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Here are some quick tips for vocalists. This article will help guide you to the things you should be doing if you are singing with a band or as a solo project with a guitar, keyboard etc...

The first thing you should do before you start signing is to warm up your voice. Your vocal chords or as some call them, vocal folds are a muscle and just like a profession athlete that warms up their muscles before a game you must warm up your voice before you start singing songs. Many novice vocalist forget this important step especially when they are at a gig. They get on stage and start singing loud and hard and they blow out their voice. This is why it is very important to warm up your voice before you start singing.

There are two exercises that I like to use when I am limbering up my voice. The first exercises is the "Mississippi " (phonetically mis-a-sip-eeee). The idea here is to start low in your range and stay in your chest voice while signing this arpeggio. You then move up chromatically one step and sing the same arpeggio in the new key. Here's an example: Start with a low A note (5th fret 6th string for guitar). Sing mis on A, a on C#, sip on E, e on A (octave higher of original), e on E, e on C#, and e on A. Then move up chromatically to an A#. Do the same arpeggio but this time in the key of A#. You continue to move up until you are at the top of your chest voice range.

The second exercise will get your voice to jump between your chest voice and your falsetto. This is the "me" exercises. Start again on a low A and sing this arpeggio : me A, me C#, me A (same as original), me E, short pause, me A (same as original), me A (octive higher), me E, me C#, me A (same as original). Again you go up chromatically singing the same arpeggio in the new key, A#, then B, then C so on... The idea of this exercises is to cause your voice to jump in your falsetto on the sixth (me) then back down to your chest voice.

When you sing make sure you drink water. Water will lubricate your vocal chords and allow you to sing well. Never drink alcohol when you are singing as it will dry out your vocal chords and may lead you to blow out your voice. I like to drink hot tea before I sing, I especially like to use Red Zinger herbal tea.

Another key to good vocal technique is proper monitors. If you cant hear yourself the tendency is to sing harder which may result in blowing out your voice. If the places you are gigging at have lousy monitors you may want to invest in a personal wireless monitor system with ear pieces that mount in your ears. How can you perform if you cant hear what you are signing?

By using the tips here you will be on your way to a good vocal procedure that will help you sing the best that you can. I highly recommend that you seek out a good vocal instructor if you want to improve your voice and vocal technique.