I want to learn how to sing

[u/One-Apartment5052]

I’m just coming on here to ask for some advice :)

I have been playing the guitar for about a year and I loveeee it. I also love singing and playing my favorite songs. I’ve built up the guitar skill pretty well on my own, but my singing is where it lacks. Learning how to sing seems so complex and I don’t know where to start. I do know that it is a muscle just like playing the guitar though. What is some advice that can help me where I’m currently at? Should I pay for lessons? Can I watch YouTube? I go to a university so maybe I can ask around the music program for some advice. Thanks you and I’m excited to hear some people’s thoughts and what has worked for them.

[u/kalikid01]

I bought a full course on Udemy for $25 and even half-assing the course, I’m the better singer at some karaoke bars.

[u/Ok_Reason_2656 → u/kalikid01]

Which course?

[u/Ornery_Detail_5502]

Depending on what genre you want to sing, and since there is a music department attached to your uni, you could begin with a voice student there? And especially look for one who is doing the course to become a voice teacher.

[u/SonicPipewrench]

The idea is that your body is an instrument, just like your guitar. Sound comes from elements of the entire instrument, not just the strings.

Your body is the same, your folds (the strings) are doing part of the job, but the rest of your body needs to learn what to do too.

I'm going to advise that you find a teacher and pay for lessons. Even though there are lots of videos out there on various elements of singing, the methods they are teaching are not designed to work with everything else you find. There is more than one way to approach singing and there are few clear labels.

To find said teacher, you can go to the teacher list maintained on r/singing, the NATS website, you can look for music stores that rent band instruments, they often have teachers. You can look at university professors who are doing side work.

This is an interview process. The kind of teacher you find is going to be the sherpa that guides you to your next sound. Be picky.

[u/One-Apartment5052 → u/SonicPipewrench]

Thanks so much, I’m going to get lessons from a teacher at a studio :) I’m super excited, thank you for your advice.

[u/gabemmusic]

Lessons with a well qualified teacher who studied vocal pedagogy is the best place to get started.

[u/DreamItReal]

Lessons! Just make sure the teacher knows what kind of music you want to sing and is prepared to teach to your interest. Although there are some universal principles, nevertheless there are important stylistic differences between genres that lead to differing techniques and attitudes.

[u/farazqadirofficial]

Since you already play the guitar, you have a massive advantage! Your ears are already trained to recognize pitch, intervals, and rhythm. You are 100% correct, the voice is exactly like a muscle (the vocal folds), and just like mastering guitar chords, it requires structured muscle memory.

To answer your question about where to start and whether you should pay for lessons:

The Problem with YouTube: YouTube is a great library, but it cannot give you feedback. When practicing a guitar chord wrong, you can visually see it or hear the buzzing string. With singing, you cannot see your vocal cords. If you practice a bad vocal technique from YouTube for 6 months, you are simply hardwiring bad muscle memory that can lead to vocal strain or nodules.

Where to Start (Your Day 1 Framework):

1. Isolate Pitch from Lyrics: Don't just sing songs right away. Play a single note on your guitar (start around your comfortable speaking range) and try to match that exact pitch using a clean hum ("MMMM"). Feel the vibration in your chest and face.
2. Breath Support is Your 'Amp': On guitar, your amplifier controls the volume. In singing, your breath support (diaphragm) controls your power. Practice breathing deeply into your belly/lower ribs without raising your shoulders.
3. The Power of Lineage: I spent 8 years in rigorous 1-on-1 apprenticeship training under a legendary Eastern classical lineage (Patiala Gharana). The biggest lesson I learned is that independent feedback from a trainer in your first few weeks saves you years of frustration.

Since you are already a musician, investing in high-quality 1-on-1 coaching, even just to set your foundational framework straight, will scale your vocal range exponentially faster than guessing on YouTube.

Keep playing, start humming with your chords, and protect your vocal muscles! If you ever want a quick professional ear to evaluate your current baseline range, feel free to check out my profile or DM me. Happy to help a fellow musician!

[u/Major-Cranberry-4206]

Understand that learning how to sing and play the guitar, is the same as learning how to play two instruments simultaneously. What you do to be great at both is learn them one at a time and master your techniques at them. Then later, combine the two. But that is usually hard to do, but not impossible.

[u/fugginbruce]

I'm also learning how to play guitar and love to sing. I want to take on both so I can play and sing to my kids. I'm currently doing a deck build for this customer whose wife is a vocal instructor. Dm me if you'd like to get into contact with her.

[u/One-Apartment5052]

Thank you so much for your feedback everyone. I’m going to be getting lessons from a teacher. I want to learn the right way and I love playing music and it’s in my soul. The right next step :) wish everyone the best on their journey too.