Written by: Maggie Gelin, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many beginner singers want to learn how to sing even better. Instead of spending countless hours looking up certain vocal techniques, it can be way more fun to train your voice using specific songs. In this article, I’m going to share with you the top 10 songs that you can sing to train your voice so you can start experiencing vocal freedom!
Do you sing along with your favorite songs?
Imagine this… You go to YouTube or Spotify, search for your favorite song and sing along. Does this sound familiar to you?
Although that can be very fun to do, it’s not necessarily the most efficient way to train your voice if you’re looking to grow as a singer.
What successful singers do is choose their repertoire strategically so that they train their voices by applying certain vocal techniques in specific songs. The good news? You can start doing that now too! Because that’s exactly what today’s playlist helps you with. So, let’s dive in!
1. "Mad world" by Gary Jules
This beautiful song is a fantastic place to start. The range in this song is fairly small, allowing you to focus on singing on pitch without having to hit any extremely high (or low) notes. It's like dipping your toes into the ocean of singing – refreshing and not overwhelming.
2. "Make you feel my love" by Adele
Adele's rendition of this classic song is not only soul-stirring but also an amazing vocal workout! This is a song where you’ll get the opportunity to practice the transition between chest and head voice - a valuable technique every singer should master.
3. "Can't help falling in love" by Elvis Presley
Besides working on vocal technique, it’s also important to develop your artistic identity as a singer and include things like “improvisation” in your vocal training. This song is perfect for this! It's a slow and melodic song with lots of repetition, giving you the space to practice vocal variety and improvisation.
4. "All I want" by Kodaline (covered by Emma Bale)
This slow-paced song is a gem for singers looking to find their way through different registers. Specifically, what I call, the “mix voice” register. Mastering this register will help you gain more control when singing and allows you to sing high notes with lots of power (and without any tension or hoarseness!).
P.S.: Teaching mix voice happens to be one of my specialties! If you want to learn more about this, check out my website.
5. "Broken strings" by Nelly Furtado and James Morrison
Time to team up! This duet is not only great to create collaborations with other singers but it’s also an amazing introduction to singing in harmony. Grab a singing buddy and start weaving your voices together.
6. "Budapest" by George Ezra
Storytelling is a vital part of being an all-round singer, and "Budapest" is your gateway into this world. Focus on expressing the emotions behind the lyrics – it's more than just hitting the right notes. It’s all about expressing what you feel in a unique and authentic way so you can move a room full of people with the power of your voice!
7. "Fix you" by Coldplay
Ready to spice things up? This song is your ticket to mastering the art of “riffing”. Those beautiful vocal embellishments in the chorus will call out your inner diva in no time!
8. "Hit the road jack" by Ray Charles
Let’s jazz it up! This jazzy song introduces you to the “swing feel”, an essential rhythmic feel to master if you want to become a great singer. The fun part is that once you master this, you can apply that to any genre, not just jazz!
9. "Jolene" by Dolly Parton
Rhythm takes center stage again, but this time, the focus is on “off-beats.” Learning to navigate between on-beats and off-beats in singing will make your singing groovy and grab your listener’s attention.
10. "Let it go" by James Bay
Time to power up your breath support and diaphragmatic breathing! The extended phrases in the chorus of this song will challenge you to use your core muscles and sustain your breath. It's like a mini-workout for your diaphragm, helping you to build strength to hit those high notes with lots of ease.
Up for a challenge?
Here’s my invitation to you: pick one of these songs and get to work! Sing through it, study the different techniques that this song has to offer, and then move on to the next one.
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!
Maggie Gelin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
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.
