Okay, so it's NOT the "Noob" section- so what? This is obviously a noob question, from a brand-new forum member ("Join date: Jan 2011. Post: 2,") By his own admission, he does not even know enough to know what questions to ask. Cut the poor boy a break.
I think the "Karaoke machine" comment is a clue to what the OP really is trying to ask- "How do you know when to come in at the beginning of the song (after the intro,) and again after, say, the lead break?"
Yeah, it's vague, but I will try to answer that question. By all means, ask again if I missed the mark.
You know the song. You know how measures are between the start of the intro and the start of the first verse. Same with the lead break- you know how long it is, how many measures. You also pay attention to what is happening, instrumentally, during the part of the song when you are
not singing.
Use a song you know well. Make a CD or MP3 of it, and listen the bloody hell out of it, till you know it like the back of your hand.
Then take a shot at recording it. Keep the recording simple, esp. gear- don't buy any. Well, maybe a microphone, if you don't have a decent one (TIP: Be careful buying
Shure SM58's- that may be a fine mic for your use, but there are so many conterfeits out there- buy from a Shure dealers, so you don't have to spend lots of time educating yourself on how to spot a fake.) Use the sound card on your computer, and the audio file recording software that probably is already installed- or download a SIMPLE one from the 'net. Your Dad won't care, and won't be impressed by the $1000's you spent on ProTools software and a 16-channel DAW, unless he's either a professional sound recording engineer, or a crazy spend-thrift. He just wants to hear you sing! If you decide you love recording, you can ask later about that stuff.
I think it's terrific that your Dad wants to hear you sing, and that you are willing to indulge him thusly. Looks to me like you two have a good relationship.