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Why Can't I Sing?

37K views 47 replies 30 participants last post by  oneainamillion 
#1 ·
I've always wanted to be able to sing...if not 'Idol' quality...at least in tune...yet I'm unable to despite practicing...singing scales with the piano...etc...

...I was told that everyone can at least learn to sing ...but I don't think this is true...none of the 5 of us can sing, unless my 9 year old can...but he doesn't want to...

...anyone have any insights as to why certain people can't sing? I can hear myself sing off-key...but am unable to correct it...

...BTW...it doesn't stop me from singing...LOL...I have lots of time during my daily commute to and from school...alone...and safe in my car... :D
 
#3 ·
Originally posted by Nox@Jul 24 2004, 05:02 PM
I've always wanted to be able to sing...if not 'Idol' quality...at least in tune...yet I'm unable to despite practicing...singing scales with the piano...etc...

...I was told that everyone can at least learn to sing ...but I don't think this is true...none of the 5 of us can sing, unless my 9 year old can...but he doesn't want to...

...anyone have any insights as to why certain people can't sing? I can hear myself sing off-key...but am unable to correct it...

...BTW...it doesn't stop me from singing...LOL...I have lots of time during my daily commute to and from school...alone...and safe in my car... :D
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Hello there!!! Yes, there are some people who can't sing...but I believe everyone can learn too sing very good...or at least good enough to carry a tune. Have you ever gone to a voice coach? They are more likely too know why lol. There are different types of voices...many different types. But I suggest going to a voice coach...they know what they are talking about, LOL. :p
 
#4 ·
Once upon a time I believed that anyone could learn music, but now I believe some just can't. My friends and I have tried helping my husband with his lack of musical ability... nothing works. He can't even hear the difference between notes in a scale. He's as musically talentless as I am talented! He wouldn't be offended by that, thankfully, he believes he's Webster's definition of tone deaf. His singing really is something, most people take notice right away!

He doesn't play any instruments either... he once played the sax, but it didn't go well because he couldn't tell the difference between the notes! I love him anyways :wub:

As for why he can't learn ... maybe it's genetics? No one else in his family is musical. His mom's dyslexic, maybe he has a little of that just in his ears?

On another note, my voice got much better as I got better on the violin. I actually envision the vocal notes as distances between my fingers as I sing and it really helps me keep in key!
 
#5 ·
I actually envision the vocal notes as distances between my fingers as I sing and it really helps me keep in key!
Interesting!
Yes...one of the hardest thing is intonation when it comes to singing. There can be alot of factors...breath control and other technics apart.
But fundamentally speaking :
1. Singers believe that they're 2 pairs of ears in a musically trained person. One on the outside(visible), the other inside .
So, without proper training, you'll not be able to feel this 2nd pair of ears(inner ears)...that is the deciding factor to pitching. The inner ears let u feel the sound as vibrations( esp. so when u sing ). U hear yr vioce 'inside' your body if yr trained instead of outside, and then these vibrations travel deep down. So, if u've inner ears...u'll know how to adjust yrself 'pitchwise' to make the note's vibration levelled to whatever u hear/or is played for u.
2. Pallet is inflexible. There are 2 pallets required for singing. One is the hard pallet, the other, the soft. Very often, the voice travels in the wrong direction ( inside the pallets ) and restrains voice transition-cannot sing any higher and all notes will sound the same up to a point.

The 3rd, which is only assocciated with trained pros...Their inner ears need to re-condition the notes they really want. IE : Sopranos tend to always sound sharp, why?
Caz most sop will actually adjust for instance high G note in relation to their inner ears...they will think of it as G , sharped by a microtone, so that when they do sing the note, the position produced will be high enough( for there's a tendency to drop), and it will sound just right. But as time goes on, the difference gets bigger...and they ended up sounding sharp in higher notes.
 
#38 ·
^^21st Century snake oil^^

In regards to the voice itself, the two things that must be done are: purify the vowel and develop the registers to equal strengh and then blend them. Breath control and voice placement are techniques that are taught by vocal coaches that have NO idea how the voice actually works. These coaches can destroy a good voice in a heartbeat! Stay away from them!

The issue that you are dealing with however is one of hearing, not the mechanics of the voice. There are some folks on this earth that are truly tone death and will never overcome it. Is this you, hard to tell. If you were not involved with music as a child as most of us here were, it may just be as simple as an undeveloped ear. Get around people who are into making music and yes, the Church is a wonderful place to do this. Do some research. Find a church that has a really good music program, not just a bunch of screaming guitars! I truly hope that you are able to overcome your hearing issue and join the Heavenly Song!
 
#6 ·
Originally posted by DW@Jul 25 2004, 03:33 PM
2. Pallet is inflexible. There are 2 pallets required for singing. One is the hard pallet, the other, the soft. Very often, the voice travels in the wrong direction ( inside the pallets ) and restrains voice transition-cannot sing any higher and all notes will sound the same up to a point.

