Ask Me Your Singing Questions

Written by  //   //  Online Singing Lesson  //  40 Comments

Hey Guys!

It’s been a little while, but I promise I’ve got a lot of cool things in the works that are going to help my fellow singers like you!

First thing is I’m in the process of putting together a site where I can answer all your most pressing questions. So, if you have a question or two that you’d like to shoot my way to help me get the site started, ask them in the comment field below. Be sure to put your name, email, and where you’re from. I ask for your actual email so that I can email you where I’m putting the answer :-)

Also, as a side note, I just had a new website built for my personal vocal coaching business. I’ll be opening up my schedule again in the fall to new students, so if you’re in the Memphis area and interested, visit http://www.vocalcoachkentaylor.com. If not, no biggie… just keep on the lookout here or like my “Singing Tips” group on Facebook to keep up on all the free stuff I plan on giving away!

Thanks for your questions, and I look forward to helping out as much as I can!

Happy Singing!

40 Comments on "Ask Me Your Singing Questions"

  1. Emilie at · Reply

    please, singing is what i want to do with my life. i need help. how do i hit higher notes? and once i do, how do i get the “vabroto” that every good singer seems to have? my voice is OK, but its dreadfuly flat and boring. help, help HELP!

  2. GGH at · Reply

    Hello, I’m from Singapore. I’m practising a Korean song (I have no problem with pronunciation) and have typed the meaning under each line of lyrics (in my laptop) so I know what kind of emotions I have to express when I sing. Initially I was pleased with how I sounded, but after practising for more than a week, I can’t produce sounds I’m satisfied with. E.g. sometimes I sing too high, I can’t sing the low parts as well anymore. It seems to be a problem that the further into a song I get, the higher I sing. I’m a 20-year-old girl, by the way. Is there a case of over-practising?
    Thank you!

  3. Tre'Iana Tyler at · Reply

    Hey im 11 years old and want 2 sound good hit high notes and start vibration.

    > Response
    Vibrato is the natural product of a healthy voice and ideally shouldn’t be manufactured. When it comes to hitting high notes, it’s hard for me to say what would help you because everyone’s voice is different. If you can describe in more detail what’s happening when you go higher (ie how it feels, whether the sound gets louder/softer, if it often results in cracking, etc), I could maybe give you some more personalized advice.

  4. Jay at · Reply

    Hey Ken!

    I’m just getting started with trying to sing on a professional level, I’ve looked at some of your tips and they’ve helped a lot.

    I was wondering what you think is the most important thing to work on when you’re just starting out.

    Thanks!

    - Jay

    > Response
    Glad to hear my tips have helped. You can find the answer to your question at http://www.askavocalcoach.com/?p=57, just don’t judge the site yet, b/c it’s a work in progress.

  5. nina fenner at · Reply

    Hi, I love singing for pleasure, mostly folky stuff.I have spent years getting over the fear thing, I’m getting better, slowly. There’s some great advice on your site and I’m working my way through it all. I can sing in an informal folk club, but have yet to master ‘open mic’ sessions. Have you got any tips for using microphones when I’m used to singing without? nina

  6. Danielle at · Reply

    Do you have any advice on a song choice (general advice or specific songs would be helpful) when you want to prove versatility for any role? I am a 27 year old who feels she can play the 22 year old or the 50 year old. But I don’t want to sing a song thats too young or too old and have them think that I’m trying for a specific role. Any help would be appreciated.

  7. Michael at · Reply

    Hey Ken,
    Im currently pursuing a career in singing but my number one problem is my overall tone is sound very raspy and scratchy at times how can I make my tone smoother like an R&B singer also I would like to know how I could make my falsetto less squeaky and work on my riffs and runs,
    Your Advice is deeply appreciated
    -Michael

  8. Balto at · Reply

    Ken,

    whats the best way to keep a voice from getting/sounding nasally?

