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Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Failing that, just singing more will improve your range and confidence. But if you're tone-deaf, lessons are more than likely the way forward.
Lessons helped me so much technically and gave me confidence too.
I hadn't seen the repair one before so I might try that and get the kids' one for our 5yo.
I'd wager you can hold a tone but freeze up going up or down. If you can find the notes on an instrument you can sing, you just have to learn the instrument. Get lessons, I should have gotten lessons years ago.
The thing for me is that I never felt singing was important, so I never really listened to the words or vocal melody or phrasing. Hardest thing for me at first was distinguishing timbre and range. You can have a bass voice but a crappy shallow timbre or a high baritone voice but a rich timbre. The two are totally separate. What made it harder for me is my breathing is crap and I don't talk much. Get lessons but also open up your ears to all sorts of singers and find someone who has a similar timbre and a song that fits in with range.
What's the highest and lowest notes you can sing BTW? When I try and sing high in head voice my voice gets really thin and horrible, when I sing low it gets croaky, I think it's all about normal for a low baritone average bloke.
Correct breathing is also important as @Sambostar says but that sort of thing is covered in one-to-one tuition.
Warren Zevon has a rich timbre but he is a mid baritone. It's all about the quality of the timbre I reckon, not the range and the grass is always greener.
1. Yes, a good set of exercises used in the car works really well - I did it for ages, as well as 'rehearsing' and leaning lyrics on the commute. I tried a couple and I can recommend this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Vocal-Workout-Step-Step/dp/1844920038
2. Your car practice will be FAR more effective if backed-up by some lessons - there is no substitute for a teacher watching you closely when you start out - I booked a course of 10 lessons with a local teacher who was recommended and I got SO much out of it - I'd thoroughly recommend it.
Sometimes it's not so much because of the absolute range, but moving through the natural break between chest/mixed/head voice is hard to control (passagio do they call it?)
The singers who are/were the worlds greatest communicators were not trying to sound like someone else. Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen were not trying to sound like someone else. And their technical ability was of no importance. So focus on your personality.
When Bupa tell you - regularly - that you are "amazing", what they are saying is that you are absolutely unique.
You have to take advantage of that.
What would be a good indication that you don't currently sound like you when you sing?
An American accent. (Assuming that you are not American)
You don't need that. (See: David Bowie)
Part of your problem is going to be the fear of letting the sound out. I'm sure this is something you could discuss with a singing teacher without committing to singing lessons. It's probably something they would've come across before and may even be able to help you overcome.
Practicing in your car is fine and perhaps a good use of otherwise dead time. It is better to practice whilst standing though according to Mr Tamplin.
Singing is hard on the body- most singers I've worked with have had problems with their voice- the self taught ones seem to have more trouble than those who learn a bit of technique.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Get pissed and practice doing a Yeeee -Hoo or Haw as loud as you can, at the top of your lungs.
I feel yer. I had problems with speech as a kid and no one could understand me so I went to therapy. Then my voice took 4 years to break, maybe 5. When it finally did break, it was so deep no one could hear me. My adams apple is the size of a tennis ball. When everyone else at rock concerts were screaming at the top of their lungs I didn't know what to do as no way I could hit those screamed male pitches and when I tried a pathetic noise came out that was completely random, which caused me to turn around as everyone looked like I was having a fit or taking the piss or something. I felt like a Rhino in a chicken coup. Add to that my Dad got kicked out of the choir in Oz as a kid so he has major phobias and hang ups about singing and I was never allowed to talk in the house much at all, let alone sing. I don't have hang ups about singing in public down the pub, I just wish I could reliably sing higher and a reliably decent timbre, but it must take practice to master.
So yeah, it is all about confidence and pushing air. Practice your Yahh-ooos as a first base.
You don't want an average voice anyway.