Question for singers

[Imgrimm01]

I was wondering if any of you out there had a vocal warm up exercise tape or cd that you might be willing to copy or burn for me I would like to use something official and wonder if you have anything that you recommend and could we share it?

THANK YOU

[Possessed]

I don't have a book or CD to burn for you but I am classically trained and I do have some handy tips.
A good way to warm up is to start singing scales. If you don't play an instrument get your guitar or keyboard player to play scales. Sing the notes along with the instrument. Start singing softly, slowly buliding up to full voice. Remember to bring the notes out of your chest, use the muscles in your stomach and chest to push and control the airflow through your voice box. If there is no instrument available then just sing the major scale. DO RA ME FA SO LA TE DO. Humming is also an excellent warm up.(using scales or a melody that you know)
Start soft and slowly build up. It's fun to see loud how you can hum. These are just a few tips that work for me. I know they are not for everyone but I hope they help.

[SUperstar]

Once you get warmed up after some scales.. sing the Flintstones theme. There are some nioce jumps in there to get you wamred up for singing real songs

[Mysterytrain]

Man, I could use more singing tips!

Anyone have any suggestions?

[metalchurch]

Man, I could use more singing tips!

Anyone have any suggestions?

Man, I'd love to take lessons, or atleast get a kick in the right direction. I have no control and I put no time into it, other than trying to hit some high notes here and there. I'm curious to read some replies and try to apply some of the ideas and suggestions. I know that alot of ppl never took lessons, and some were just born with it, or maybe it's maybelene.

[hicksjd9]

Brett Manning is the best. Period.

It's a relatively expensive system but well worth checking out. It will forever change the way you sing and warm up. I wouldn't feel right just copying it and handing it over, but I'm sure you could search for him on a less reputable file sharing site, you might find something.

[Mysterytrain]

I don't have time now but there is probably something on youtube. I'll check later tonight.

In the meantime, if anyone finds some videos then please post them.

For me, I seem to run out of air before the line ends and often lose my voice during colds. Yes, I smoke. I think learning just a few warm up exercises and breathing tips would help me a lot.

I heard that humming to warm up was a myth. And honey doesn't do shit to coat your throat.

Crazy as it seems someone told me that dehydration is a main reason to lose your voice. Once I tried drinking at least 2 gallons of water a day leading up to the show and it actually worked. Who the fuck knows???

[hicksjd9]

Here is something good I learned long ago. The floppy lipped brrr sound you make when It's cold outside is one of the quickest and best ways to warm up your voice. Make the brrrr as you sing up the scales. Do it for about two minutes and you will raise your vocal range by two notes immediately. Don't believe me? Without warming up, sing the highest note you can and id it using an instrument. Then warmup with the brrrrrrs and test your highest note again. It's unreal how well it works.

[songsmith]

Sleep, do something aerobic, and drink plenty of non-caffiene fluids, they work. Booze, smokes, and honey does not. You don't want to coat or deaden your vocal cords, you want them happy and rested.

[Victor Synn]

One of the best tips I'd give any singer is to make sure you're as rested as possible pre-show. Absolutely NO dairy products the day of a show. Dairy builds mucus in your throat, which irritates your throat lining and gives you that "swollen" feeling. I also try not to speak a lot throughout the day until I'm at the venue. As far as during a show, I swear by luke warm water and real lemon juice. Keep a pitcher on hand throughout the show. The lemon water will hydrate the vocal chords as well as break up any mucus that might deaden your voice. And the shot of vitamin C is another nice perk.

[Blue Reality]

It also help to have been born with a voice like Vic's. What great control and range.

There is a retired Opera Tenor in State College who is taking students. I've studied with him for years and he understands a man's voice better than any female teacher I've ever worked with. He is a fantastic teacher. I can pass along his info to anyone who might be interested.

He toured the world for 20 years and sang on stage with Placido Domingo and the like. Great guy and don't worry he won't mess up your voice or make you sound like an opera dork....

[Mysterytrain]

One of the best tips I'd give any singer is to make sure you're as rested as possible pre-show. Absolutely NO dairy products the day of a show. Dairy builds mucus in your throat, which irritates your throat lining and gives you that "swollen" feeling. I also try not to speak a lot throughout the day until I'm at the venue. As far as during a show, I swear by luke warm water and real lemon juice. Keep a pitcher on hand throughout the show. The lemon water will hydrate the vocal chords as well as break up any mucus that might deaden your voice. And the shot of vitamin C is another nice perk.

Very cool!

Thanks for the tips!

Do you think warm decaffeinated tea with the lemon juice would be the same as using water?

[Mysterytrain]

It also help to have been born with a voice like Vic's. What great control and range.

