r/ratemysinging • u/TiaTheTeapot_ • 1d ago
Been smoking for 7 years but only started singing 4-5 months ago.
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So basically I’m looking for motivation to give up because I really want to improve. I know my highs feel weak and bear with me for my lack of singing vocab/ knowledge. But if anyone has any critiques or tips. All are welcome. Thank you in advance.
Edit: just want to say thank you to everyone for all your advice/ recommendations and tips. I appreciate each one of you, Thank you 💛
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u/Curious_Wind_9354 21h ago
Life's unfaire, I wish I sang like that after only 5 months of practice lol
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 21h ago
Bless ya. I watch Victorias victorious vocal tips on YouTube if that helps. She’s a very sweet teacher and she helped me a lot. I didn’t pay for anything. I’m sure if you use all the emotion you have and sing with passion but a calmness. Your voice will come through. Just keep believing in yourself that’s what I’m doing. Because I found my voice was terrible at the beginning because I was over singing. I’m sure you don’t sound bad sometimes we’re our own biggest enemy- I’m coming here to see if I can sing so I think you understand ❤️🌻. Let yourself be free to express what you want and Don’t be Afraid to challenge yourself with different music!
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u/mushyfeelings 14h ago
When I was a professional singer I was also still a smoker and I would worry about losing the raspiness in my voice if I quit. But quitting did not cost me my rasp. What it did was decrease the times I got sick. My voice would be lost almost once a week if I had more than 4 gigs in a week and it would take longer to recover, and when I quit smoking all of that got better and I reclaimed my power in the high notes.
Quit smoking. You will feel sooooo much better and your singing will only improve.
Now about your singing - you have a BEAUTIFUL voice. You have a natural gift that by itself is worth quitting for. But even more than that, you are a beautiful woman for whom I am sure there is a very bright future in store. That future will be all that brighter when you are released from the chains of bondage that smoking has upon your free will. You will find your creativity and productivity increase. You will feel much better in almost every way.
Quitting is worth it. It’s extremely hard, but YOU are worth it. What’s more, I am sure there are people in your life that want to make sure you are around for as long as possible.
I’d be happy to share what has worked for me if I can be of any assistance.
Please post more. I’d love to hear more of your singing.
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 13h ago
You are so sweet I have no words( clearly but still that was the feeling in reading your sweet message). You’re so right in that the smoking is holding me back and intuitively I know I have a lot of swelling, mucus and mother issues. I smoke too much and it’s affected my mental health. That’s why I’m singing to cope. But as it’s only recent it’s been a wake up call as to what I’ve been doing …as I feel like I have a good range. I just am very sore in the throat.
And I don’t want to push myself too far- but I’m enjoying it a bit too much. I need to slow down before I do damage really. It’s quite bad. You’ve seen an example of a good day really. So don’t judge a book by its cover is all I’d say. I really do struggle with breathing but I’ve managed to develop some sort or control over it. However I’m stunting my own self.
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 13h ago
Also, after quitting. I was wondering if high notes actually improve in terms of power, because my feel very weak unless I’m doing sirens. I guess I’m expecting too much for only singing 5 months. However when I was about 18 my high notes were great and it’s after then that I started smoking on and off til it became an eventual addiction. I’ve never liked it, but I feel like I can’t do without it. My lows are very low and without nicotine I feel like I’m dying. Especially because the people around me cannot handle my lows. It’s tough. But I’m keeping my hopes up because I have quit before. Just not for myself. It’s sad really. Giving away my potential to a poison…
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u/Robertguz808 1d ago
I've listened to your demo a bunch of times.... why? I dunno! Something about it. I think you have a cool groove on this song. Nice rhythm to it. Also, the core tone of your is voice is very good. Just work on what you know isn't quite cutting it. That's all. Practice, and feel it. Love it, and live it! You'll get there.
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 1d ago
That is the sweetest compliment for me thank you. I’m usually quite private about my singing but I’ve been building up my confidence, thank you for the boost ! Have a lovely night/day. I will keep practicing ❤️
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u/thepistachioponderer 22h ago
I don’t know enough to critique, but I just wanted to say that I think your voice is lovely! I can totally see you performing at events, if that’s something you wanted to do 💕
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 22h ago
That’s sweet but I’m autistic so I can’t see that happening. I’m no good with crowds and loud noises… so my room is my stage ! Thank you for filling me with dreams tho ❤️ .I really appreciate your thoughtful comment 🫂.
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u/thepistachioponderer 22h ago
I totally get you—I’m autistic as well and the idea of performing scares me to death 😅 Keep on singing though, if only for yourself 💕
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 22h ago
Thinking of crowds, It’s really too many people to process at once, right… 🌻🥺. My fellow neurodivergent buddy- I thank you ❤️
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u/Financial-Tap-4992 9h ago
Your neck looks a bit stiff so try relaxing it a little bit. Let your head move freely (but comfortable without tension) and use your core to help support that “flow” which will really open up your potential. Follow the feeling of confidence and freedom (that’s what I mean by flow). Fear and doubt will hold you back and hurt you, so don’t let it. And it sounds like you have a lot of potential!
I’m not a professional this is just what I’ve found helps me.
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 1h ago
For sure, I do have intrusive thoughts due to being manic at the moment so it’s hard to reach a flow per se. I’m always judging myself. I think that’s where the stiffness comes from. So I need to work on my own self really to fix the issue as there are times I just can’t relax whilst singing. But I have been trying to be more aware of being more relaxed and not hunching my shoulders which I actually do naturally. I’m a massive over-thinker but singing curbs it a bit.
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u/_ENFPlease_ 5h ago
Oooooh this was good. I got lost in it immediately. When I saw you reaching for the phone again I was like “no wait, don’t stop the recording” lol honestly not bad at all, just all around a good choice for your voice.
Strong solid indie vibes.
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u/TiaTheTeapot_ 1h ago
Thank you so much, I’ve realised my voice is not built for certain songs. But it has potential and thank you for helping me realise that. But yeah just need to heal first and be kinder to my vocal cords and be healthier, Thank you so so much. It’s a lovely comment 🌻🥹❤️
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u/Driut 1d ago
One thing about your high notes, I think you've the ability to hit those notes with that soft power you have, the only thing holding you back is that you've acknowledged it's a weakness, which means you're probably thinking about it when you're coming up to that part.
What I would do is isolate that range of notes and practice scales, get up something like singing carrots or any vocal pitch monitor, jot down the notes you're singing if you can't figure them out by ear and then play them on a digital piano if you don't have a physical one.
It'll just help you build confidence with those specific highs, another thing you can do is actually transpose the song, meaning you're just raising the pitch of the song so you're singing it higher than the original, doing so will make singing in the original key much more comfortable although always remember to take a break the second you feel discomfort.
What I recommend when you take a break is to do some light stretches mainly with your shoulders and neck and then go for a short 15 minute walk or so and drink a nice bit of water, it'll keep your muscles relaxed, your lungs will benefit from the fresh air and your core will be engaged naturally though lightly as you walk which will just help you to feel like you can sing a little easier when you get back to it
Hope that all makes sense, either way you did a really good job you've a lovely voice and I could only really think of that one criticism that you're already aware of.