Karaoke Singing

This article is designed to help anyone to enjoy karaoke and improve their singing performance whether it be as a "virgin" karaoke singer or as someone starting out on a singing career. It contains tips designed to help old hands and newbies alike achieve a better karaoke singing style. The best piece of advice is to bear in mind that one of the whole idea behind karaoke is that it doesn't matter how good(or bad) your singing is - you are singing for your own enjoyment. The people in the karaoke bar are there usually because they enjoy karaoke too, so it is not expected that you perform like the next American/Pop Idol. In fact some of the most boring karaoke nights I have been to have been spent watching a succession of pretty decent singers. If I wanted that I would go and see a show.

That said there will be many of you out there who desperately want to use karaoke as a step on the road to becoming the next pop idol or want to win a karaoke contest. So here goes....

Choose a song that you are very familiar with and that suits your style of singing. You have probably heard people murdering a very popular song (usually anything by Anastasia) when they would have sounded 10 times better singing a song that they knew well and suited their voice.

If possible take your own karaoke disc, I have never known a kj refuse to play a singer's own disc. You will have practised this to perfection at home and your performance will be 100% better as a result.

Alternatively sign up for a streaming karaoke subscription and you can practise any one of thousands of songs. For advice on streaming karaoke click here. Similarly don't be afraid to ask the kj to change the key to suit your voice. A song that you may struggle with in one key may be just right for you if its taken down a semitone or two. Most digital key changers will allow at least eight steps down and eight steps up.

Unless you have an exceptional singing voice, sing an up-tempo number. Slow romantic love songs (what my Dad would have called a ballad) need a big voice to be done properly. Unless you like straining to hit and hold long high notes give it a miss and choose something quicker which will get the place jumping. Up tempo songs require much less technical ability and in karaoke terms are generally more entertaining. You can usually tell a slow song isn't going too well when the kj starts to wave a lighter in the air. You may find this flattering and make you think

Don't drink too much! Alcohol will make you shout and slur and is definitely not good for the vocal chords or getting your words right!

Don't hassle the karaoke host, he has a set way of prioritising the singers. Generally first time singers are put on first (they jump the queue), so don't expect the singing order to run in exactly the same sequence as the slips were handed in.

Fill in your request slip fully ensuring the track number etc is perfectly correct. There is nothing worse than getting up there only for the wrong song to start.

Treat the mic with respect! Don't shout into it, knock it, twirl it around by its lead or throw it. The kj will not be happy to the say the least and although you probably think you resemble a cool mic throwing rock legend, chances are you just look like a jerk!

Hold the mic about an inch away from your mouth - you should never touch the mic with any part of your mouth or face, both from a singing and a hygenic point of view! For long high notes start with the mic further away from you and as you hold the note slowly bring it nearer. This has the effect of making the note sound stronger and more consistent. As you run out of breath the mic is nearer and the note remains constant. Practise this technique if you can.

If you are really serious there is always the option of singing lessons. There are now some very affordable internet courses which have achieved fantastic results. Give one a try.

Above all ENJOY yourself - that is the whole idea.

