Developing Good Vocal Tone

[cantstoplt021]

Hello Everyone,

I have been taking singing lessons for a month now and my voice is improving, but it still doesn't sound well. I can match pitches pretty perfectly, but still there is more to a good singing voice than being on pitch. I believe it would be good vocal tone. For example I can sing along to a John Mayer song and match the pitches perfectly, but still it won't sound like John or even good for that matter. Does good vocal tone just come with time? Or does it have to be learned and practiced? Also how much should I practice singing a day to see results?

Thanks!

[Adoney]

What is a good tone? That is different for everyone. People will listen to the most hideous singers and admire them for reasons beyond logical to me. Try singing with tone in mind, rather than singing with notes in mind and constantly worrying about breaking and holding your voice, and all that garbage. It's not necessary to worry about those things... they sort themselves out in time.

[Owen Korzec]

Well IMO John Mayer doesn't have great tone...lol...unique yes but not fantastic

Tone can be learned, I've done it. It doesn't just come with time you have to learn and practice it.

I think larynx configuration, how you are forming vowels, and eliminating nasality are the biggest factors in developing good tone.

[ronws]

Trying to sound like another singer is fraught with peril. It is okay to absorb their style, their emotion. But to hope that you will sound like a carbon copy if you don't already do that from the start will lead to ruination.

And I know that statement will cause me grief. However, every singing teacher we have discussed here also says that. So, in one way, I am repeating the advice of those who are better than I am and more knowledgable than I am. So, if someone wants to tell me I am wrong, go ahead and tell them they are wrong, too, if you have a way to prove that.

[VideoHere]

cantstopit,

good tone starts with your perception of what you think good tone is. have you established those singers whose tone you like and feel is good?

[cantstoplt021]

Maybe tone isn't even the right word. I'm thinking of the quality of a voice that makes it sound pleasing to the ear. Its more than just being on key there's a certain character to it that sounds good.

[Seth]

Tone is exactly. Listen to singers you think sound good and copy them. Copy enough singers that sound very different and you'll develop your own sound.

[benny82]

Completely agree with Phil. Good tone will come with the quality of your technique. This will reveal the "natural beauty" of your voice. Once your technique is solid you can try out whatever tone you desire and you will notice if it compromises your technique or not (because you get a feel for this once your technique is solid).

[VideoHere]

i totally agree with phil and benny.

don't rush it either....one of the biggest things i learned (over time) was what can happen when you learn to control the height of the larynx in conjunction with how you work those vowels.

all these "voices" and "tones" start to emerge....

as you gain more experience you can literally "apply a voice" to a song....

that's the one thing about consistent exercise and practice..all of these skills and benefits start to develop you simply could not have anticipated.