I think I'm a singer...will you tell me if you do too? I desperately need to know...

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janeparachutes

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At this point and this late in the game, I desperately need opinions on my singing voice, because I'm seriously considering pursuing a career in music. Perhaps not specifically as a singer, but then again, I do not know just what I am capable of or truly interested in. PLEASE tell me what you TRULY think. This question of whether or not I can sing is something very personal to my heart and something I've been dying to know for so long now. I say this not to dissuade your honesty but to persuade you to LISTEN!

I recorded myself on my macbook singing to a decent karaoke version of Alicia Keys's "If I Ain't Got You." It has a lot of mistakes but I prefer to keep it as one take.

If I Ain't Got You cover by janeparachutes on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Thank you so much!
 
Will ANYone please respond? I won't get my feelings hurt.
 
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basing my opinion on the fact that there are a few mistakes in there, you are pretty good :) practise making it more consistent though, how old are you?
 
why thank you :). yes, i know there are serious mistakes and that i could do better, but i don't have many opportunities to sing as loud as i want as i am very shy about my voice. i forgot the words on some parts and botched a few notes along the way as well. do you think my consistency could be improved through learning proper breathing? i feel intuitively that that proper breathing is an issue for me as well as singing from my diaphragm. also i am 20 years old...probably not as young as i sound, haha.
 
and was that sarcastic as well?
and yeah, I'm not a singer myself, but when I do sing (privately, no one within 50 miles) then I do often find myself running out of breath when I am singing along to something, so I guess learning a better breathing pattern and generally being able to hold it in longer will help, and thats just practise. And learning the lyrics is just something you do
 
<phew>
I'd recommend a wink emoticon in future,lol.

OP, I think you have a great voice.
The most important thing is that you have good pitch. Sure there are mistakes and techniques that could be improved,
but the fact that you're young and looking for ways to improve is great.

Just stick at it, and don't be afraid to step back a bit and just let it out sometimes. :)
 
You definitely have potential. Keep on practicing. Focus on mic control a bit. :)
 
Well I didn't give Sean very positive feedback so I understand his subtle but snide remark and don't blame him for it in the slightest!

ollie99 said:
And learning the lyrics is just something you do
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That just made me laugh out loud. I don't know why I flubbed the lyrics when I know the song so well...at each of those instances I startled myself but tried to keep it up as if I didn't notice. Shit happens.

Steenamaroo said:
don't be afraid to step back a bit and just let it out sometimes. :)
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All my doubt comes from this! I don't believe I have developed my chest voice properly since I abandoned it long ago out of trying not to sing too loudly in my house as a child. I am practically terrified of really going for it and having my voice crack before I finally start building it back up again. Has anyone else experienced this or felt this way???

jimmys69 said:
Focus on mic control a bit.
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Interesting. I wish I could but I don't have a microphone. Haha. This was recorded using my macbook's microphone...which I have to turn down so it doesn't fizz out when I sing high notes. I'm not a fan of it.

Thank you all so much for your constructive comments because it really means a lot to me. I have to say I feel very happy after reading your replies. Singing is something that is so vulnerable, especially if you hide it away from others, and so being able to come on a website like this and get feedback is pretty awesome. :)
 
janeparachutes said:
All my doubt comes from this! I don't believe I have developed my chest voice properly since I abandoned it long ago
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I'd consider rephrasing, but I get your point! :p

Seriously though, I know how you feel.
Your voice operates like any muscle. It needs trained, exercised and stretched.

I'm not saying you should shout or anything, but in my experience, when you do let go and just enjoy singing, it'll be like a weight off your shoulders.

Have you any interest in better gear? A little USB mic and a pop filter would go a long long way if all you're doing is vocal work.
 
Haha well please do tell me how to rephrase! I am very green. I do have interest and have for a while now in getting a mic, but I always write it off as not worth it since I doubt my vocal ability so much. I am very new to all of this... I've just been singing alone in my bedroom my whole life, and that's all. I need all the advice I can get. I suppose the next steps for me would be to get a vocal coach and a microphone and filter to record myself with?

