Sitting or Standing - does it affect your singing?

[ido1957]

Maybe I'm too relaxed when I'm sitting, maybe my posture is better, cause I find I sing better when I am standing.

I know it's usually easier to sit with an acoustic and they sometimes have no strap.

Which way do you find easier/better for you?

 

[miroslav]

I can sing/play sitting...but I prefer to do both standing in most cases. I find that I get into the rhythm of the music better when standing. Also, for singing, I find it's easier to control/have dynamics when standing...you can shift your upper body more easily. When sitting you're kind of like a lump anchored to the chair.

 

[miroslav]

I can sing/play sitting...but I prefer to do both standing in most cases. I find that I get into the rhythm of the music better when standing. Also, for singing, I find it's easier to control/have dynamics when standing...you can shift your upper body more easily. When sitting you're kind of like a lump anchored to the chair.

 

[wtfuhz]

I much prefer standing if I'm singing and playing at the same time or just singing. If I'm just playing guitar, sitting for sure.

 

[grimtraveller]

If I'm singing, I definitely stand. When I'm going to hit some of those high notes or long notes, I need to wind myself up and sometimes arch backwards. I can't do that seated. If I'm playing a keyboard, it can be either. Guitar, bass or mandolin, seated. Congas or bongoes, standing. Percussion could be either.
As far as I can remember, I've only ever recorded once singing and playing together, that was last summer. I'd wanted to do it for years. Just to see if I could. I was sitting for that.

 

[ido1957]

I think you should try playing/singing together more. Just pick easy fun short songs then it's not so hard... I practice singing/playing guitar and always stand. I don't own an acoustic so it's electric all the time. All my mic's are set up for standing level.

 

[grimtraveller]

I think you should try playing/singing together more. Just pick easy fun short songs then it's not so hard...

I did, back in 1994. I hadn't sung and played guitar properly and in the church I was in at the time, it was looking like I was going to have to do that so I forced myself to learn to sing and play at the same time and standing too. It was the first time in 5 years of playing guitar that I'd ever stood and played. I haven't stood up playing bass since 1984 ! {Actually, I might have done in a jam once in 1990. I seem to have a vague memory of it}.
For the next 15 years pretty much each week, I'd sing and play. It's actually pretty easy. But when I'm recording, I like to keep the two separate. I definitely can't play bass or mandolin and sing at the same time though because I tend to be a counter melody kind of player on those instruments and I have trouble producing two different melodies at once.
Funny thing about the song I recorded last year where I did sing and play simultaneously, it was meant to just be the guitar {recorded in stereo} and my voice. It turned out well {took about 8 takes before I got it right though, and even then I had to do a punch in} and I thought that was that. But then I kept hearing harmonies and mandolin lines and pieces of whispered spoken words and I had to record them. So the song is no longer pure ! It's been corrupted.

 

[guitaristic]

I like to play acoustic sitting down, but I like to play electric and sing while standing.

I think I kinda scrunch myself up when I sit down because I'm like 6'6" lol, so when I stand I feel like it really opens up all my singing passageways and such. I can hit higher notes easier.

 

[kkh961216]

Sitting down, I notice I dont get as much air going inside.

 

[theflowerenigma]

i prefer standing, since most of the gigs and songs i do are rock and that usually means lots of movement. there's no way i could work a crowd as well if i'm standing. i've done mellow acoustic gigs where i have to sit, as well.

bottom line is it depends on how you sit and how you stand. you can stand but not have as much 'power' in your voice because you're slouching. if you sit up straight (don't look unnatural), it'll improve the air flow in your diaphragm - more 'power.'

 

[besthellbunny]

for some reason i feel like I sing the best in the car, but I end up sitting up pretty high when I get into it so I may as well be climbing through the windshield...or standing... sitting can be comfortable and more relaxing to slow down your breathing but I think from standing when you don't have your diaphragm compressed better results can be achieved.

 

[sanjbreezy]

standing is more confortable but i thnk if u sit up straight sitting is the same

 

[RockinRobby]

Most people will tell you to stand. And normally, you should. However, depending on the style, and the sound you're going for, you may get a better sound sitting. When I'm singing in the shower (standing) it sounds pretty good! However, when I'm sitting and singing in the same room (cover noise) it's usually not as good.

What is MUCH more important than sitting or standing? Is "in your head..." Singing is about owning it, you have to be confident. If you're doing a lead vocal, you have to believe that you have the biggest (substuitue your imagination here) in a crowded room... If you don't believe it, no one else will...

 

[musicwilleatu]

Standing up is better because it gives more room for your diaphragm to expand!

 

[blacktino79]

I never sing while sitting. Unnecessary stress on my diaphragm.

 

[Haarfagr]

When I play live, i always sing standing, even with acoustic guitar. I always sing better, I get more air, have more control over my voice, and as blacktino79 said before me, gives unnecessary stress and on the diaphragm!

 

[Nano905]

I prefer standing and I think I can sing a bit better.

 

[shimone]

It depends upon the singer how confident he is in singing! but most of the singers sing standing. In india almost all classical singing sing sitting

 

[SteveAlton]

I sing better standing for sure...Problem is I play keys and acoustic guitar WAY better sitting....

So I now sit when performing live and swap out instruments at the keyboard

 

[elbandito]

For me, it depends entirely on the venue I'm performing in. Some venues call for a stand up performance and some for a sit down one - it's all about the atmosphere you're trying/helping to create.

When recording, I ALWAYS stand. It's much easier to control your diaphragm and pitch when standing and I'll bet that every single person you've heard on a record was standing when they tracked their vocals.