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Think that's me???? You could have something there!!! :p
 
#10 ·
I think all singers must have perfect or absolute pitch (whatever the difference is :unsure: ), they have to imagine the note exactly in their head before they can venture to try to produce it, which is why I can't sing (my formal musical education is non-existant :( )

that and the voice issue, I think anyone with a musical education and half a decent voice can sing something (with enough practice).

the problem with me is that my voice is unsteady on the lower register (it shakes and falters), it is rather unpleasant in the middle register, and as for the upper register :blink:, I sqeeze the life out of my vocal chords to get anywhere near 2 octaves from my lowest note, and even then, I can feel it is going to fall apart any moment (ever heard tenor crack a high C :unsure:) not to mention the horrible timbre (improper voice production).

when I hear someone like fischer-dieskau, or some of the really old opera singers (proper voice production), the resonance of their voice, the ring, the projection...

it makes me want to shoot myself (or take up the violin :rolleyes: )
 
#12 ·
oh, and what's really really annoying, as a child, I had a heavenly voice (I am serious). I still don't know what happened to it.
I would think that yr voice has changed with puberty...alot of boys face this problem, even girls also...esp. Mezzos. All u need is some vocal ex that works on 'easing' out the cracks along the transition.
For me, I have i major crack in my voice, somewhere around Treble A going to B. But with appropriate ex. to strengthen that area, it has been better.
Some people will have more cracks along the way, 3 or more, esp. if the vocal muscles are weak.

I think all singers must have perfect or absolute pitch (whatever the difference is ), they have to imagine the note exactly in their head before they can venture to try to produce it,
Yes...in a way. And that's when the 'inner ear' comes in also. It allowa u to hear yrself inside yr head and body b4 producing the note and after.
 
#14 ·
We went to a wedding yesterday.

They had two singers perform during the service. One sang to recorded music...the other along with a piano...

...both were awful...

...why do people sing when they're awful?
 
#15 ·
This is a great thread for info I did'nt have before. I've allways thought anyone could learn with enough practice. I'm rethinking that now...Kerry PS I've had a singer-songwriter thing going on for the last 20 years ,and just last night I was dreaming about how I could improve my vibrato after listening to a recording...Weird eh?
 
#16 ·
Originally posted by Nox@Sep 19 2004, 12:04 PM
We went to a wedding yesterday.

They had two singers perform during the service. One sang to recorded music...the other along with a piano...

...both were awful...

...why do people sing when they're awful?
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Either:
1.) They are dumb.
or
2.) They just love it and don't care (like that Chung guy on American Idol) :)
 
#17 ·
...heh...

...but someone must be telling them they're good...

...now, I know everyone has to start somewhere...and I know church is great for beginners...I luv when the kids perform in church...and I think the entire congregation gets a kick out of them...

...but a wedding is a tad more public...
 
#18 ·
Yes...some people are just really bad and still they perform like superstars. Well... it's a weird weird world. But Nox is right. U've to start somewhere...and starting in a church is one of the best place that I can think of.
AND...people are not supposed to comment or critique when yr singing in church. Whatever that is sung, is presented to God, not us. And u realise that u're not allowed to clap even after someone's done a terrific performance in church...so the same goes along...don't judge them when they did a terrible job. So, whatever those 2 'horrible' singers sang to God...they must have put it foward at their best effort...Caz u only give yr best to Him. So do forgive them for their poor performances.
And we believe that everyone can offer anything to Him, so that means not only the musically inclined get to play or sing in church.
But I do understand what u mean... And it always makes me wonder...whether they know that they sound really :(
LOL. :) Esp. those who behaved as if they're superstars.... I think u'll find comfort in knowing that I find them equally appalling as well. :lol:
 
#20 ·
It's not funny! Nope...not at all...nope nope nope...

...and you'd just better hope you never have the opportunity to find out just how bad I really am (well, I'm not the worst...cuz I've heard worse on the 'Idol' shows...)...
 
#25 ·
About expanding range, my friend is a bass but at first he was unable to sing above middle c, when he took up barbershop singing, he joined the baritones to make a quartet with me (he is more capable of reaching top notes) and as time has gone on, his range has shot up and as it has, his top notes have become less shrill so my advice, sing with higher singers if you want to improve your range!
 
#26 ·
I don't think range is that important. Accuracy of pitch is the main thing and that can only be acheived by singing regulaly or playing a string instrument. Second is support from the diagphram that will improve phrasing and tone. Third is how well your mouth can shape a trumpet with a large space inside. Fourth is range and above all, keeping the timbre the same at the bottom of your range to the top of your range. Many basses will happily sing through a low passage, but when they see a high note, their throats immediatly constrict and the tone dies.
 
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