tmj -- I like to think I can sing. When I was a professional musician, I sang lead and background harmonies. I guess I wasn't too far off, because we got paid for our gigs. Two weeks after the release of the first Crosby, Stills & Nash album, my band was singing the Suite Judy Blue Eyes live on stage. 🙂
I still jam with friends, and on a good day, we can knock down harmonies from Eagles to Steely Dan and get away with it for anyone who happens to be an audience. What a rush! 😀
If you think you can sing, one secret is confidence. If you don't believe you can do it, you never will convince anyone else you can.
Here's a singer's exercise:
1. Stand up straight, and put the palm of one hand flat against your abdomen.
2. Inhale deeply, and let your hand feel the movement of your gut.
Most people's gut goes in, and thier chest and shoulders expand. That is incorrect breathing for singing.
Next, try to inhale while concentrating on making your gut expand, instead of going in. When you can do that, try speaking. You may suprise yourself with how much more power and resonance your voice will have.
This is called diaphramatic breathing. As you walk around during the day, practice it as you happen to think of it. When it becomes your natural way of breathing, you will have a very important tool as a singer.
Of course, none of this will work if you don't have a voice, or you can't carry a tune, so the part about believing in yourself is just as important.
Singing is a gas. Singing harmonies gets me high beyond belief. Enjoy! 🙂
chipbgt -- Your vocal chords are muscles. They won't get stronger without exercise.