Copyright The-Karaoke-Advisor.com

Daniel Morris is a writer and designer of The-Karaoke-Advisor.com an online karaoke resource and advice center.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:51:03 GMT Five killed in New York fire; 300 acres burn in Napa Valley - Austin American-Statesman CBS News Five killed in New York fire; 300 acres burn in Napa Valley Austin American-Statesman - 1 hour ago NEW YORK - A family of five, including three children, died in a blaze that filled an apartment with thick smoke and kept the victims from escaping through the front door, fire officials said. Napa County wildfire forces evacuations of over 100 homes Los Angeles Times Fire Threatens Napa Valley Homes and Wineries New York Times KEYC - CBS 5 - San Francisco Chronicle - WSBtv.com all 422 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:27:05 GMT Singer Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twins - The Associated Press The Associated Press Singer Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twins The Associated Press - 3 hours ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lisa Marie Presley is a mom again. A publicist says the 40-year-old singer gave birth Tuesday to twin girls, whose names were not released. Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report Reuters Today's News: Our Take - Lisa Marie Presley Gives Birth to Twin Girls Seattle Post Intelligencer E! Online - People Magazine - Monsters and Critics.com - Hollywood.com all 569 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:11:28 GMT McCain supporters face uphill climb in blue Jersey - Newsday Sunday Times.lk McCain supporters face uphill climb in blue Jersey Newsday - 15 hours ago By WAYNE PARRY | AP Writer WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Walter Zjawin is trying to help John McCain do what no Republican has done in 20 years: win a presidential general election in New Jersey. Maine now on McCain radar Central Maine Morning Sentinel McCain inches closer in Saturday's Gallup Kansas City Star Boston Globe - CBS News - Washington Post - Ethiopian Review all 220 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:04:37 GMT On the trail to the White House - Fort Worth Star Telegram The Age On the trail to the White House Fort Worth Star Telegram - 33 minutes ago Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee, at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. AP/ALEX BRANDON Today’s headlines Report stings Palin over troopergate flap; Raw anger showing up in McCain crowds, candidate taking steps to minimize it; ... McCain Asks Supporters to Show Obama Respect Wall Street Journal Obama Thanks McCain for Urging Supporters to be Respectful Voice of America Washington Post - Chicago Tribune - ABC News - Bloomberg all 733 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:17:46 GMT Theatrical Review of Body of Lies - DVDTOWN.com Theatrical Review of Body of Lies DVDTOWN.com - 5 hours ago By Jason P. Vargo "Body of Lies" is a certain type of movie designed for a certain type of moviegoer. I think the tagline describes the movie perfectly, actually. Body of Lies E! Online 'Body of Lies': Desert Norm, By Kurt Loder MTV.com Boston Herald - Los Angeles Times - Radar Online - Entertainment Weekly all 1,041 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:19:39 GMT Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners - Boston Globe Voice of America Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners Boston Globe - 1 hour ago HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—When two American scientists won a Nobel Prize this week in chemistry, the driver of a car dealership's courtesy van had reason to take special interest. Video: Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes for Jellyfish Protein AssociatedPress Comment by Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., Director National Institute of General Medical Sciences The Daily Yomiuri - The Associated Press - Los Angeles Times - WTEN all 1,250 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:14:18 GMT Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors - BusinessWeek Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors BusinessWeek - 4 hours ago By JENNIFER LOVEN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER President Bush and financial leaders from nations rich and poor pledged Saturday to intensify their efforts to unblock a frozen financial system before it does more damage to an increasingly shaky global economy. Bush Says US Must Take Lead in Solving Crisis (Update3) Bloomberg Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors The Associated Press New York Times - Austin American-Statesman - AFP - KSFY all 1,542 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:30:21 GMT Automate Your Blogging Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Silent Discos!

The press have reported this week that silent disco's are... Read More

Home Run Gigs

Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences... Read More

The Post-rock Revolution (Explosions in the sky)

A lot has been said about the 'post-rock' revolution as... Read More

Top 50 Music Quotations

Discover the phenomenonal complexity of music and reflect on the... Read More

CD Mastering using Har-Bal

Feel free to download the entire manual detailing the mastering... Read More

Rickenbacker 4003 Electric Bass Guitar

The Rickenbacker 4003 electric bass guitar is one of the... Read More

Why You Cant Play Piano

It's really not your fault. You see, you've been taught... Read More

Soul Band for a Party

Was the request six months ago, a sixtieth birthday party,... Read More

Is the Mainstream Ready Once Again for Dance Music?

Not since the heyday of Dance/Pop Artists like Taylor Dayne... Read More

The Record Industry Continues Battle Against Free Music Downloads

Movie and record producers alike are saying file-sharing networks that... Read More

Managing Your Time, when Music isnt Your Day Job

You CAN do everything.Repeat.You CAN do everything. What you cannot... Read More

Beginner Guitar Lessons - Learn Guitar without Ever Leaving Your Home!

So, you think you'd like to learn to play guitar,... Read More

ADIRONDACK versus SITKA SPRUCE

Both of these timbers make great soundboards on flat top... Read More

How to Be in the Moment when Playing Piano

Your best music will always come when you are in... Read More

What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?

Many students ask me a question that goes something like... Read More

Lori Nuic Sparkles

A soulful vibe along with an amazing voice is what... Read More

Closet Monsters London Spicoluk

Way back in November I found myself at the Casby... Read More

The Music Industry and Its Lack of Talent

So it has come to this... what we see overrides... Read More

How To Write A Song

Did you ever wish that it was your song playing... Read More

Guide to Finding Music Online

Are you frustrated because finding your favorite songs on the... Read More

The British Invasion

The Kasabian concert at the Kool Haus seemed like a... Read More

14 Ways Musicians Can Increase Their Tips

I was listening to NPR the other day when they... Read More

Learning To Play The Piano With Chords

Learning piano chords can help you in all your piano... Read More

Hip Hop Clothing

Celebrities now such as Outkast, a fashion wear can be... Read More

Piano Lessons and Perfectionism

Are you a perfectionist? Does every note have to sound... Read More