Oh, by the way, that's my spiffy new Samson Meteor mic. I've read that USB mics aren't great but it'll have to do for now. I'm not splurging on gear before I can even sing

I got the mic for R899 from Raru on Black Friday and the boom arm + pop filter from Takealot this week for R504.

All together, about R1,400.

How I started out singing in my first band was because the bassist noticed that I'd sung in our high school choir. I haven't sung in a choir for yonks, but it did teach me to hold a melody. I once had to sing at a friend's wedding. One of my colleagues said it helps to get a feel for the space where you're going to perform. You don't have to do anything, just be in the space for a bit prior to your performance.

I've helped a few people to learn how to sing (I wouldn't go as far as saying taught) and there are three things I recommend.
1) Start with your ears.
Your ears are your most important tool when singing. You use them to help you pitch correctly, to make sure you're singing with the rest of music and to evaluate how you sound. I'm not sure where you are so I don't know what specifically to recommend but there are plenty of exercises out there if you want them (these can start as simply as using a guitar tuner to make sure you're singing the right note). If you don't want to do exercises then I'd say simply pay particular attention to how you sound, get familiar with what it sounds like when you're bang on the note and when you aren't quite there.

2) Relax!
It's very natural to tense up when you're singing, especially when pushing yourself. For me it is usually around the jaw, throat and shoulders. This makes singing tyring and strangles the sound. I don't have any specific advice here other than be aware of it and try to release the tension. Stance is quite important for this, plant both feet on the ground and make sure you are balanced and comfortable.

3) Focus on Breathing
Cliche... but true. Everyone knows you want to be breathing 'from your diaphragm'... this just means is that you want to use your stomach muscles to control your breathing rather than your chest, because that gives you a lot more power and control. Again, there are millions of exercises but to keep it simple I suggest this: actively push your stomach out when you breath in and actively pull it back in when you breath out. At first these will be two things that you happen to be doing at the same time but over time the muscle memory will come and you will find that the stomach starts controlling the breathing. What I particularly like about this is that it is something you can actively do. So much singing advise (like points 1 and 2) is pretty abstract (relax... listen...) and can be hard to consciously start doing... but 'stick your stomach out' is nice and direct, something you can grab onto on day one.
(Side note, try not to lift your shoulders while breathing in, this adds tension and doesn't give you as much air).

Beyond those things my main piece of advice is... sing, just sing.
Like any muscle, the more you use your voice the strong it will become and the more familiar you will be with how to use it.

Thanks Bevan!

Yeti 1) Start with your ears.

This was something interesting I discovered on Yousician: I couldn't tell that I wasn't on pitch. I can pretty much always tell if I'm in the right key but I'll often be harmonizing when I think I'm on-key.

It was amusing to discover just how off I was. Definitely some ear-training needed there.

Yeti 2) Relax!

I imagine this will be a tough one for me but oh so necessary. I've just learned that the same applies to voice-acting / voice-overs. You need to be relaxed to be able to convey the right message. And, by default, I'm an anxious, stressed out ball of worry.

The good thing is I only plan to record on weekends. (It's the only time when the house is quiet enough.) And I'm way less stressed on weekends.

Yeti 3) Focus on Breathing

I've been focusing on breathing diaphragmatically for years now but I still feel like I'm doing it wrong. It seldom feels like I'm getting enough oxygen. Definitely an area where a coach would help me make much faster gains in a much shorter period of time.

(I've practised it for relaxation mostly but also for singing.)

Thanks for this, @Yeti! Much appreciated

NorioDS That's one of my goals as well.

I need to get past my in car karaoke xD

NorioDS I can pretty much always tell if I'm in the right key but I'll often be harmonizing when I think I'm on-key.

Lol are you me?

Exact same issue here

Have ya tried Ultrastar yet? It's the opensource Singstar, all ya need is a usb mic (check)

Beginner is pretty easy, particularly if you know the tunes...but on intermediate and up it's a proper challenge. Good way to just have fun and still get pitch and timing feedback

I just gave my niece and nephew a set of original Singstar mics (USB, they work with PC's too!) - it's the perfect kid "keep embusyy so the adults can talk k@k" thing ️

Yeti but 'stick your stomach out' is nice and direct, something you can grab onto on day one.
(Side note, try not to lift your shoulders while breathing in, this adds tension and doesn't give you as much air).

Thanks - I like simple things and "stick yer tummy out" works a treat!

Not that I can do more than union sing - harmonies are a dark art!

V8 Have ya tried Ultrastar yet? It's the opensource Singstar, all ya need is a usb mic (check)

Nice! Might give that a bash. I was also wanting to re-purpose wifey's old PC as a Linux media server. Might hook it up to the TV and install this on it for extra fun. Thanks

NorioDS I was also wanting to re-purpose wifey's old PC as a Linux media server

Which is pretty much what my brother did when I gave my niece & nephew my old Singstar mic's over Xmas - they're already dueling it out like pro's .

Karaoke is not dead...not sure if that's a good thing or not...

My kids have great voices. My son, having not-so recently gone through puberty, is battling to reach the notes he once could. But if he’s chilling, and thinks no one can hear him (like in the bath or shower), he kills it.

Me, I have won back the range since I stopped smoking and switched to vaping. But I lack the power, the projection. So I will be working on that this year - as well as my accuracy. I am cursed with perfect pitch (in my ears, at least). I hear every note that’s off. I would be Hannibal Lecter hearing the flautist in the orchestra.

Here’s to the singer/songwriters of GuitarTalk!