[danhau]

You can. That progression is normal. I know this because I am such a case. I wasn’t able to produce a single sound on pitch. Now I can nail some songs (as long as they don‘t go crazy on technique).

Learning to sing is taking control of your voice. You use the same biology that you have been using for speech and other vocal sounds since birth. It all comes built in. Of course it comes more naturally to some people, just like any other activity.

There are some decent videos on YouTube, but take actual vocal lessons if you can. Videos are not a substitute for lessons.

I don‘t like the posted page. The descriptions aren‘t very helpful and neither are most videos on YouTube. I know from experience. For a complete beginner, this is frankly a useless resource.

[lvp3]

Because it is so easy to get lost in the muck, do you have any particular recommendations on some “decent” YouTube videos/channels to get at least some practice before taking lessons with a vocal coach?

[danhau]

One I can remember from the top of my head is "How to ACTUALLY Use Breath Support". Seemed like a good, in-depth explanation of a fundamental topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC1iJfWA1aQ

The channel I've watched the most videos on is Chris Liepe's. The video "STOP Singing Vowels this way! (its making you tense)" was in my singing playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWimkesJDIc

I would still describe myself as a beginner, so please keep in mind that I can't possibly vouch for the quality or accuracy of any of these videos.

[danhau]

Oh and I forgot: I can play some instruments, but the voice is the cruelest one to learn. You can‘t „see“ what you are actually doing (wrong). And most of the time you can‘t even feel it very well. This why vocal training is full of analogies and imagery.

[stavros]

I wish it weren't. I would have gotten a lot more mileage out of "force a yawn, see what your mouth does, and do that" rather than "more space, more space, open up!".

[stavros]

Seconding both points. I'm not one of those cases, as I could already sing decently, but I've seen people go from "terrible" to singing professionally.

I also agree that the linked page isn't useful, it's more of a glossary than anything, but then again, I'm not convinced that a distinction between head voice and chest voice actually exists. I've never been able to tell any qualitative difference, as opposed to, for example, falsetto, and the community can't really agree on whether they actually are a thing or not.

[aaarrm]

I see a lot of people in here posting success stories from lessons, which is great. But I tried lessons for about 2 months and go absolutely nowhere haha. It was just repeatedly practicing some song that I wasn't super into and I never even felt like I was "singing" just talking kind of louder / longer and felt very forced and odd. Terrible experience tbh, but I do love singing and still want to some day. (I generally just sing in falsetto to songs in my car because I'm too timid to really project my actual voice)

[pards]

It sounds like you didn't have a very good coach. My first coach wasn't very helpful, my second was amazing. Keep looking!

Open mic nights at your local bar are a great source of data. Approach people after their performance, compliment them, and ask them if they have a coach they'd be willing recommend.

[CuriouslyC]

Try recording yourself as you do karaoke. The external perspective and hearing it "in the mix" really helps you tune your performance.