Jim Lad
New member
.....................I agree.
guitaristic
prophet of Dave
Try (or NOT try) as I may, I will never be Steve Perry. 
cashcohen
Jewnior Member
I'm an amateur, but this is what I'm finding.
Everyone is born with a certain range. That's life. You can expand your range with lessons/practice, but you won't become a tenor if you're born a bass. Sorry. So embrace your natural range and make the most of it.
When it comes to accurately hitting notes within your range, confidence is 90% (maybe more). If you can hear the note in your head, and you know you can hit it, you will. If you're in doubt, this doubt will manifest itself as poor intonation.
Sing as much as you can. Sing every day. This keeps your vocal cords as strong and flexible as possible.
Don't strain your voice. Relax your throat and sing with intensity and focus, not force.
Don't smoke. Drink plenty of water. Avoid dairy products.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch. To the OP: your friend has the right attitude, he just needs to be realistic. There IS such a thing as range. At the same time, a small range doesn't make you a bad vocalist.
Everyone is born with a certain range. That's life. You can expand your range with lessons/practice, but you won't become a tenor if you're born a bass. Sorry. So embrace your natural range and make the most of it.
When it comes to accurately hitting notes within your range, confidence is 90% (maybe more). If you can hear the note in your head, and you know you can hit it, you will. If you're in doubt, this doubt will manifest itself as poor intonation.
Sing as much as you can. Sing every day. This keeps your vocal cords as strong and flexible as possible.
Don't strain your voice. Relax your throat and sing with intensity and focus, not force.
Don't smoke. Drink plenty of water. Avoid dairy products.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch. To the OP: your friend has the right attitude, he just needs to be realistic. There IS such a thing as range. At the same time, a small range doesn't make you a bad vocalist.
R
Rick Shepherd
New member
One thing I have noticed is that some fortunate singers can sing effortlessly most all the time, but others have to work harder at it. I fall into the latter category, partly because I consider myself to be a very emotionally based singer. Let me explain: When I sing, I get emotional and it makes me tighten up. It takes me longer to get warmed up and relaxed, but once I get past the initial mindset, a whole different quality emerges.
Farview
Well-known member
A lot of times the people who can sing effortlessly are the ones that are singing the style that thier voice is comfortable with. There is a genetic predisposition to certain things. James Hetfield trying to sing opera would take much more work than just singing how he does. if your voice is suited for country, singing death metal will take more work for you.
Part of getting better at singing is eventually connecting the emotion you are having with the technique that it takes to communicate that emotion. They shouldn't be two separate things. If your emotions are tightening you up to the point that you can't sing those emotions, you haven't connected that emotion with the posture and motion of singing that emotion.
A
Absolutepower
New member
Well, this is an interesting argument, and I don't think your friend phrased it in the best way. The way I would say it is that I know it is possible to extend range at least for me because I have been training as an opera singer for about 7 years now, and I have greatly extended my range. At the same time I always knew that I was capable of singing higher, but I just wasn't going about the mechanics of singing the right way.
Belief is a very powerful thing, if you believe that you are capable of singing higher, with some work I think eventually you can get there. Finally, I think that range is not one of the most important elements when it comes to singing. One of my top favorite singers of all time is Johnny Cash who is the epitome of just singing in a range he is comfortable with, and he has recorded some of the most moving tracks I've heard.
Belief is a very powerful thing, if you believe that you are capable of singing higher, with some work I think eventually you can get there. Finally, I think that range is not one of the most important elements when it comes to singing. One of my top favorite singers of all time is Johnny Cash who is the epitome of just singing in a range he is comfortable with, and he has recorded some of the most moving tracks I've heard.
Farview
Well-known member
This is true. The melody lines of most songs only really cover one octave, if that.
LI_Slim
voice in the wilderness
I think that some people are just blessed when it comes to maintaining their voices over the years. Like some people can play tennis into their 70s but others cannot without getting new knees and/or hips. Of course I agree that we should eat healthy, hydrate, not smoke, not strain, etc.
But I know a woman who has been singing (new folk singer-songwriter stuff) in public for about 20 years and smoking the whole time. Like including between sets. But she still has a strong, sweet, clear, open voice. A ticking time bomb perhaps, but...
Last night I saw (well, I heard -- all I could see was the video screens) the James Taylor/Carole King concert at Tanglewood (Yo Yo Ma even showed up to accompany them on a couple songs). James Taylor is 62 and his voice sounds better than ever (I have no idea whether or not he breaks the "rules"). Carole King (ditto) is 68 (can you believe that?). She looks healthy and much younger than her years but her voice is going.
But I know a woman who has been singing (new folk singer-songwriter stuff) in public for about 20 years and smoking the whole time. Like including between sets. But she still has a strong, sweet, clear, open voice. A ticking time bomb perhaps, but...
