Wondering how to determine if you can sing? Everyone wants to become a singer, but how can you tell whether you genuinely have good singing skills? Singing as an act encompasses much more than just opening one’s lips to croon a few catchy tunes in the shower or alone in one’s bedroom. It’s a creative endeavor.
So do you like singing? Do you ever wish you could sing for the rest of your life? Have you ever wondered whether or not you have what it takes to sing professionally?
Michael Jackson started sharing lead vocals with his elder brother Jermaine when he was only eight. The rest of us, even the vast majority of professional vocalists, do not have the same good fortune of discovering this fact at such a young age.
We all go through the motions; at certain points, some of us have the desire to pursue singing professionally, while at other times, we question our capacity to do so. And then there are those times when it seems like you were destined to be a singer.
The answer isn’t always straightforward, but there are (often hidden) signals that each of us may look for to determine how far we’re ready to go to become a singer for the rest of our lives. To help you determine whether or not your singing is good, we have compiled the following checklist of techniques.
Is Singing Natural or Learned?
Singing talent isn’t always innate. However, some people have the genetics and physical abilities that make them more predisposed to become a singer. So, to sing, you will first need to learn how to utilize different parts of your vocal cords properly.
The ability to sing is a combination of natural talent and acquired training. It is possible to be born with a vocal tract that has optimal size and shape for producing a beautiful singing voice. Singing successfully, however, requires the learned talent of regulating and structuring your vocal muscles.
In simpler words, singing is a talent one can learn, hone, and perfect with time and effort.
Your genes mostly predetermine your voice’s timbre, but you may improve it with practice and technique. There is room for improvement in every facet of a singer’s craft, including pitch, range, and tune.
How to Know If You Can Sing?
While you may believe you have a pleasant voice while singing to yourself in the shower or driving, the reality may be completely different. However, it is not always easy to determine if other people will have the same opinion of your singing abilities as you do.
Use the following tips to determine if you’re a good singer:
Perform a Self-Assessment
If you are interested in finding out whether or not you have a decent singing voice, self-evaluation of your vocal performance is something you’ll must do. With the help of self-assessments, you can evaluate your voice and determine areas where you need to make adjustments.
You can conduct a self-assessment by recording yourself with your tablet or smartphone while you are singing. Once done, listen to the recording. You must do this while wearing headphones for a clearer sound. The best microphones for recording vocals can come in handy for a more accurate self-assessment!
This technique will assist you in determining your strengths and shortcomings when it comes to singing.
Make sure your voice is not cracking or wobbling since this might indicate that you do not have control on your vocal range or are over-extending your vocal capabilities. Your tone should be similar to that of the music. Therefore, pay attention to whether your voice is raspy or smooth, loud or quiet, and light or heavy.
Gather Feedback From People Around You
We believe that talking to other people is the most effective way to determine whether you have a natural talent for singing. But who exactly should you question?
Family and Close Friends
If you want feedback on your singing, your family and friends are typically the most easily approachable individuals. They may have even heard you singing around the home, which means you won’t need to perform exceptionally well for them. You will likely feel most comfortable while singing in front of them.
Karaoke Clubs, Cafes and Restaurants
Karaoke clubs, cafes, and restaurants are other potential sources for collecting feedback regarding your singing. For example, you can perform at a karaoke night, and gather feedback from people attending the event. You can even plan a karaoke night at home! Get yourself the best karaoke microphones and the best karaoke speakers to get your singing journey started!
Online Communities
You can always ask people online for feedback regarding your singing. All you need to do is record a video of yourself while singing and upload it on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook. People have a reputation for being truthful on the internet and won’t hold back if they think you are not good at singing.
It is really simple to upload videos, but if you want the audio to sound as well as it possibly can, you need to utilize high-quality equipment.
Check Your Tone Sensitivity
In addition to listening to your voice, you may put your singing skills to the test by taking a series of technical exams designed to evaluate your musical aptitude.
Visit themusiclab.org to take a test to see whether you have a natural ear for music or if you are tone deaf.
Assess Your Vocal Ranges
When attempting to determine whether or not you are a competent singer, testing and assessing your vocal range and technique are also important.
You may evaluate your vocal range in several methods, such as by matching notes on a piano, or downloading programs on your device, using a microphone, and evaluating the results.
To begin, you first determine your vocal range. You can do this using a range finder or several other phone apps or websites.
Record your voice as instructed by the program, and the program will give you a rough estimate based on the average frequencies at which it captured your voice.
Ask a Voice Teacher for Their Professional Opinion
There are instances when the input of an expert may put all uncertainties to rest.
Nevertheless, public audiences, friends, and family may supply you with their input; a vocal coach will present you with honest views without fear since this is what they have learned to do, even though they are pricey.
They can also tell you whether you can sing and point out areas where you may need some improvement. There are a lot of vocal coaches, and some of them even provide their voice lessons online. The singing lessons and constructive criticism will simplify and expedite your process.
Analyze Your Singing Technique
Assessing your vocal technique is another option for determining your singing ability. All professional singers must have a solid vocal technique to be good singers.
Stance
People who provide excellent vocal performances do so while standing, not sitting. Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, and you should distribute your whole weight evenly between the balls of your feet and the floor.
Posture
If you want to sing like a pro, you also need to work on your posture. It includes rolling your shoulders back and down and keeping your hips in a natural posture. Try this out by standing with your back against a wall so that your ankles, back, upper back, and neck contact the surface. Then, extend your arms over your head so that the inside sides of your hands contact the wall. If you want to improve as a vocalist, you should push through whatever discomfort you may experience and keep practicing.
Breathing
To sing well, you need to be able to take deep breaths. It keeps you from having to sing from your throat, which is more difficult and results in worse sound quality. Spending only a few minutes a day practicing deep breathing might have a noticeable effect. When performing, you should also maintain deep, regular breathing.
Relax
You should ensure you’re not tense if you want to sing properly. You’ll unlikely have a fantastic singing voice if you’re anxious and uptight. Your whole body, especially your jaw and mouth, needs to unwind. If you want to sing better, try giving your jaw a little massage before you start. Exhaling strongly, allowing air to pass between your lips and cause vibrations, is another way to relax your lips.
Final Words on How to Know If You Can Sing
These are only a few of the numerous indicators that help to determine if you can sing or not. Moreover, using these techniques may reveal flaws in your singing, but don’t let them deter you. Instead, use them to identify areas in which you might need improvement.
If you’re not sure you have what it takes to be a professional singer, recording yourself, listening back to the tape, and soliciting feedback are all simple ways to find out.
Not convinced yet? Perhaps you’ve been preoccupied with the finer parts of singing, such as pitch, vowel length, enunciation expression, posture, breathing, and tone. Just chill out. Limit your focus to two or three things at a time. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself!
