Vocal Exercises to Improve Your Singing Skills

If you want to be a great singer, you have to practice. There is no other shortcut. Singing is very demanding, and if you’re not careful, you can hurt your vocals. You need to exercise your voice before every session to perfect those vocals and limit injuries. Here are some of the best vocal exercises for you:

Warm-Up

If you played sports in high school, you know the best way to start an exercise is to begin with a warm-up. Think of it this way, your vocals have been doing something else the whole day. Now all of a sudden, you want to sing. You need to warm up those muscles so that they can readjust themselves for the current activity.

Start with a simple shoulder roll to relax your shoulders. Then, do a head roll to relax your neck muscles. Then, massage your face slowly to release the tension from your face. Finish the warm-up by breathing in and out through your mouth.

Solfege

The first exercise goes back to your music learning days. You remember the first time you were introduced to Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do. You kept repeating it over and over again to understand the notes used in a song. This is also a good exercise for singers because it can help you perfect your pitch.

Hum

The second exercise is the hum. This exercise is good for softening your voice. Here is how to do humming correctly: put your lips together, making sure your teeth don’t touch, and hum. Breathe steadily as you perform this exercise.

Siren

This exercise is great for improving your pitch. Imitate the sound that sirens make. You can start with the highest pitch, and slowly lower the siren sound up to where you can. Alternatively, you can start low and gradually raise your pitch. Imagine an ambulance passing close to you and then speeding off.

Positive Affirmation

I know this one sounds a bit odd, but it’s not what you’re thinking. Choose a simple sentence like, ‘I like to sing.’ Say it out loud. Again and again. Now, try to sing that sentence. Yes, sing it. That’s how you build range. Saying something positive has a psychological effect. When you say that you love singing with a smile, your mood and tune changes for the better.

Lip Buzz

It’s funny how these exercises involve the imitation of everyday sounds. For the lip trill or buzz, you have to imitate the sound of a motorboat. Press your lips together and vibrate them slowly. Avoid making sounds. Then, slowly incorporate pitch to see how it goes. You should feel tingly on your forehead, cheeks, and nose. This exercise helps to build your breath so that you don’t run short.

‘Ng’ Sounds

Think about words that end with ‘ng’ and say them out loud. Examples include ring, sing, swing, bang, and many others. Notice the head and chest voices as you say the ‘ng’ part. To be a good singer, you need to pay attention to the sensations as it helps to improve the coordination between your vocal cords and words.

‘Nay’

This is one of the most important exercises in singing. It helps with vocal positioning and stops you from straining your chords. Here is how you do it: say the ‘nay’ in a bratty voice. Repeat the nay multiple times. You’ll notice that the more you say ‘nay, the easier it gets for you to rise to an upper register.

Hooty Gee

This exercise has the same goal as the ‘nay’ one – it helps with vocal positioning. Say the ‘gee’ with a cartoonish voice. The ‘g’ sound should be heard properly. If you’re nervous before a performance, this exercise can also help you relax.

Use these exercises to perfect your singing skills. If you’re consistent, you’ll never run out of breath or miss a chord while on stage. You’ll always be at your best.