Last night I saw (well, I heard -- all I could see was the video screens) the James Taylor/Carole King concert at Tanglewood (Yo Yo Ma even showed up to accompany them on a couple songs). James Taylor is 62 and his voice sounds better than ever (I have no idea whether or not he breaks the "rules"). Carole King (ditto) is 68 (can you believe that?). She looks healthy and much younger than her years but her voice is going.
B
Bisson820
New member
you're both wrong.
of course everyone has a limit to their range but i believe that some people say that because thye want to justify their lack of ability.
3 years ago i was in your same position... my range was from e2 to f4... i sang every day in my commute to school/work/whereever i was going and read books and listened to professionals....
all of it was crap!
the only thing taht counted was the first thing i mentioned.... "i sang every day"....
singing is nothing you can think about and learn how to make your throat go a certain way by THINKING about it or at least not in contemporary music. its figuring out what works and what doesnt by trial and error.
i've gone through a lot of phases where i couldnt sing at all for about a week because i was singing imporperly and stressing too much. so i adjusted from there. and tried to figure it out.
you learn how to sing different notes by learning how to access different registers within another register.
i learned quickly to expand my vocal range up to an A-B range... which those of you who are trying to expand your vocal range... even expanding it 1 or 2 notes is exciting.
after a lot of practice and figuring thigns out on my own and not listening to "professionals" or "vocal instructors"..
im maxing out at a G above tenor C... G5 (?) the highest G on a guitar in chest voice.
however i did notice i lost some of my low range.
went from E2- F4... to G2 - G5 ... i'll take it
of course everyone has a limit to their range but i believe that some people say that because thye want to justify their lack of ability.
3 years ago i was in your same position... my range was from e2 to f4... i sang every day in my commute to school/work/whereever i was going and read books and listened to professionals....
all of it was crap!
the only thing taht counted was the first thing i mentioned.... "i sang every day"....
singing is nothing you can think about and learn how to make your throat go a certain way by THINKING about it or at least not in contemporary music. its figuring out what works and what doesnt by trial and error.
i've gone through a lot of phases where i couldnt sing at all for about a week because i was singing imporperly and stressing too much. so i adjusted from there. and tried to figure it out.
you learn how to sing different notes by learning how to access different registers within another register.
i learned quickly to expand my vocal range up to an A-B range... which those of you who are trying to expand your vocal range... even expanding it 1 or 2 notes is exciting.
after a lot of practice and figuring thigns out on my own and not listening to "professionals" or "vocal instructors"..
im maxing out at a G above tenor C... G5 (?) the highest G on a guitar in chest voice.
however i did notice i lost some of my low range.
went from E2- F4... to G2 - G5 ... i'll take it
C
clntgn
New member
I think one thing that helped me a lot when I was taking voice lessons was not the days where we'd practice technique or other things like that... it was the days where we practiced confidence mostly. I've always been not very confident when it comes to my singing. I've had people tell me I should just give up many many times (before I took lessons that is).
Now, when I say confidence boosting, I'm not talking about little compliments or anything like that, but things that actually made me believe I was making significant progress. Here's something that really worked for me, and may work for you too: Try having someone else play at a piano, and have you sing those notes. Don't think about what he's playing, just let them continue to do the exercise. Never think about what your limitations are, because that's when your throat begins to tense up.
There were many times in my lessons where my instructor would do just that. We'd go about doing the exercises like any other day, and eventually he'd stop and say something like "That was an A above middle C" (I'm a bass and that's actually pretty high for me). The more you think about hitting that high note, the less of a chance you're going to have of hitting it.
Your friend may be over-exaggerating quite a bit, but it his possible to expand your range more than you might think.
I think my worst times of singing were times I was overly stressed (unfortunately this was A LOT my last two quarters of college) or worried about what the people around me were thinking. Let go of that. Its not easy, believe me, but if you're just in your room recording, or playing to yourself, who's going to know?
Now, when I say confidence boosting, I'm not talking about little compliments or anything like that, but things that actually made me believe I was making significant progress. Here's something that really worked for me, and may work for you too: Try having someone else play at a piano, and have you sing those notes. Don't think about what he's playing, just let them continue to do the exercise. Never think about what your limitations are, because that's when your throat begins to tense up.
There were many times in my lessons where my instructor would do just that. We'd go about doing the exercises like any other day, and eventually he'd stop and say something like "That was an A above middle C" (I'm a bass and that's actually pretty high for me). The more you think about hitting that high note, the less of a chance you're going to have of hitting it.
Your friend may be over-exaggerating quite a bit, but it his possible to expand your range more than you might think.