By the way, I just listened to your covers on soundcloud and really enjoyed listening to them. U gotz skillz
 
I think one of the biggest keys to being a great vocalist, is confidence. Practicing will help to achieve this. Also, having quality gear, so that you can actually hear what it is you are doing, will help bring you to fully understand what it is you are capable of. - no sarcasm. :)
 
jimmys69 said:
I think one of the biggest keys to being a great vocalist, is confidence. Practicing will help to achieve this. Also, having quality gear, so that you can actually hear what it is you are doing, will help bring you to fully understand what it is you are capable of. - no sarcasm. :)
Click to expand...

Jim's right. It's all about confidence.
If anything I'm usually to quick to dismiss singers, but honestly, I don't think you have a problem.
 
Confidence is practically a myth to me, but you are both right. I'm in an odd place because I lack the confidence to be heard by others, yet what gives me confidence is being heard by others. But it just dawned on me that dedication and effort...getting the proper gear, recording myself often and working at perfecting my voice (which is still developing)...that will build up that confidence. In other words I need to start taking it seriously!

Thank you. Your advice has actually clarified a lot for me.
 
Jane I'm in the same boat. Terrified to sing in front of others. I finally decided to go for it and got a vocal coach a few months back, been working with her for months and I'm still scared every time I go in there. I started getting little bits of recording stuff at home so I could play it back and try to decide for myself if I could sing. I definately don't have the courage to upload a clip to a website so you're moving forward already.

Your voice is awesome but the recording is terrible haha =) . I would love to hear what you could do with a real mic and a backing track. If singing is something you're passionate about I highly suggest a vocal coach. They can help you with all sorts of problems (some that you don't even know are problems), not to mention if you find a good one chances are they are a musician too and will tell you outright if what you're trying isn't good. Keep it going, you sound great
 
Thank you polarity! It's really refreshing to hear from someone who relates. I agree with you...I think a vocal coach would work wonders for me, not to mention help me become more dedicated to the craft... but like you mentioned, the thought of singing in front of a person in such a personal setting and having my voice judged is terrifying. I'm also concerned with a vocal coach inflicting his/her vocal style onto mine, because I want to develop my own. I think you have to be picky when it comes to vocal coaches and I don't know if I would know if one was doing me a disservice or not. Regardless of my concerns/anxiety, I need to take lessons, though. How'd you build up the courage? Did you try several different coaches before you found one you liked?

I do feel like clarifying that I come from a family full of well-respected musicians of whom I will never name (haha), and this is what gives me most of my anxiety. My mother's father is very famous, my father's brother is slightly famous and one of the best singers in the world, and my father is a songwriter, a musician that can play every instrument, and an engineer. The pressure that comes with that is, for me, unbearable. It has made me not know where to reach out as I do not want to shame my family name, basically. Yet with this family of mine, there also comes the benefits...of having music "in my blood," living and breathing it my whole life, not to mention the connections if I ever get bold enough to pursue them. But I want to make it on my own. I don't want anyone to know who I am related to so that I am not compared to them and so I don't humiliate myself...

That is why I am here now and why I opted for this instead of actively pursuing feedback from others in my everyday reality.... I think you should post a clip of you singing online! I am obviously not using my real name, so I feel only slight humiliation by posting a clip of myself singing. My view is, as long as nobody knows who I really am, nobody can really mock me. It's a trial run. The internet is basically a garbage dump, anyway! You have nothing to lose. :)
 
Garbage dump huh? Where you went for advice, is a garbage dump? Hmmm.....

I get what you are saying, and there is quite a bit of anonymity for those who wish to get advice from strangers. But, hiding behind a false person is not the way IMO, to improve upon yourself.

@ polarity: Please post a sample. You really have nothing to lose, only others opinions in a forum designed to help each other improve. :)

@ jane: Now that we know that isn't your name, I would suggest inviting some support from your family, to help you to improve on the talent you already obviously have. I am sure that you would get nothing but support from a family of musicians. I know I do that for my kids. :)

Confidence is born from experience, honesty, and pushing of your own boundaries (and knowing what they are). Be confident. :D
 
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