Beginner Singing Techniques - Speak Singing

Speak singing is part of a strategy for beginners to use the correct quantity of muscular engagement when singing. It is an excellent way to practice "singing naturally" or "singing effortlessly" and if successful will result in people saying things like "oh they're so naturally talented, I wish I could do that."

This is considered part of beginner singing techniques because it leads to basic control of the body before modifying anything for more complicated methods that would not be possible without initial relaxation. here's how its done.

1. Play a note on a piano, or even just sing a random pitch that is close to where you speak. Try to speak on this note in a monotone voice. Don't inflect up for questions or down for statements, just speak on the one pitch. You should NOT be singing, so if you start any vibrato or it feel like singing and not speaking, that is not correct for this exercise. (Don't know what to say? Just point at objects and say things like "the wall is white, the desk is brown, etc.)

2. When you are comfortable speaking on pitch without fluctuating up or down and without singing on accident, try switching notes halfway through a sentence. So if I said "How are you doing today" I would speak "how are you" on one note and "doing today" on a higher note.

3. If you can do this without singing, try speaking each word on a different note. You can do a scale or a warm up pattern, but DO NOT SING YET. Only speak the notes.

4. Notice that when you speak the notes, there is very little effort put in, but there is some. It feel like, well, speaking. Not difficult and easy to control. Try doing all of the same things as steps 1-3 again, but this time at a presentational volume. A loud talk.

5. Comfortably able to switch volumes but still feel like talking? Try borderline shout singing, shout singing, quiet speak singing, and whisper singing.

6. There will be little musicality, but all of these volume levels should feel comfortable and relatively effortless. This level of muscular effort should be your baseline before trying any more complicated techniques. Be aware that the louder volumes often take more energy.

7. Finally, try to push all of the words together into one phrase without spaces. So "Hello how are you doing today" becomes "hellohowareyoudoingtoday." If you record this, you should notice that while it feels like speaking, it sounds like singing. It may sound somewhat bland, but you can always add in extra stuff to an easily produced sound. Its hard to add or play with a difficultly produced sound.

That's a short lesson on speak singing. It usually takes me a full 30 minute lesson to go through this process with a student, so don't rush it. Take your time and make sure to feel each step correctly. Have questions or need extra help? Sign up for singing lessons here or leave a comment and I'll do my best to help out.