Karaoke Forums

I accidentally pressed enter... here's the rest of the sad story:

So I falsely deduced that my voice sounded awful.  It was compounded by the feeling that I sounded more like a boy in my normal speaking voice.  Now, 13 years later, it's really hard for me to believe when people tell me I sound great.  

I simply don't listen to the voices in my head when they tell me "you're awful"... yielding to those actually causes you to hold back and makes you sound worse!!  If I imagine myself singing like I want to, it's much more achievable.  I haven't yet gotten over the karaoke fright, but I'm working on it.  Though I warm up and do deep breathing to keep from getting stressed and try to relax, I still cling to that mic like it means my life!

I've been taking voice lessons here at a local musical theater with a private teacher, and that has done so much for my confidence –– the main reason I started the lessons. I learned techniques that did wonders for my tone of voice and my range (I thought I was Patsy Cline, but I'm learning how to be a Sarah Brightman!) I was cast in a little Broadway Revue, too... talk about being nervous!!  But I tried my hardest and came off victorious!!  Maybe I'll audition again  :)

As for tips, learning proper technique will make the most of what you have.  Warming up is a major part of having control over your voice and getting rid of the raspy tone, like when you wake up and sound groggy (granted, as a smoker, you're probably not going to rid of that completely.)  To get to the point where I feel confident, it takes about half an hour of doing the scales and warmups like karyoker linked to.  To take care of your throat, drink lots of room temperature water, and use a throat spray (like Vocal Eze, Singers Saving Grace, or simply Slippery Elm lozenges -- most of which you can find at a health food store or online).  If you have sinus congestion, you're simply not going to sound the same!  And, sorry, drinking alcohol does NOT help you sing better!!  It only helps the psyche  :)[/i]

As I stated, Since it's not show, choral, or classical I have any interest in, I'd want some gravel to my voice for rock. I think lessons would be important in my particular case because I'm asthmatic, (short-winded to begin with), very rigid, and I'm sure breathing technique, posture, and phrasing wouldn't even happen in a short time for me. It's not easy for me to breath just sitting around not singing.. Funny thing is, I have a VERY powerful falsetto... Problem is however, (assuming you take a song such as the Delfonic's, "Didn't I blow your mind this time")... I can do the chorus very well...Yet the actual verses... (such as... "I gave my heart and soul to you babe"), I can't do at all ...  I'm sure if I could breathe easier, and didn't have chronic sinusitis I'd have the power to sing... Thing is, like playing a few brasswind instruments, and woodwind instruments...I'd need to learn the technique, and be taught the skills..Otherwise, I'd always end up dizzy, winded, and feeling sick... That's what happens when I really try to project singing; Plain and simple.. I feel sick... Just don't have it in me to overcome my crappy weak "head voice" by projecting some strength from the gut (diaphragm). It's amazing all a person can't do when they are normally rigid, uptight, and generally very tense...(as opposed to relaxed and in generally better condition).  I suppose I should just own up to the fact that my voice sucks because I'm too lazy and don't have the incentive to put the difficult work into breath control, posture, warmups, and really projecting in real voice, or doing essentially what it would take to overcome the mousy nasally sound quality of my current  spontaneous attempts (with no warmup, or disciplines).


I'd need to train and learn how to do something new. Something that isn't natural for me. I'm not a natural, and although I'm a musician, I started learning about musical instruments before I could talk. So I've had many years exposure at particular aspects of music. Learning to use our voice as a musical instrument is different. It has it's own characteristics that go beyond "fingering technique", muscle memory, and geometric principles. Hand dexterity from playing certain instruments naturally has little advantage for the skill required when trying to convert the voice into an aesthetically pleasing musical instrument.


I was always of the false belief that If I hold back I'll sound better, more mellow for ballad and softer rock, I felt that I should let the microphone do the amplification, not my body, doing this would be an easy way out of having to concern myself with dynamics, projecting, and I could also basically hide, and fake a passable sound. I was wrong. While doing that MIGHT work for some, it doesn't work in my case. I guess even soft ballad rock can't be hacked with just "head voice" and sound that good.  Some thing's just aren't as they seem; Some are naturals however, and have a knack for impersonating, or transforming a part of themselves into what they wish to transform themselves into. Like baseball, some of these centerfielders appear so naturally comfortable with spatial relationships, that they just seem to rest their baseball glove in front of their gut, and the baseball seems to just effortlessly drop right in. I try that, and I get nailed in the head by the ball.  I'm still fighting with physic's too, I'm trying to convince physic's that the harder you swing a golf club and more muscle you put into your golf swing, the further the ball will go.  Physic's won't listen to me and as a result, golf is too much like work, too intricate a game !     --Naturally I quit !

