plagueofdarkness

I'm really sorry to necropost, but I just saw les miserables over the summer at the west end. It mae me realise when im singing a song that was put out by broadway/west end that i should sing that versian, not the dumb movie versian

Practically anyone can develop a "decent" singing voice. The only exception would be someone that has some sort of physical defect in their "instrument". The voice is a "wind instrument". If a guitar is made with a cardboard neck, it won't sound good. If a person is born with a physical defect in the areas of the body that are used to sing, then you will not sound good. As far as I know this is extremely rare. Sometimes, people will develop small bumps on the folds called nodes from improper speaking or singing. This even happens to professionals, and sometimes requires an operation to return to normal. The two that I know of are Elton John and Tom Petty.

The odds are in your favor that you have a normal healthy instrument. You can keep it that way by avoiding things that are unhealthy for your voice, such as lack of sleep, dehydration, anxiety, screaming, eating and drinking things that make you cough, colds and sinus allergies, smoking, alcohol, and many other things.

Before I answer your last question, I want to tell you a little about my background and experience. I am 49 years old, and I have been singing since I was 6 years old. My sister and I sang in front of a full church audience on many occasions, and I also sang in the church choir. I joined marching band to play drums at about 11 or 12, and played through high school. I joined swing choir in high school. Since then, I have done a bit of self-study by reading a book and daily practicing exercises and scales for 45 minutes, followed by 45 minutes of singing songs that challenged me. I am a goofy person, and I like to make people laugh, so I have also developed some really goofy voices. I might have already mentioned that developing the goofy voices, as well as mimicking South Park and Family Guy characters. At one point, I developed an Ethel Merman singing voice. I can sing Robert Plant, Frank Sinatra, Bono, Steve Perry, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elton John, and Nat King Cole, just to name a few. I have a very good ear, and I am a huge music fan. I have listened to thousands of hours of probably every voice type and style of music.

So, the previous paragraph was about establishing credibility. I also have respect for you because you have the guts to ask, "From 1 to 10 , with 10 being the worst, how bad am I?" The answer is: You are a solid 10. I was a much better singer than you when I started singing at age 5. I am sure that you won't be upset by this, because I can see that you want the truth. Your family and friends might not tell you the truth because they don't want to hurt your feelings. We are strangers who will never talk or meet, so you have chosen the perfect place to hear the truth. I have absolutely no reason at all to give you a 10 (worst). So, now that you know that you have absolutely no clue as to how to sing, you can focus on learning to sing. You can learn to sing. You can probably learn to sing well. You won't know until you try. Don't worry about failure. Don't worry about embarrassing yourself in front of others. Don't compare your progress to others. Start now, and by the time you are out of high school, you should have improved dramatically. Good luck!

that another point, i could sing better when i was five then now. But ever since puberty hit my voice is cracky and pitchy.

More suggestions:

Are you still in school? Sign up for drama, public speaking, debate club, etc. This will strengthen your voice. Talk to your pastor, minister, preacher, or whatever you call him. Ask him for advice on public speaking. If you have ever been in a southern baptist church, you know the power that preachers have in their voice. They can raise the roof. A powerful speaking voice is easily trained into a powerful singing voice.

People that talk a lot will generally strengthen their voice, I strengthened my voice one summer when I took a temporary job in telemarketing. My job was to talk on the phone for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. I don't recommend that you do that, but if you are the shy and quiet type that doesn't talk much, then it's time to find fun social activities that encourage you out of your shell and get you to speak with volume and confidence. This will safely strengthen the vocal folds as well as help you to "find" your voice. You will find resonance and proper placement of the vowel sounds if you work at it. Seize every opportunity to speak in front of a group of people. Read aloud to yourself alone in your room if that works. Read poetry and song lyrics. Buy a metronome, and read song lyrics in time to the metronome.

This was my favorite reply. Thanks yah I'm 14. My next question is can I ever have a good singing voice?

From 1 to 10 , 10 being worst how bad am I?

thanks, do you know how I can stop being so nasally I sound nasal WAY to much and its hard to stop.

This is my cover of the song stars from the musical Les Miserables. I have a bit of a cold, so it's not great, but judge it as if I was completely well.

thanks,

-John Cumbie