How to Make It in the Music Industry

Straining when singing is a common problem. It is usually caused by trying too hard, which in turn may be caused by any number of factors. Strain usually manifests itself in poor vocal tone, poor tuning, pops, squeeks and discomfort in the vocal chords.

Most strain can be reduced almost instantly, and any remaining strain can often be fixed with long-term singing practice.

The most common causes of strain are:

• Notes that are too high or sung with a chest voice instead of falsetto (high/head) voice.
• Trying to get increased volume in the belief it will sound better.
• Trying to make a song sound more emotional than it is.
• Trying too hard to be a rock star (when you aren’t).

I’ve experienced (and still frequently experience) all four of these sources of strain. The trick is to beat it.

Notes Too High

Where notes are too high, unfortunately, you not be able to sing them, no matter how hard you try. If you can’t hit the note easily, it will sound terrible if you just ‘go for it’. Trust me. The only solution is to make the note lower, and this is best achieved either by changing the melody for this bit, or transposing the whole song down a couple of steps. It will sound much better if each note is in your range.

Increased Volume

Many people believe that if you sing harder, you will be singing louder. This is true, but the increase in volume will be accompanied by a nasty (as opposed to well controlled) ’shouty’ quality to the music. Increasing volume is better achieved by using your mind and projecting the sound, this way your vocal chords and breathing will naturally do the right things to increase your volume. With a little practice, doing this will become second nature.

Increased Emotion

Some singers will try and make a song sound more emotional than it is. The emotion of the song is best conveyed when it ‘just comes out’. If you try adding artifacts or accents to the vocal, it will sound naff, and less emotional. Listeners are not stupid, they can spot the difference. Spine tingling performances are completely effortless to pull off. If, when you perform, you aren’t enjoying it totally, and it feels like a lot of hard work, then you need to sit back and relax and not get so worked up about it. Remember, effortless i.e. don’t try and put in emotion that isn’t there.

Trying Too Hard to Be A Rock Star

Now we all want to be rockstars, and we all can be, if we find our niche. However, if you idolise the Foo Fighters but have an emotional, quiet listener kind of voice, don’t try and sing like your idol. Accept what you sound like and make the most of it. Maybe you would make a better Radiohead or Coldplay.

It is worth pointing out that on most recorded vocal performances there is a lot of processing done on the vocals which make them sound extrememly loud compared with roaring guitars and crashing drums. A voice without this kind of processing will sound much weaker- in other words, they didn’t have to sing like that to get that sound, so don’t try and copy it exactly.

Remember what you can’t see about yourself, if you are trying too hard, the audience will see this, and label you as a ‘try hard, fail often’. This, is a bad thing.

I Don’t Know If I’m Straining

Sit down and play a friend your song, and ask for an honest opinion on whether your voice sounds strained. It doesn’t require a music degree to spot.

Conclusion

Don’t try too hard, and don’t worry about it.  Strain is something every singer will run into as they explore different parts of their voice. Learn what your individual voice is capable of, and what it isn’t, and maximise what you have. And always, avoiding straining.

Many musical people cannot sing like a pro. The reason for this is because, unlike the instruments they play, which are well practiced, often they will have neglected to pay as much attention to their singing as they did to learn their instrument.

Singing is like any skill. Some are born with it, but everybody can learn to do it. The learning of proper technique will correct the vast majority of ‘poor singing’ ailments, notably strain, squeeking, duff tuning or exhaustion. To develop control over your voice, like any instrument, skill, or sport, requires a lot of time and effort, especially to reach a professional level. This is true even of rock and roll singers, such as Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. Grohl uses his voice in an agressive way but it will never squeeks, pops or sounds strained, and this is because he has learnt to use his voice in this way over a number of years.

The development of the voice is two fold: partially developing the skills (an exercise of the mind and ears), and developing of the muscles. With practice, both will be improved and so will the singing.

How to Improve Your Vocal Range

Improving your vocal range is easy but takes effort. Every day, you should sing notes on a scale, going up, and going down, and listening very carefully to your voice and how it sounds. Use a piano or guitar if you can. You want to eliminate all signs of strain, and make it sound controlled and even throughout the range, right up to as high or low as you can get.

Keep doing this and you will find your range substantially extended in both directions after several weeks, as your muscles develop and you gain new control over them.

Remember, do these exercises slowly. The purpose is to develop control and accuracy. Try and relax. Too much effort will only work against you.
If you have the facility, also try doing this with a microphone and headphones to listen back to yourself simultaneously. This is a very different experience from doing it acoustically and benefits people who make recordings.

Why do this- it’s not very rock and roll

Granted, vocal training is not the same as snorting cocaine off toilet seats. It isn’t rock and roll. But it will make you sound a like a pro, not like an amateur. If you want to be a pro, then you need to put in the work.

I must admit  I still find this difficult. I am not a natural singer, but I have come along way from sounding like a juvenile in a punk band and it has been 100% rewarding all the way. I’m taking vocal training as seriously as any other instrument now and I hope my voice will improve further over time.