Learning to sing WOULD require instruction,  It'd be work, and likely at the beginning WOULD NOT be fun, or easy...Some things are just too much like work....  Among them are French Horn, Golf, and Singing decently, or so it seems...

Regarding what Danielle mentioned about lack of confidence, I certainly can identify with how that works.  When poor self image sets in, it's an ugly and powerful negative force that stifles us. I don't have the gut's to get in front of even an instructor. I tend to be very self conscious, I won't go to a spa for a massage either, I'm not in great athletic shape:  

My own belief (which is in many ways counter-productive) is that unless you can do something quite well, DO NOT perform it in public. Some things aren't meant to be exposed, or displayed to others ! This even includes dancing (at a dance), competing in any realm, or exposing some real aspect of yourself that is self denegrading.  This is just my take on the performing arts... An artform performed should be polished, when you perform something for others, it should be done well, otherwise I'd be more of an exhibitionist; certainly not an artist, (which is what I trained to be from age 3).  I think I know what I can do, and I know what I can not do.. When in doubt, I do it behind closed doors. This is my own strong belief. Again JUST MY OWN FEELINGS !!     I know the responses to this  :)  Spare yourself, and me by asking, "Kappy don't you ever let your hair down and have fun doing anything?"  The answer is no.  I've been taking "lessons" for most of my life trying to learn how to do that as well.. Still can't do it, it's hard work

wow - I may practice a song at home first, but never have given it that much thought. I have the attitude that it is karaoke which means it's for fun.

We play karaoke games where you have to sing songs you've never done before or possibly you've never heard before. You have to make it at least half way through the song or lose your place in rotation. The end result is endless laughter at ourselves and sometimes we find a new song or 2 to sing. Just my opinion- worry less about what others think and have a good time. Singing is about feeling the music not worrying about hitting the notes.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

PC, if you've just started singing at home don't give up.  I had the same problem when I first started singing on my home system.  And even though I'm not that good you can't shut me up at home now....    The more you do it and work with you volumes and all the other little buttons and of course your voice....you'll be surprised how much better you will get.

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SAY IT WITH MUSIC!!!!

I noticed this post and had to throw in my two cents.I'm battling like hell to quit smoking.I'm down to 1/2 a pack a day.(THAT'S DOWN from a pack1/2 a day).In January 2002 my voice was getting worse.I went from singing 20 songs(band)once a week to barely being able to sing karaoke twice a week. A year later I had my throat checked out only to discover that I had devoloped nodes on my vocal chords.Now I was getting concerned.Worse yet,the thought of cancer in my throahaunted me till the biopsy results returned negitive.
Yet surgery was still needed.After the fact I was told by doctors not only to quit smoking but to quit singing.That any attempt could do permanent damage. I was crushed.I stopped smoking for quite a few months thereafter and dropped out of the singing scene for almost a year.It was sheer torture.Even more so,stopping in a bar that had karaoke to watch people sing.My advice to you my friend is please try to quit. I know it's a biatch but you'll have more than your voice to loose....Dante.

Stevens' correct -  I have a full blown karaoke setup here at home but I can't turn the volume up above 4 or my PV115 speakers will take the paint off the walls. Plus I live in a condo and one of my neighbors has already called the police on me while using them set at 4.  So I usually practice in my car while driving back and forth to work.  To  get anywhere near my voice when sing karaoke out, I have to really sing with all the volume I can muster  on the high notes.  All the other drivers around me probably thinks I'm a real nut case.
                                        Jackson

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Singing just for you

ahhhh... so it was you making headlines  ;)

I think that happens to alot of people actually. I used to think that was a feeling that was exclusively my own.  I've even asked people "are you just being nice?".  When I hear myself recorded, I ALWAYS think "My god, is that what others hear??".  Kinda wierd, and it can make ya want to shy off from singing sometimes too. But, I would never quit singing because of fears like that..........life just would not be the same without singing.

You sure come up with some good, interesting thread topics.  :wave:

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

You sure come up with some good, interesting thread topics.  

Who me? Are you just being nice?

My advice to you my friend is please try to quit. I know it's a biatch but you'll have more than your voice to loose....Dante

That sounds pretty scary Dante, I wish I had the willpower to quit. My job is just so stressful at times. That's why I gave up caffeine because I was ready to open the door and jump out!! Smoking is getting on my nerves though, sometimes I feel like I'm gonna puke....ughhhh. It stinks big time. I can only imagine what others think when standing near me....like the Ohio Highway Patrolman who pulled me over to give me a ticket recently...he started to step up to my window on the truck, then gagged, coughed and moved away.
I will make a conscious effort to cut down though...thanks bud.

I have to really sing with all the volume I can muster  on the high notes.  All the other drivers around me probably thinks I'm a real nut case.

