3 Exercises for Beginners: Your Roadmap to Improving Your Voice

If you're a beginner looking to improve your voice, especially if you consider yourself a bad singer like I used to be, then this article is for you. I understand where you're at because I was once in your shoes, spending all day behind my computer as a video game coder and feeling lonely. But I found solace and inspiration in my favorite singers, and it motivated me to change my life and pursue singing. So, let's embark on a little roadmap to help you on your singing journey!

Foundation: The Minimum Viable Voice

Before we dive into specific exercises, there are three foundational aspects you need to work on to achieve what I call a "minimum viable voice." This means having the ability to sing, even if you're not yet amazing. You can have a lot of success in the industry with a minimum viable voice, so that is the first milestone. The three essentials are breathing, mind-to-vocal cord connection, and tone.

Breathing: Fueling Your Voice

Think of breathing as the fuel for your voice. You need a decent understanding of how to control your inhales and exhales while singing. Here's a quick exercise: take a deep breath in and release the air on a sustained "Ts" sound. The goal is to maintain a consistent and controlled release of airflow. Challenge yourself to hold the "Ts" for increasing durations. This exercise helps build breath control, which is crucial for singing.

Mind-to-Vocal Cord Connection: Steering Your Voice

The mind-to-vocal chord connection is like the steering wheel of a car, guiding your voice melodically. While it's challenging to give a quick tip for this aspect, I highly recommend exploring my course, which provides step-by-step guidance. However, one exercise you can try is the S-O-V-T exercise. Place an object like a water bottle or cup over your mouth to regulate airflow and tone. Focus on the connection between your mind and vocal chords while performing specific melodies and scales. This exercise helps improve pitch control and technique.

To enhance your pitch control, consider using a tool that provides visual feedback like I have in the program. This allows you to see your pitch in relation to perfect pitch, helping you train your ear and refine your pitch accuracy. By coupling visual feedback with exercises like the S-O-V-T exercise and practicing scales and melodies, you'll make significant progress in your pitch control.

Tone: Finding Your Car's Body Style

Tone is about being relaxed in the throat and mouth while balancing nasal and mouth resonance. To start relaxing these areas, work on two key muscles: the jaw and the high-gloss muscle that runs along the base of the tongue. For the jaw, try the "ng" exercise. Press the back of your tongue to the top of your mouth, while the tip of your tongue rests at the back of your bottom teeth. This helps release tension in the jaw and promotes a more relaxed tone.

Achieving a Holistically Great Voice

While these exercises can provide a good starting point, developing a holistically great voice requires more comprehensive training. If you're serious about improving, I highly recommend checking out my course, which offers in-depth guidance and saves you valuable time. I understand if you think I'm biased, so feel free to explore other options if you prefer. But remember, a well-structured course can provide the structure and guidance you need to progress efficiently.

Recap

If you're a beginner aiming to improve your singing voice, focus on building a strong foundation in breathing, mind-to-vocal cord connection, and tone. Incorporate exercises like controlled breath release, mind-to-vocal cord exercises, and relaxation techniques for a better tone. While this article provides some tips, investing in a comprehensive program can greatly accelerate your progress.