Topic: a bit off topic

I would like some help some suggestions really. I have been playing guitar for the past 17 years. I can play anything, and I proably have. The one think I cant do is sing. I sound like a seadonky being stabbed, to put it bluntly. Ive taught myself guitar, I can teach myself to sing, but I need someone to show me the way. How do I go about it.

Re: a bit off topic

Hello shawnmgray - anybody can learn to sing better.  Usually the first steps are learning how to breathe properly and how to provide your vocal chords sufficient breath support to produce a clear and resonant tone.  Just as you trained your finger muscles to play guitar, you must put some effort into training your diaphram, vocal chords, and mouth to work together to sing.


A web search on 'voice training' or similar words will turn up lots of stuff.  Here is a link to some basic tips:

<a href="http://singsmart.com/freesingingarticles.html" target="_blank">http://singsmart.com/freesingingarticles.html</a>

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

Re: a bit off topic

When I first started singing with my band it was because the singer had quit and we still had gigs booked so I had to get tolerable very quickly.

1)Find your range

    Everybody has a range of notes they can hit. Elvis Presley had a wide range, Jim Morrison had a narrow range but both were good, strong singers because they sang song within their range. One fun and easy way to find it is to take a simple song and sing it in each key. some of them will be easier to sing in. Find the ones that are the most comfortable and then sing the scale for that key. This will help you get an idea of what songs you can and can't sing


2)Be kind to your troat

     If you know you have to sing drink room temperature water instead of beer, pop, coffee ect. If you smoke you should probably cut back or switch to lights. Don't over do it. When you troat (vocal chords) get tired, let them rest. They will get stronger in time.

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?" hmm