$200 to improve my singing

[silenced]

Am I better off buying a course on how to sing (any recommendations?), better off hiring a private tutor or taking a local course, or better off buying a plugin for my DAW (which one)?

[fargone]

lessons. a good teacher can help you focus on aspects of your voice that need improving. a video won't be able to help you on an individual level.

... did you say plugin? if you're thinking of an auto-tune plugin, you're looking for a cop out. I'm obessently opposed to auto-tuners. The human voice is a beautiful thing, particularly if used well. Billy Holiday, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, and Nash were all doing damn well before they even thought of that piece of ..... Learn to sing.

[Bellringer]

If you are limited to $200 I have a few suggestions. A good teacher can give you some of the most important tips on proper breathing techniques and other important tips that a book might not be able to get across as easily. A teacher can also work with you knowing that your lessons are going to be short term, so they can give you a few goals each week to push you to complete things on a schedule. It's so easy NOT to do something, but with a teacher giving you homework you are forced to work.
So I would recommend meeting with a teacher, explaining your financial restrictions and asking for about 4-5 lessons that will start you off on the right foot. Then I would ask for suggestions on a lesson book, video, etc. that would allow you to continue to practice on your own. Maybe the teacher would work out meeting once a month to discuss your progression and help keep you on track.
Remember, It's important that you schedule time to do a good job. Like anything you learn, discipline is the key. Good luck!

[mikegee]

also, there are different singing methods... i read a good book that talked about different singing styles... most singers sing from the diaphragm (elvis) , although some use combinations of diaphragm-throat (jim morrison) while others sing mostly nasal (john lennon) i think a good thing to do is practice singing and see what method feels most comfortable to you. and let the mic and other gear do the work for you, use the tools...

...the bottom line is you want to be comfortable and sing as naturally as possible, as any unnatural technique could cause pain and damage to your vocal chords. many great singers and public speakers virtually destroyed their vocal chords by singing and talking unnaturally. there are very good books out there on this topic... this is a good one: "change your voice, change your life"

[Professor Riffs]

Originally Posted by fargone

lessons. a good teacher can help you focus on aspects of your voice that need improving. a video won't be able to help you on an individual level.

... did you say plugin? if you're thinking of an auto-tune plugin, you're looking for a cop out. I'm obessently opposed to auto-tuners. The human voice is a beautiful thing, particularly if used well. Billy Holiday, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, and Nash were all doing damn well before they even thought of that piece of ..... Learn to sing.

Janis? I thought you were mentioning people that did well.........

p.s., love me.

[EvanExempt]

I've had some luck singing into a guitar tuner. Just one of those cheap ones with a built in mic. YOu can really start to catch your self when you aren't holding notes properly or trailing off. Just a thought.

[Bellringer]

Something I have learned that really helps me out is to sing along with an instrument. If you play guitar, bass keys, whatever, create a simple 3 or 4 chord melody that repeates. Words are not necessary. Just concentrate on having enough breath to be solid with each note change. Sing something easy like la, Da, aah, ooh, you get the idea. Record it and listen to yourself. You will begin to figure out where your strong and weak points are.
If you practice scales on an instrument. Practice vocalizing along with the scales. Just a few more ideas.

[lukedavo]

Most of the vocalists out there can't sing a lick. So maybe go a step farther than they did, and take a voice lesson.
I know a few vocal teachers, and have been around them for years, and honestly there are people out there that just can't do it. Aftrer three years of lessons there is one dude who shall remain nameless, that while his breathing and pronunciation have improved he's still as pitchy or pitchless as the day he walked in.
Practice, record and try your best to match the pitch, listen back, and step by step correct the problems. A teacher is trained to find, point out, and help correct these problems. So while it seems this is the biggest, and most expensive hassle, it is the easiest way to help correct problems, if corrections are possible.

[EvanExempt]

And don't forget that old rule of thumb about using your diaphram instead of your chest to push the air. Applying this logic has allowed me to hit (and more so HOLD) notes that I never thought I could hit. So much of it is breathing.

[smopo24]

yea, doing breathing exercises is key