    Thanks,
    Balto

    • singerii at · Reply

      Hey Balto,
      Thanks for the great fantastic question! It actually got highlighted on my facebook page, facebook.com/singingtips (if you wanna check it out) otherwise, it’s sitting on our website at http://www.askavocalcoach.com/?p=316

  9. Alex George at · Reply

    Hi Ken,

    I am a music student currently being trained in the classical genre, one time in university I was messing about in the practise rooms with a friend singing more “belt” songs and a member of staff overheard me and now wants me to sing somebody to love at a concert.
    I am not used to this type of singing and am petrified that I will damage my voice or something.
    Do you have any general tips for this style of singing for me?
    Thanks.
    Alex

  10. Sharni at · Reply

    Hi,
    I’m 14 years old, nearly fifteen and I live in QLD, Australia. I suck at singing. My voice is way off pitch, I can’t carry a note, My voice cracks when I try to hit high notes etc. Like it’s not the worst I’ve heard but I would never want to listen to my self. People say to find the key that’s right for yours but I have no idea how to even do that. Can I improve my voice? Will it ever sound good? I have read for tips and I cant wait to try them. I dont want to be the next pop singer but I just want my voice to be good enough that people wont mind me singing along to a song in the car. (:
    Thankyouuu (:
    Sharni

  11. Julie at · Reply

    I feel like I am damaging my vocal chords when I am singing lower notes, and I am not happy with their quality. Help?

    -Julie.

  12. Cherie at · Reply

    I am a professional singer and I get an offer to sing in an special party from 6pm to 10pm. I am a little lost as I never have been asked to sing for such a long time, of course I will take some rest but I still do not know how to handle it! do you have any tip for me? I will really appreciate it.
    Thank you
    Cherie
    http://www.rocafull.com

  13. Deaisa michelle fuqua at · Reply

    If your 13 and singing is your whole life but when you go in frount of people you get shy and forget the words to the song and you want to live your dream but your parents always say no what should i do to make them say yes

    • singerii at · Reply

      Well as for getting over stage fright, here’s an article that might help with that http://www.askavocalcoach.com/?p=63 as for telling your parents, I’m not sure what your options are with that except to stay with it and show it’s more than a phase. Hope this all helps!

      Ken

  14. shan at · Reply

    hi im getting ready to audition for american idol. what advice can u give me on nervousness because lately ive been the person to actually make myself nervous. how can i control it??????

  15. vicjoen at · Reply

    Hi, I’m a 30-year-old who used to have quite a bit of stage fright… well, I still do but I’m in the process of overcoming it. I love singing but I’ve always been afraid to let anyone hear my voice, including myself. However, lately I’ve discovered that I’ve written many many songs over the years which I feel should be recorded. But I have this problem ‘realising’ the melodies in my head, especially when it comes to the high notes. I think I’ve got some confidence issues… haha… but my question is how do I expand my vocal range? I’d like to sound really natural when I hit the high notes instead of going into falsetto all the time.

  16. Amy Sam at · Reply

    Hi I hear apple juice is good before you sing . So my question is is apple juice good before yo sing please answer this question thanks

  17. ravi at · Reply

    hi m ravi 4rm ludhiana, my audition is day after tommrow, n i hv prepard a song of “atif aslam” “hona tha pyar” from his upcming movie “Bol”
    m sure tht m best in dis song bt i jst wanna ask u tht is this a gud song for auditions . . ? ?
    Pls reply me fast on my email id m waiting

  18. Amy Sam at · Reply

    Hi How many cups of apple juice should I drink before I sing and how many cups of water should I drink before I sing.? And how do I sing big time rush if I ruled the world boyfriend and famous correctly And any song the right way and what should I do before I sing please reply and thank you

  19. Amy Sam at · Reply

    Hi is v8 juice orange juice cranberry juice good for you before you sing and is vanilla And vanilla soy milk good before you sing? Is sea salt good before you sing?. How many hours of sleep do you need before you sing?. And what do you prefer before you sing . ?