There is a retired Opera Tenor in State College who is taking students. I've studied with him for years and he understands a man's voice better than any female teacher I've ever worked with. He is a fantastic teacher. I can pass along his info to anyone who might be interested.

He toured the world for 20 years and sang on stage with Placido Domingo and the like. Great guy and don't worry he won't mess up your voice or make you sound like an opera dork....

Well, give up the name, chuckster!

[Victor Synn]

One of the best tips I'd give any singer is to make sure you're as rested as possible pre-show. Absolutely NO dairy products the day of a show. Dairy builds mucus in your throat, which irritates your throat lining and gives you that "swollen" feeling. I also try not to speak a lot throughout the day until I'm at the venue. As far as during a show, I swear by luke warm water and real lemon juice. Keep a pitcher on hand throughout the show. The lemon water will hydrate the vocal chords as well as break up any mucus that might deaden your voice. And the shot of vitamin C is another nice perk.

Very cool!

Thanks for the tips!

Do you think warm decaffeinated tea with the lemon juice would be the same as using water?

Tea is good for morning of show and at home after the show. If I drink tea after show, I sometimes do a warm salt water gargle beforehand. The salt water will start the healing process with your throat off right. The tea will soothe the throat lining. Especially if you add a shot of honey. Honey does have a soothing effect on the throat lining when added to tea. Never use granulated sugar, since it helps to produce mucus.

[KeithReynolds]

cheesecurls are fun when you eat them backwards

[nakedtwister]

Great tips Vic. One thing to help build vocal strength is to lie on your back and sing. Helps build the diaphragm. It feels uncomfortable at first but you will get used to it. Sitting and singing also forces you to use the diaphragm more.

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

I like to do some scales a while before the show then I smoke a fattie or a bowl and IM ready to go!!!!!!

[Mysterytrain]

One of the best tips I'd give any singer is to make sure you're as rested as possible pre-show. Absolutely NO dairy products the day of a show. Dairy builds mucus in your throat, which irritates your throat lining and gives you that "swollen" feeling. I also try not to speak a lot throughout the day until I'm at the venue. As far as during a show, I swear by luke warm water and real lemon juice. Keep a pitcher on hand throughout the show. The lemon water will hydrate the vocal chords as well as break up any mucus that might deaden your voice. And the shot of vitamin C is another nice perk.

Very cool!

Thanks for the tips!

Do you think warm decaffeinated tea with the lemon juice would be the same as using water?

Tea is good for morning of show and at home after the show. If I drink tea after show, I sometimes do a warm salt water gargle beforehand. The salt water will start the healing process with your throat off right. The tea will soothe the throat lining. Especially if you add a shot of honey. Honey does have a soothing effect on the throat lining when added to tea. Never use granulated sugar, since it helps to produce mucus.

Damn, dude! Thanks a lot!

So, do you do this kind of stuff regularly or just when feeling sick?

I need to stock up on some of this stuff but I'm trying this!

[Mysterytrain]

cheesecurls are fun when you eat them backwards

Well, maybe so, but we are talking about voice-care and not working your biceps. Duh!?!

[Mysterytrain]

I like to do some scales a while before the show then I smoke a fattie or a bowl and IM ready to go!!!!!!

You weigh your fatties on a scale before you smoke them?

[Victor Synn]

I use most of them regularly. Salt water and tea I usually reserve for when I'm singing multiple nights, but the rest I do pretty religiously.

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

I like to do some scales a while before the show then I smoke a fattie or a bowl and IM ready to go!!!!!!

You weigh your fatties on a scale before you smoke them?

Of course. Need to have the right amount before a show. 1.5 g Fattie works just nice!

[Mysterytrain]

I like to do some scales a while before the show then I smoke a fattie or a bowl and IM ready to go!!!!!!

You weigh your fatties on a scale before you smoke them?

Of course. Need to have the right amount before a show. 1.5 g Fattie works just nice!

Ohhhh, yeah man! That's a nice fattie!

[RamRod 1]

Fatties sometimes close my throat. Be careful.

I had 2 years of classical training in Johnstown too but you'd never know. My teacher said for "warm-ups", to sing falsetto and some chest voice with your lips closed to encourage throat resonance but I don't sing opera.

I just sing easy a few minutes in the van on the way to the gig.

[lonewolf]

1.5 grams! You call that a fattie? Standard doob in my book. Glad I quit when the quitting was good!

Ever hear of a EUROPEAN JOINT? 1st, you start with a Z and some 6" papers (guess they don't make those anymore, lol)

You can actually use some Tops and make them if you don't have any 6" papers. ZigZag are too lame for the job, though.

Its a whole new world, I guess.

Ola from sunny Florida!