Written by Maggie Gelin, Vocal Coach
Maggie guides singers to find their true voice using her unique Sing Your (Self) To Freedom Formula, crafted from years of experience. Studying under renowned mentors in both England and the United States, Maggie imparts invaluable techniques learned from instructors who've shaped famous artists like Michael Bublé and Josh Groban.
That’s the question we’ll dive into today. Many people believe that singing is a talent you're either born with or not. But is that really true? Let’s explore the common thoughts and beliefs surrounding singing and discover the real answer.
I wasn't born with talent
My mom has always said that she can’t learn to sing because she was "born without talent." I’ve often heard her say: “I’m singing out of tune. I’ve always sung out of tune, so that means I cannot learn to sing.”
Perhaps you’ve had similar thoughts, or maybe you’ve heard someone in your life say the same thing? The belief that "I wasn’t born with a talent for singing, so I cannot learn" is something many people hold onto.
It’s easy to understand why people feel this way. After all, we grow up hearing that talent is something you’re born with, a gift given to only a few. But the real question we need to ask is: Is that actually true? Can you really not learn to sing if you weren’t born with natural talent?
I sing out of tune, so I can’t learn
If you’re like many singers I’ve worked with, you might believe that because you sing off-key, you simply cannot learn to sing. This thought might have crossed your mind more than once.
But let me tell you something: The fact that you sing off-key now doesn’t mean you can’t learn. In fact, it means there’s plenty of room to grow! And growth is always a good thing, both for personal development and self-confidence.
Take a moment to ask yourself: Has there ever been something in your life that seemed impossible to learn, but with time and effort, you managed to master it?
For me, it was learning to swim. When I was little, I was terrified of water, and for years, I lagged behind my classmates because I was too scared to jump in and swim. But eventually, I learned. Now, I can swim confidently.
Another example is driving. At first, driving was intimidating, especially learning to drive with a stick shift. But after practicing and overcoming my fears, I learned, and now it’s second nature.
The same principle applies to singing. It’s not a matter of whether you can learn to sing—we know you can. The real question is, are you willing and committed to learn?
The key to learning any new skill, such as singing, isn’t just about natural ability. It’s about your motivation, your commitment, and your desire to learn. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, I can confidently tell you that anyone who isn’t tone deaf can learn to sing.
But how?
Let me explain why singing is a skill everyone can develop. Our vocal cords are located in the larynx and function much like two elastic rubber bands. When air passes through them, they vibrate, producing sound. By adjusting the length and tension of these vocal cords, you can control pitch—just like tightening or loosening a string on a musical instrument.
The vocal cords are controlled by muscles, and like any muscle in the body, they can be trained. Athletes train their muscles to perform better, and singers can do the same with their vocal muscles. So as long as you’re not tone deaf, you can train your vocal cords to sing in tune.
So, how do I know whether I’m tone deaf?
Only about 4% of the population is actually tone deaf. If you’re worried you might be tone deaf, here’s a simple test: Can you hear the difference between two pitches? When you listen to a song, can you hear a melody?
If your answer is “yes”, then, congratulations—you’re NOT tone deaf! You don’t need to know which pitch is higher or lower; all you need is the ability to recognize that they are different.
If you pass this test, it means you can learn to sing! Even if you’ve sung out of tune in the past, that doesn’t mean you’re tone deaf—it just means you need to train your vocal muscles and your internal hearing.
Even people without vocal cords can sing
Here’s something even more fascinating: I’ve worked with a choir called Shout at Cancer, where members had their voice boxes surgically removed due to cancer. These singers don’t even have natural vocal cords, yet they are still able to sing using an artificial voice box. This proves that the ability to sing isn’t about having perfect vocal cords; it’s about your willingness to learn and adapt.
So, the real question isn’t whether you can or can’t sing—it’s how motivated and committed you are to learning. How much time are you willing to dedicate to improving? How much effort are you willing to put in to reach your singing goals? Singing, like any other skill, takes practice, patience, and determination.
Where to start?
Singing consists of two phases:
Phase 1: hearing where the music is going.
Phase 2: making your vocal cords vibrate and actually produce sound.
If you notice that you sing off key, then that means you can HEAR where the music is going and the issue is in phase 2, producing the sound.
That’s where training your voice in the right way can help you!
As you can see, training your voice in the RIGHT way is the only way to experience vocal freedom. If you’re ready to learn the right vocal techniques and get specific exercises to help you along the way, then I invite you to join my free, upcoming training covering exactly that! Click here to join the free training!
Read more from Maggie Gelin
Maggie Gelin, Vocal Coach
Maggie guides singers to find their true voice using her unique Sing Your (Self) To Freedom Formula, crafted from years of experience. Studying under renowned mentors in both England and the United States, Maggie imparts invaluable techniques learned from instructors who've shaped famous artists like Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. With a decade of coaching, she witnesses remarkable transformations in her students, guiding them past insecurities to sing with newfound freedom, proving that singing goes beyond a skill—it's a path to embracing life fully.