That's why I wait until dark usually...hell I run on my job from dark morning to well after dusk, I have plenty of time to practice. But I have noticed if I over-practice during the day, I've lost my voice by the time I try to sing. I just give it a few tries during the day just to get a feel for a particular song again and I'm good to go at karaoke night.

as daniellem said "Warming up is a major part of having control over your voice ", i think this is probably one of the most important parts to remember-like an athlete needs to stretch out before a run- a singer needs to stretch out their vocal chords in preparation for singing. sometimes it's really hard to put in the extra time to do this, but it's really worth it, and will help you sing better in the long run. i always start my warm up real gentle, and slowly get to full singing voice. just keep on keepin on, and it will all fall into place.

I sound horrible at home too.  Or at least I think so.  I think it has something to do with the lights the mic the total atmosphere or being in a bar and being on stage.  I know I have to have the ambiance in order to sing.  I have only recorded myself a couple of times but it sound good to me.  And I figure if I am getting request for songs at the bar then I must be halfway decent, right????

Of coarse I could be in a bar full of people that like to punish themselves with music that sounds really bad by request.....

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Trust me bud,I know the stress of truck driving,(one here also) I Tried sunflower seeds and ended up with cankers in my mouth from all the salt(blood pressure too)
Wouldn't it be nice if all we had to do was to sing karaoke for our D.O.T physicals...!
As for staying on topic here....I sound pretty good here at home.I terrorize my neighbors with a 1500w/Mackie pa system....hehe.I know my voice well enough to dial in "my sound".Some KJ's never get me dialed in right.With exception of a few who can(Bobby&Dale Baker/Baker Productions)in Cleveland here,do an awsome job on everyone.'''that keeps me coming back.(there ya go Bobby...free plug)
Another thing that totally screws my voice up is this damn Cleveland weather...tomorrow it's near 60 degrees..the day after it'll probably be in the 20's.
It killed me when they held karaoke contests in Jan-Febr.{ and now ladies and gentleman...spreading his flu on the mic...please give a warm hacking cough to...}
Often made me think how singers go on tours from one state/country to the next.

as daniellem said "Warming up is a major part of having control over your voice ", i think this is probably one of the most important parts to remember-like an athlete needs to stretch out before a run- a singer needs to stretch out their vocal chords in preparation for singing. sometimes it's really hard to put in the extra time to do this, but it's really worth it, and will help you sing better in the long run. i always start my warm up real gentle, and slowly get to full singing voice. just keep on keepin on, and it will all fall into place.

Thanks for the reminder Patti! I think it does really work. Nice to see you in the forums.  :wave:

I know I have to have the ambiance in order to sing.

Same here isis0428. I have to be comfortable in my surroundings or I probably couldn't follow through with a decent performance. Privately, this is easier, nobody's listening, publicly, it makes all the difference. Thanks for sharing.  :wink:

Wouldn't it be nice if all we had to do was to sing karaoke for our D.O.T physicals...!

No kiddin'!! I know there'd be atleast a couple of shoe-ins out there on the road. (re-interpreting what I just said......d*mn, that was arrogant! )

As 'Auction' said... have you ever heard a recording of yourself in a club? Not to disappoint you (and I haven't gone to listen to your submission yet), but maybe your sound isn't really that much different? On the other hand, there are several possibilities as to why you might actually sound different. As you've already pointed out, it could simply be lack of inhibition when 'performing' at a club as opposed to feeling embarrassed at home. It could be that your home equipment doesn't support your voice as well... not as good reverb & amplification. It could be accoustics. I'm sure there are other things I'm not thinking of that may also figure into the equation.

One thing is for certain, you should fix the situation of having to feel inhibited to sing at home!! It's your home for chrissakes. Just tell the family that you're gonna sing (for however long) & they just have to deal with it! Who pays the bills anyway?? (if you don't, then nevermind) lmao

As for the 'hearing yourself' trick... that sounds pretty interesting. I've also heard that standing 'in a corner' (several inches to a foot away) works. I've never tried either one, I'm unhappy enough with the recorded quality of my voice. If I do that, I may never sing again. I'm not sure about people's pitch being 'slighty higher than they think' though. It may SOUND higher using that method, because the space for bouncing back the soundwaves is smaller, but heck.. most people sing flat.



And the 'sitting' thing? I think it's totally possible. You use different muscles when you sit than when you stand. Muscles you have developed a certain level of control in when you sit are going to feel different standing up. Now granted, you will inevitably have more power to your singing voice when you stand... but probably less control until you get used to it. I have experience the same phenomenon.



It's more than likely a question of RAM. You should have at least a gig of RAM (the actual memory sticks plugged into the motherboard) to be effective using audio editing software. I'm NOT talking about hard-drive space here!! Don't know well you know computers, but many people make this mistake! 'Memory' (RAM) is different from 'Storage Space'. Don't know if that will help.