Parties are fun! You get to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, enjoy light-hearted banter and sing & dance to the beats. But we can all admit that karaoke singing can be nerve-wracking at times.
While some people may seem to nail it, many can be seen struggling.
So, do they know some secret recipe for giving great karaoke performances? Perhaps they just know karaoke essentials, and in this blog, we’ll share those with everyone!
Here are the key tips and techniques to make a tremendous karaoke performance:
- Find your strengths and weaknesses
To succeed in any endeavour, knowing yourself well is important. For Karaoke, you can start by understanding which songs you like listening to and the ones that you actually sing well.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before starting:
- What is your vocal range?
- Which songs suit your voice the most?
- What genre will fit your singing style well?
- Who are the musicians you want to sound like?
You may not always need the intricate details about music. This exercise can help you find songs that can showcase your voice in the best manner possible. You can learn to sing karaoke, but starting with the basics always helps.
- The right strategy
This is the part where you decide your song.
The song selection can make or break your performance!
It’s advisable to pick a song that suits your vocal range. Are you a soprano, alto, tenor or bass?
Do you have a deep, low voice, a soft voice or a strong, loud one? Figuring this out will help you narrow down your song options.
For starters, one can try a sufi rock ballad such as Sonu Nigam’s ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’, or a melodious track like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s ‘Sooraj Ki Baahon Mein’ or an old classic of Kumar Sanu, ‘Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye.
If English is your preference, you may start with Selena Gomez’s ‘Ring’, JVKE’s ‘Golden Hour’ or a peppy number by Olivia Dean ‘Dive’.
You can choose any song from the suggestions or any of your own favourites. The aim is to ensure that you’re not straining your vocal cords.
- Preparation always helps
Karaoke is a skill. And just like any other skill, you can get better at Karaoke with practice. If you really want to steal the crown for the karaoke night, practise hard and well. Don’t overdo it, but practise the song you have chosen every now and then. It will keep your vocal cords active!
If the Karaoke night just sprung up on you out of nowhere, take a few moments to warm up.
Simple vocal exercises such as humming or saying tongue twisters can help.
Additionally, you can relax your neck and shoulders and release tension from your jaw. You can listen to your chosen song one last time to go over the lyrics and melody.
At last, take a deep breath and get grooving!
- Karaoke Traps you need to know
A Karaoke trap is a song that seems like the perfect choice until you actually start singing it!
Ever heard ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls? This is one of the songs that don’t fit well for karaoke nights. Until you’re really into rapping, this is not for you.
Another one of the karaoke traps is choosing a song with a very long guitar solo and instrumental piece. That is a disaster waiting to happen, as you will be sitting quietly through most of the song.
It’s not exactly the best karaoke scenario, is it?
- Vocal Cords and Breathing Techniques
Training your vocal cords and practising breathing exercises will prepare your voice for karaoke.
Here are some of the exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Lip trills: You can start by blowing the air through your lips, gently creating a buzzing sound. It will help relax and warm up your vocal cords.
- Humming scales: Hum along a musical scale to loosen up your voice and improve its flexibility. Start from a low note and gradually move to a higher pitch.
- Tongue twisters: As mentioned above, tongue twisters are great for vocal training as they not only improve your diction but engage multiple muscles in the mouth, throat and jaw area.
Remember to start gently and slowly increase the intensity. It’s advisable to maintain a balance by not going too hard on your vocal cords. Practice and patience is the key.
Breath control is crucial for delivering high and strong notes. You will be able to achieve this by incorporating breathing exercises into your routine. Additionally, you can practise diaphragmatic breathing.
Lay down and place your hand over your chest. Start by inhaling deeply and then slowly exhale through pursed lips. This will ensure that your diaphragm is engaged.
Some other breathing exercises are given below. These can help enhance your performance:
| Lip Trills | Place both your lips together and blow out air, making a buzzing sound. |
| Sirens | Try sliding from high to low and then from low to high pitches. |
| Breath Holds | Inhale deeply and wait for five seconds before exhaling. Try it ten times. |
| Straw Breathing | Breathe in through a straw and maintain a steady airflow. |
Through regular practice, you can develop better breath control and lung capacity. Now, let us move on to microphone handling techniques to cover all the bases.
- Know the microphone
Proper microphone placement can help you project your voice clearly to all the corners of the room. Try positioning your microphone slightly away from your mouth, tilting it upwards. The distance will allow clarity of the sound while minimising feedback.
It’s also advisable to move the microphone closer while delivering soft notes. This helps emphasise emotions and optimise distortion.
By mastering these microphone tricks, you’ll not only enhance your karaoke performance but will be able to connect with the audience in a better manner.
- Go the duet way
Karaoke duets are not unheard of. They can be fun and offer a bonding experience with your friends and family.
Plus, it also takes off the pressure of delivering a solo performance!
Songs such as ‘Senorita’ from ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ or an old classic ‘Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi’ from ‘Aandhi’ or ‘Hey Jude’ from ‘The Beatles’ are some of the perfect numbers for a duet performance.
Now, all you have to do is have fun and let loose!
- Engage with the audience.
Karaoke is all about giving a show! When you have chosen the right song, warmed up your cords and taken a few deep breaths, all that is left is for you to shine.
Best karaoke performances have active engagement with the audience. Interaction with the audience while karaoke singing is at the core of karaoke etiquette. This will engage the audience and boost your confidence as well.
Try to maintain eye contact with the audience throughout your performance. It will create a personal connection and enhance your performance. You can also use body movements and gestures that are appropriate to the song and captivate the interest of the audience!
Finally, encourage the audience to sing along, especially the catchy choruses.
The ultimate purpose of karaoke singing is for you and your audience to have a good time. So, pick the mic and channel your inner Britney!
- Memorise the lyrics
You can learn karaoke with all the above tips and techniques. You can search online for “karaoke online,” but what sets a performance apart is the passion. And it can only come if you remember your lyrics well! It can be a hard task, and you might even require a prompter at times!
The only way to give a captivating performance is by being immersed in it. That will come with prior preparation.
Practice every day by singing your song once, and soon you’ll have memorised it.
- Performance time
You have done all this preparation; now is your time to shine!
Constantly keep learning from your experiences.
You will keep improving as you work on the feedback and your shortcomings. Further, you can consider joining a vocal class or hiring a vocal coach to help you hone your karaoke skills.
With consistency and perseverance, you will see improvement.
After everything, it’s important to note that karaoke is about having fun and enjoying yourself. Make sure to have a good time, regardless of how prepared or unprepared you are!
Wrapping Up
Giving a memorable karaoke performance does not have to be hard. With the tips and techniques shared above, you can sharpen your skills and have the best time karaoking the night away.
You can start your karaoke journey at Artium Academy with a FREE 1:1 Music Learning Session.
