Hi Guys,

I have a question about singing.

Will singing improve with practice or over time?

I guess the best way to put it is, If you practice a musical instrument, even if you are not that good at it, over time you will improve.

But does the same hold for singing.
If you are really not all that good but keep at it will it improve over time?
Or are you eternity domed to drive even the dogs out of the neighborhood.

Ron.

If you just practice with no feedback or guidance, it might not help a lot, but if you have a teacher who can evaluate your potential for improvement, lead you in the right kind of practice, and guide you to train both your voice and your ear, a lot can be accomplished.

like painting is more about seeing, singing is more about hearing = listen well...

or like writing is about reading. I can't sing well (except along) and don't paint, but I write pretty well and have learned that comes from reading a lot -- both what others write and reading myself from a distance.

The one exception to this rule would be song writing, with which I have no experience but have heard that it's about fish.

Fish? Well, maybe.....when I write songs and sing, I'm usually just floundering around.....especially when my guitar won't stay in tuna.....I believe singing, like dancing and painting, eminates from the place in us that is divine.....

Ah. That explains why I can't sing.

I think that if you sing you must believe what you are singing . Its like a message you tell to people . We dont have to be Pavarroti 's to sing a song .

You're totally right, guitarman, you don't need a great voice to be a convincing singer. Most of the public won't sing so they can be heard by another person; it's kind of been a lost part of our culture. Instead of getting together with friends and neighbors and having a nice group sing for entertainment, we sit around watching professionals doing it on stage or on television, or listen to them on CD. When someone does sing with an average voice, but on key (because they listen to the accompanyment well) and with conviction, they sound terrific!

Not being able to sing "well" in the traditional sense never stopped Bob Dylan, or me for that matter.....!

Hi Ron,

Singing is like everything. Practice will make you better. You are however limited by your vocal chords and your ears...

I can't sing. This is why I play music instead...

Someone once told me that everybody can sing.

Being one that sounds like Lucy Ricardo, I found it hard to believe. I think it's a matter of finding your tone. Be it soprano or baritone, high or low.

Have you ever hummed along with something..not a song but say a washing machine or a fan and matched the tone? I was also told if you could do that, you can sing.

Now, I'm not thrilled that my voice sounds more like Melissa Etheridge than Olivia Newton John or Dolly Parton, but ya know what? I don't care...I sing if I want to sing. I can hold notes (welll I used to) as long as Barbara Streisand. It won't shatter glass like Ella, but it does annoy the cats! Not something I do in front of people, of course

Yes, I have also noticed that my Husband's band hasn't yet asked me to sing back-up

Yes, formal training would help you to "find your groove" so to speak, but it really has to start from the heart. Your "groove" is right in there!

When I was 15 and taking uillean pipe lesons, there would often be a voice student in the house at the same time. I found it quite excrutiating to have to listen to and wondered how anyone could stand being a voice teacher.Just goes to show how self-centered a 15 year old can be. I mean, I would get annoyed at bad singing and I was a bad BAGPIPER

Singing to me is as natural of breathing, and a joy. I think I came out of the womb singing harmony, and it's not something I have to put much thought into, most of the time. Yes, it's good for you to know the basics of "voice"--you'll be able to keep singing a lot longer that way--and to be a good listener, but the most important thing is if you love it, just do it!

Before I start my spiel many thanks to all for answering my question.

That’s what I like about this forums. If one has a question there is no shortage of knowledgeable people that are quite willing to help.
Also, Arlo takes time form his schedule to come in here also with his expertise.

Ok, I think there may be something to listening to improve one’s singing.
As Arlo said ‘listen well’.

The reason I say this is after I took my auto harp and guitars out of the closet after many years (and by the way they are not going back) my singing ability left a lot to be desired.

It was pretty bad.. When I started playing again my singing started to improve a little.
It seemed to me it was getting a bit better because I was listening to the guitar and not so much because of practice.
If I played in a particular key I tended to try to sing in that key and follow the chords and not even think about what I was doing it.
Once I started to listen to the music, and I mean actually listen, things started to improve a bit.
But I didn’t know if it was from practice or simply playing the music.

So, I guess form what you guys have said. Practice will make my fingers more nimble when play but listening will make a better singer.
A professional instructor I guess can fine tune you 'so to speak'.

All sounds good to me....

This is probably ‘old hat’ to you musicians. LOL, but it takes time for guys like me to catch on.



Sheesh, I’m glad to hear other people do thing like this.

Yes, I have done this at times just for fun. Simply to see if I can harmonize on the tone of what ever it is..
Hey! I’m not crazy after all......


Many thank for your replies people, made sense and been of help.

Ron