Claude Thomas, Perfect Guitar Learning Lessons

By Christine Durham

Are you planning a big night singing karaoke songs at your local karaoke bar? Maybe you would like to enter the karaoke contest? Or perhaps you already tried some karaoke, and decided your show would be more spectacular if you could improve your singing a bit?

Good news! Anyone can learn to sing karaoke songs like a pro! All it takes is patience, practice, and a few basic singing tips to bring out the karaoke star in you.

First of all, you need to practice, practice, and practice some more. Remember the old adage: “Practice makes perfect!” Sing everywhere. Sing all kinds of songs. Nothing beats singing in the shower! You get that nice echo, and all that moisture in the air really hydrates your vocal chords for a great sound. Turn on the radio and sing along every time you drive anywhere. Need to clean the house or the garage? Sing your karaoke songs while you clean. Sing while you mow the lawn or cook dinner. You will be surprised at all the practice you can get while doing other things. The more you practice, the more your singing will improve.

Once of the very best things you can do to improve your karaoke songs is to get a home karaoke machine, and practice doing the real thing. You can work out your entire show to perfection.

Your karaoke songs will also benefit from some professional tips. Basically, you need to create space in your body that lets the songs just flow out effortlessly to the world. What? How do you do that? There are 3 main techniques. Using these techniques will make your voice sound stronger without straining your vocal chords; they will allow you a wider range of notes; and you won’t run out of breath so quickly. They are:

1. Breathe with your diaphragm. Fill up your lungs as much as you possibly can. Feel the space under your ribs filling up with extra air? This is your diaphragm, and you need to expand this to bring in enough air to sing properly. Practice freeing your voice with this air. Breathe in to a count of four. Hold it for four counts. Let it out for eight counts. Warm up like this. Then sing, letting your diaphragm control bringing in the air and letting it out.

2. Let your soft palate, the fleshy part on top of your mouth right in front of your throat, rise to open up the throat. You can feel it if you try to stifle a yawn. This creates more space for the sound to flow out full and melodiously. Think of yawning, then practice singing with your throat more open.

3. This one is much easier. Keep your mouth open when you sing.

If you feel you need personal coaching, take some voice lessons, or join a choir.

Another way to make your karaoke songs sound better is to record yourself singing. You can hear for yourself what you really sound like. Then decide which areas you would like to improve. Also, you can hear your singing by pressing a finger against one ear and closing it up while you sing.

Two of the most important ways you can improve your karaoke songs are to choose songs which go well with your own voice, and choose songs which you are passionate about. When a song is close to your heart, your passion comes through in your singing.