Sing on Pitch: 3 Exercises to Make It Happen Every Time

Introduction: 0:00
Top 3 reasons people sing off pitch: 2:20
Your voice is not well coordinated yet: 5:03
You need to work on ear training: 6:02
You may need a combination of both: 6:53
5 tone solfege: 7:50
1.5 Octave “Gee” (if you’re singing flat): 9:52
5 tone “Gug” (if you’re singing sharp: 12:11

Have you had a hard time telling if you're singing on pitch or in tune? You're not alone! Many beginning singers find it difficult to sing on pitch when they're first starting off. However, everyone needs to learn to sing on pitch if they want to become a better singer.

The truth is that learning to sing in tune and on pitch is the first step in a singer's journey. So, if you've been having a hard time singing on pitch, get started here.

First, we need to discuss what pitch is. Pitch is the tone or the note that you're singing. Pitch is created by the vocal cords vibrating together. The faster the vocal cords vibrate the higher the pitch that you hear.

The slower the vocal cords vibrate lower the note that you're going to hear. How do the vocal cords change the speed that they're vibrating? By stretching or slackening the length of the chords. Basically, if the vocal cords are longer, then they will vibrate faster just like a rubber bands. Or, if the vocal cords are very slack, they will vibrate slower with a low note.

Now that you understand pitch, it's important that you realize that everyone sings off pitch sometimes. Even phenomenal singers like Freddie Mercury sometimes sing off pitch. But the most important thing is that you're able to correct it.

In my experience, there are three main reasons that a singer will be off pitch. The first reason that a singer may not be on pitch is that they need to train their ear. It simply means that they need to coordinate what they hear in their head with what they sing. The second reason some singers may not sing on pitch is that they need to coordinate their voice. In other words, since they haven't done a lot of singing, they just haven't experienced all the different parts of their voice yet. The third reason that someone may not sing on pitch is because they need to work on both their ear training and their coordination.

Luckily, learning to coordinate your singing tone is easy with the right exercises. In fact, many singers may have a great ear, but their voice just isn't coordinated correctly yet. So if you haven't learned to sing in tune, try these exercises.

In his first exercise, I'll show you to sing a five tone scale on solfeggio. Basically, you sing each note of a 5-tone scale on the words, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So and back down.

In the second exercise, I'll help you if you tend to sing a little bit flat. If you tend to sing flat, it's really important to stay on longer scales. In this exercise, you will sing an octave and a half scale on the word ghee as in peace.

In our final exercise, you'll sing a 5-tone scale where you sing each note of the five tone scale on the word gug as in gutter. Don't worry if that you're having a hard time learning to sing on pitch. Learning to sing in tune takes a little bit of time and the most important thing is that you continue working on it.

[slroachclip]

My problem singing pitch is hearing . I think im singing the note, record it, then feel like giving up.

[dandamerville]

Hi, Ramsey -- Here's a method I've used to help dozens of long-time non singers realize they can warble. Instead of asking Mr. I Can't Sing to match a tone on piano, which sets them up for failure, I ask them to make a tone, any tone (I might have to model what I mean with my voice). When they make some sound, I say, "Good can you do it again and hold it for a few seconds?" When they do, I do my best to match their tone with my voice. Just matching one tone usually makes eyes light up. From there it's on to "Can you make another sound . . . then a different one?" Again, I may have to model sounding two different notes. Whatever they do, I match their tone. Laughter ensues, and so does the realization that Mr. Can't Sing actually can.
What do you (and your gentle viewers) think of this method? Thanks for reading this.

[dr.davidgerstenaminoacidth]

Good info. I spent 25 years in recording studios. One of my best 2 vocals took place after I’d slept very little the night before the session. The recording studio was an hour drive away. I was very tired but my mind was too tired to think. With my thinking mind utterly silent, every aspect of the vocal was my best ever.

[lochdeekyoutuber]

Timestamps of exercises
Solfege for males 8:57 & females 9:20
1.5 octave gee for males 11:19 &
Females 11:48
5 tone gug for males 13:09 &
females 13:25
Did this for the challenge

[curtismclean]

So glad you mentioned feeling the voice vibrations. When Im on its the most incredible feeling through my whole body. When not it just feels bad and gets worse the farther off I am. Thanks for the lesson. New to actually learning to sing. I appreciate your help very much 🙏

[marymoonen]

You are an amazing teacher! Making me under WHY to do these “ silly” exercises… / warm ups, no one ever explained about the vocal chords, and how to clear them, posture, etc and how to keep going excellent

[officialspock]

Sing on Pitch: 3 Exercises to Make It Happen Every Time
1:16 - What is Pitch
2:20 - Reasons off Pitch
8:07 - 5 Tone Solfege
10:41 - 1.5 Octave GEE
12:45 - 5 Tone GUG

[nanaboaitey]

Such an exquisite teacher. He is a master. Such light in this man here

[Onestonedbake]

Been singing since I was a kid. I have a good voice, but it's nothing compared to singers who have talent and lessons on top of it. Thank you for your videos

[imogensharma]

You are so motivating! I'm in the UK but if I ever come to Texas, I'm getting lessons. Thanks so much for these amazing resources :)

[unnursara]

Wow! I'm starting to teach and have some beginners, as I've never struggled with pitch myself I've had a hard time helping them with that part. Thank you for this super simple explanation of how it works! 👏🏻

[bangbang_music]

Thank you! I have recently got back into singing and really enjoy your lessons. Its been really nice to gently strengthen things I have forgotten! Keep up the great work!

[AndreasLiberos]

The geee and gug excersises are superb for us more advanced singers 💥

[anonymous]

1:19 - What pitch is

3 main reasons people sing off pitch
5:03 - Voice is not well coordinated yet
6:02 - Need to work on ear training
6:53 - A combination of both

3 exercises to sing on pitch
7:50 - 5 tone solfege
9:52 - 1.5 Octave “Gee” (if you’re singing flat)
12:11 - 5 tone “Gug” (if you’re singing sharp)

[songsofsusannah]

My right vocal cord has been paralyzed for the past 13 years. I lost a lot of my vocal control (in fact, all of the control I ever had on the right side), and after 9 months of voice therapy, and many subsequent years of hard work, I still can't reliably sing on pitch. Oddly, I can usually stay on pitch when I hum, and my voice is more reliable on songs that I knew extremely well before the paralysis (I've been singing all my life). I'm a songwriter and I'd like to release my songs as a singer/songwriter, unfortunately I'm afraid that I might not be able to do that without autotuning the life out of my performances. I used to have a very good voice that I got a lot of compliments on. Do you have any suggestions for someone like me?

[FlatMart]

Right on point 🙌 I have an album to record 😎😂 thanks for all the great informations 👌

[shavendino]

This lessons are helpful in every way with my singing.thanks mate.

[Larry_Apodaca]

Great tutorial! You are a fantastic video teacher. Not everyone can be so concise, engaging, and really educational without rambling.

[stephenjmatthews]

Can't sing anymore. Damaged my voice from my early years of classroom teaching, where I didn't really use my voice correctly. Came here to improve my pitch accuracy on my theremin.

[YARED_D]

Um always having a hard time singing in tune and ur right I guess I really need a vocal lessons