I think my worst times of singing were times I was overly stressed (unfortunately this was A LOT my last two quarters of college) or worried about what the people around me were thinking. Let go of that. Its not easy, believe me, but if you're just in your room recording, or playing to yourself, who's going to know?
themdla
New member
ok so here is what you do....
have your friend sing at a normal volume up a chromatic scale while your playing the same notes on a keyboard or other tuned instrument.
at some point your friend's voice will crack or shift to "falsetto/head". this is his "break" or the end of his "full/mix" voice.
write down what note he could sing to and then go back down the chromatic scale until he reaches the bottom. this establishes his full range and depending on what range of notes he can sing determines bass, tenor, alto, etc...
now you perform the same exercise yourself, this is your range.
this information helps you in transpositioning songs to keys that match your range. making songs easier to sing if you don't have a high voice.
M
macrylinda1
New member
I'm sure with practice you can expand your range, but it's not easy. I'm trying to practice my head voice too. We're pretty much in the same situation.
Kingofpain678
Returned from the dead
A know it all idiot
legionserial
New member
Everyone has their own vocal range. It's biology. Whether they have the skills to utilize that whole range is a different story.
I
indymusician
New member
Range
My range was crap at 16. By about age 27 or 28 I found that I could really get up there. I think it comes with understanding your body. I currently have the highest range ever at age 32. I used to just take songs by artists like Soundgarden and work them and learn to hit it without straining. Then once I was comfortable there, moved on to No Doubt or Our Lady Peace.
I can't explain specifically what I did, and it took a long time to get there. A vocal coach would surely get you there faster.
I really think the key though is knowing your body, this comes with time and experience.
I think your friend generalizes a bit. There are techniques to get you to your peak, but the size of the mouth, length and width of the vocal tract, sinus sizes, and many other things contribute to the natural timbre of a voice. Alchemists spent decades trying to turn iron into gold. Sometimes it is what it is.
My range was crap at 16. By about age 27 or 28 I found that I could really get up there. I think it comes with understanding your body. I currently have the highest range ever at age 32. I used to just take songs by artists like Soundgarden and work them and learn to hit it without straining. Then once I was comfortable there, moved on to No Doubt or Our Lady Peace.
I can't explain specifically what I did, and it took a long time to get there. A vocal coach would surely get you there faster.
I really think the key though is knowing your body, this comes with time and experience.
I think your friend generalizes a bit. There are techniques to get you to your peak, but the size of the mouth, length and width of the vocal tract, sinus sizes, and many other things contribute to the natural timbre of a voice. Alchemists spent decades trying to turn iron into gold. Sometimes it is what it is.
L
Lohok27
New member
No myth here
Everyone has their natural range. What they are physically capable of. That being said, I used to sing and when I had a week of professional voice coaching I gained almost an octave higher range. What I though was my range was held back by poor technique and mechanics. I highly recommend getting at least a second opinion. Keep honing your skills!
Everyone has their natural range. What they are physically capable of. That being said, I used to sing and when I had a week of professional voice coaching I gained almost an octave higher range. What I though was my range was held back by poor technique and mechanics. I highly recommend getting at least a second opinion. Keep honing your skills!
R
RAMI
Guest
I think your friend is a myth. 
GuitardedMark
New member
AMEN!!! This is great advice. It's amazing how much more energy and production someone can have when theyre drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Try it!
A good test to the power of water. One morning when you first wake up and you are really tired, drink a full glass of water right away. It will wake you up almost immediately.
Water truly is the nectar of the Gods!
GuitardedMark
New member
It's amazing how many people overlook this simple fact. What you put in your body determines what it will put out. If you fill your body with toxins than it will not be able to perform any bodily function as well. Even the brain is extremely dependent on the minerals and nutrients you injest.
Like somone said in a previous post. It's so incredibly simple, people overlook it.
I have a friend who wants to sing more than anything, but he smokes (cigarettes and weed) A LOT. He will come over and try to record but he just cant cut it. He thinks if he "just gets the right lyrics or can understand the phrasing, or record at the right time of day etc..." it will work. All excuses. It's like someone trying to save a sinking ship by repairing the sails...
Like somone said in a previous post. It's so incredibly simple, people overlook it.
I have a friend who wants to sing more than anything, but he smokes (cigarettes and weed) A LOT. He will come over and try to record but he just cant cut it. He thinks if he "just gets the right lyrics or can understand the phrasing, or record at the right time of day etc..." it will work. All excuses. It's like someone trying to save a sinking ship by repairing the sails...
Supercreep
Lizard People
I'm guessing you didn't hear him trying to cover Freddie Mercury. Kentucky Fried Nasty.
I am going to go ahead and call bullshit. Feel free to post a mix of you singing some soundgarden at volume. Hint: Cornell couldn't even do it without straining. I think you're talking the walk.