If you are passionate about Bollywood music and wish to sing like your favourite stars, you’re not alone. Bollywood style of music is full of beautiful melodies, lyrics and vocal expressions. Even though it looks effortless on the big screen, it takes a lot of practice and dedication to master this style of singing. To make your dream come true, read ahead our ten tips and improve your Bollywood singing skills.
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10 Tips to Improve Your Bollywood Singing Skills
- Masters the Basics of Ragas
- Practice Voice Modulation
- Perfect your Pronunciation
- Warm Up Your Voice
- Master Breath Control
- Listen and Admire the Great Singers
- Learn Emotional Expression
- Join Hindi Music Classes or Bollywood Singing Classes
- Experiment with Different Styles and Genres
- Record and Evaluate your Progress
Here’s in depth about Tips to Improve Your Bollywood Singing Skills
- Masters the Basics of Ragas
Ragas are the base for any kind of Bollywood song, and you must set the foundation right in order to sing well. Understanding the core ragas like Kafi, Bhairav and Yaman are mandatory as they are most commonly used in Hindi songs. Start with simple ragas and eventually, you can climb the ladder. Doing this will also help improve your melody and enhance your understanding of Bollywood music.
- Practice Voice Modulation
Bollywood music requires flexibility since it has so many emotions to offer. Whether it is joy, anger, heartbreak or romance, you must be able to master voice modulation to catch these shifts. Practising with scales, adjusting your pitch and exploring with different speed will help you get control over the tone and volume. You can also try singing lines in different ways and experimenting with emotions to develop your own distinct style.
- Perfect your Pronunciation
Pronunciation can make or break your performance, especially with the mix of Hindi, Urdu and sometimes even Punjabi. Mispronouncing words can blur the song’s meaning, so spending time practising how it sounds is worth it. Listen carefully to native speakers or Bollywood singers to improve your command of the language. You could also watch Bollywood films with subtitles, which is another enjoyable and helpful way to learn pronunciation and diction.
- Warm Up Your Voice
Just like how athletes warm up before running, warming your vocal cords is key to delivering a good performance. Every day, spend some time on basic warm-ups like humming, lip rolls, and breath control exercises. This will help you strengthen your vocal muscles and allow you to sing low and high notes. A well-warmed voice is less likely to crack, which will help you sing with better confidence.
- Master Breath Control
Having a good hold on your breath is necessary to hold long notes and get through difficult phrases. The best way to maintain longer notes is by practising diaphragmatic breathing, which requires using your diaphragm rather than your chest. Start with easy breathing exercises for beginners to improve your breath control, like holding notes and slowly increasing the volume. With time, you’ll feel more relaxed singing even the toughest Bollywood tunes.
- Listen and Admire the Great Singers
Listening to iconic singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Sonu Nigam is a great way to get inspired. Pay attention to how they sing every song; notice the pitch, accuracy, emotion and their individual style. Try to sing along, following their techniques and adding your personal bit to create a unique voice while staying true to Bollywood’s style.
- Learn Emotional Expression
Bollywood music is famous for conveying a wide range of emotions, from love and joy to grief and nostalgia. To fully bond with your audience, practice expressing emotions through your voice. Focus on the meaning behind the song lyrics and channel those feelings similarly. Rehearsing in front of a mirror or filming yourself can also help you perfect this talent and fully convey the song’s sentiments.
- Join Hindi Music Classes or Bollywood Singing Classes
When you are trained by experts, you will gain a better understanding since there will be structured advice and feedback, all of which will help you improve your skills. Hindi film music classes or Bollywood singing classes can help you learn basic skills, such as pitch correction, breath control, and raga knowledge. Structured sessions also allow you to perform in front of others, which is great for developing confidence and polishing your talents.
- Experiment with Different Styles and Genres
While Bollywood music is primarily based on Indian classical music, it has also been inspired by other genres such as folk, jazz and pop. Exploring these different genres will help you become a more diverse singer. Try singing a Bollywood song in jazz or pop style, or experiment with a classical piece from a Bollywood perspective. This will increase your knowledge of musical genres as well as your adaptability.
- Record and Evaluate your Progress
One of the best ways to improve your singing skills is by recording yourself. It helps you to take a step back and listen to your voice. Notice whether your notes are accurate or if you caught the right emotion. As you progress, you’ll see areas that require some practice and realise new possibilities for growth. Keep these recordings as a journal of your progress; you will appreciate how far you’ve come.
Conclusion
If you are ready to improve your Bollywood singing skills, joining a Bollywood singing course is a great idea. At Artium Academy, we offer Bollywood singing courses designed by the one and only Sonu Nigam, one of the most beloved voices in the industry. Our Hindi music classes aim to help you understand the details of singing, with a focus on ragas, voice modulation, breath control and emotional expression. Here, you will receive personalised guidance, interactive sessions, real-time feedback and the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Whether you’re just starting or have some experience, our courses will help you become a star.
Book a free trial and join us on this musical journey!