recorded and listened to. Get the opinion of people you trust really know singing when they hear it before deciding your singing voice isn't so great. If you still think it's not great after some feedback, there are ways to improve a singing voice enough for it to be pleasant, through singing lessons, vocal exercises, finding your best range and practicing. Don't give up––be determined to improve instead.
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How can I develop my singing voice?
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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You can develop your singing voice by learning more about the abilities and limits of your own vocal range, practicing singing a variety of songs, taking singing lessons with a professional singing teacher and participating in group singing such as choirs or church singing. If you can afford it, taking singing lessons or getting vocal coaching is a great way to improve your singing skills through professional help. At home, following the detailed steps in the article above should give you a head start in developing your singing skills.
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Tips

Avoid drinking liquids like milk and orange juice that coat your throat with extra mucus or extremely hot or cold beverages that can damage your vocal cords. Instead, take small sips of room temperature water.^{[14]XResearch source}
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If your throat is full of "junk," don't clear your throat. It can spread the irritating particles around and make it even worse. Instead, drink water or spit into a sink (whatever's convenient).
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Don't force your voice to produce something it can't; your vocal cords can get damaged and eventually tear.
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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of How.com.vn readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on How.com.vn, please submit it in the field below.

Singing has to be done with your whole heart. Just try to get the emotions in the song and go with the flow. Sometimes, even singers with perfect technique don't sound as good as singers who put feeling and personality into their voices.
Be careful not to strain your voice. Don't sing when it's uncomfortable because it can damage your voice. A few notes outside your range are okay, but take a break for an hour or two if it hurts.
If you need to sing louder, use your nose. Go nasal, and it will broadcast your voice more, although it can negatively affect the tone of your voice.

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Warnings

Screaming, talking loudly, and even whispering can strain your throat. Whispering strains your voice more than loud talking does!
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If you have pain or hoarseness that doesn't go away within 3 days of vocal rest, see a throat specialist.^{[15]XResearch source}
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