  20. Rin at · Reply

    Hey, Ken! I’m a female sophomore in high school. Near the beginning of every school year, my school’s theatre and choir programs team up to put on a cabaret-type-thing called Back in Black. For girls, our theatre director put out two sixteen-bar cuts of music to choose from. One was for a soprano, and one was for a mezzo. The mezzo piece necessitated hitting a very low note multiple times, and seeing as how I’m a first or second soprano, that one was out. So I picked up the soprano cut, the last sixteen bars of “How Lovely to be a Woman” from “Bye, Bye Birdie.” I’ve been working with it for three or four days; I’ve played the piano for ten years and have access to iTunes tracks and YouTube videos, so the pitch and tempo aren’t the problem. Even though I’d taken chorus every year all year since the first grade, I didn’t take it my second semester of freshman year because the choir director and I didn’t really get along. I haven’t sung much since, save singing for fun. Well, it seems like my voice has suffered slightly in my upper range, because I’m having a difficult time hitting the higher notes. There are only a couple I’m worried about; one of them is an F sharp at the top of the treble staff, and I need to hold it for nine counts. There’s also the E just below that for two counts, and the D just below /that/ for another nine counts.

    So, after I’ve bored everyone with that little spiel, here’s the bottom line: I was wondering if you had any tips for getting a high note and being able to hold it out, how to improve breath support in your upper range, and anything else you think might help. The auditions are Tuesday afternoon, and I know there’s going to be some tough competition. It’d be great if you could help me out here.

    Thank you so much!

    ~Rin

  21. anthony at · Reply

    im 14 years old, i have trouble with breathing while singing, and my dad says i sing through my nose how can i stop singing though my nose and breathe better while singing?

  22. Shiri at · Reply

    Hi I’m 14 and really passionate about singing but when I got to highschool, I didn’t have time to sing :( Now my voice isn’t as good as it used to be and I feel lost without it… How to I get it back?? Special voice exersises? I don’t have Youtube :l

  23. Carlita Baitt'Facce Felipa at · Reply

    so can u answer this my question is if you have the voice that u can sing but juss need a little help then how do u get ur talent showed and become famous plzz hurry and answer thank you….and byee :) )

  24. Obi at · Reply

    every time i sing in either a pitch too high or too low for the song but when I manage to sing on the same pitch, I give off a different tone from the one (perhaps a different key) so I keep alternating extreme pitches through out the song. Are there anyways that I can correct this?

  25. Freya at · Reply

    Ever since I was 3, I have been trained as a singer with the same teacher (classically trained). She hasn’t really taught me anything, though. Most of the stuff I’ve found out myself. All she really does is give me songs I have to learn myself. Mind you, she’s reached a fairly old age. Her lessons are rather cheap. Unfortunatly, there aren’t many singing teachers in my area. And all the good teachers are like $45 half hour and are an hour away. I’m so serious about my singing but family and I don’t have that amount of money for weekly lessons… So I’m thinking of just not go to anyone. I’ve found amazing tips and programmes online. And since I go to a performing arts school and are in a professional music theatre company, I still have connections. But I’m not really sure what to do??
    Any suggestions?? Ideas??

  26. Jen of Hath No Fury at · Reply

    Hello!

    Thank you for you website and your wonderful advice. I see lots of questions from people trying to develop more vibrato…but I would really like LESS of it in my voice, or to learn how to control it better. I’m in an alternative rock band, and we do three part harmonies at times, and my vibrato makes it difficult to blend the voices well. Any advice is welcomed, and I’ll be sure to pass it on!

    Thank you,

    Jen Allen
    Hath No Fury

  27. Zoe at · Reply

    Hi, I like singing and I have a problem.Others tell me that I sing very well but I doubt them.Thing is, I don’t know how others hear my voice.

    Zoe

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