WHAT SHOULD I SING?

How do I choose the right songs for my voice?

I often have singers enquiring about whether they’re singing the right songs for their voice. That’s a really good question!

Many singers start young and sing anything and everything, while others know exactly what they want to sing, and yet other singers only sing whatever they were taught at school, in choir, or in church, and so on. 

Curiously, many female voices like singing male voice songs and vice versa. Generally that’s not a good idea because our voices have different ranges. For example, what can feel high in a male voice is not as high for a female voice. The same goes for a male voice trying to sing a female song which will most likely take them through a whole lot of head voice that could prove very difficult.

Getting to know your own voice is really important. Just because some part of your range isn’t functioning doesn’t mean that you don’t have the ability to learn how to use that part of your voice. That’s why you would take singing lessons, so that you learn to grow your range and extend your skills.

The song suggestions are set up to help you understand your own voice journey better. First up is a list of suggestions to help build up your chest voice, which is generally your low or speaking voice. Sometimes that can depend on how well you’re actually speaking. 

Next up in the song suggestions are tunes that start to tackle some high or head voice. First of all just a few notes in head voice so that it’s not too overwhelming moving back and forwards between the registers. 

This is followed by songs that are starting to become a lot more exciting in terms of voice development and range, and then songs that are sung with great skill and expertise by some amazing singers. 

This allows for a bit of a tour around the voice in different styles!

It’s also important to remember that everybody’s voice is different. It’s okay to sing a song with your voice that perhaps doesn’t match the voice of the original singer, but allows you to make it your own and do the song justice in your own style.

Also, some people sing in head voice, naturally, and some sing with a well-developed chest voice. These song choices allow you to get a glimpse of where your voice is at, where your strengths lie, and where you need to develop your range further.

So take a tour through the suggested songs and learn about different singers, different vocal ranges, and different styles. Have fun!

Chest Range Examples:

Male Chest Voice Range:

  • Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol; Soft Rock

  • Yellow Submarine by The Beatles; Pop Rock

  • After Midnight by J. J. Cole; Blues Rock

  • I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash; Country

  • This Town by Niall Horan; Folk Pop

  • Ten Minutes Ago from Cinderella; Musical Theatre

Female Chest Voice Range:

  • Landslide by Stevie Nicks; Country

  • The Rose by Bette Midler; Pop Ballad

  • Love Is A Losing Game by Amy Winehouse; Soul R&B

  • All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor; Pop

  • Lavender Blue by Lily James, from Cinderella 2015; Musical Theatre

  • Mama Who Bore Me by Lea Michele, from Spring Awakening; Musical Theatre

Intro To Mix Examples:

Female Beginner Mix Range:

  • Holy Ground by Taylor Swift; Country Rock

  • Don’t Deserve You by Plumb; Pop

  • Big Bad Handsome Man by Imelda May; Pop Blues

  • We Are Warriors by Avril Lavigne; Pop Rock

  • I Enjoy Being A Girl from Flower Drum Song; Musical Theatre

  • Crazy by Patsy Cline; Country Pop

Male Beginner Mix Range:

  • The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles; Pop Rock

  • Wonderwall by Oasis; Rock

  • If Tomorrow Never Comes by Ronan Keating; Country

  • Love Your Way by Powderfinger; Indie Rock

  • Mr Cellophane from Chicago; Musical Theatre

  • Just The Two Of Us by Bill Withers; Soul, R&B

Chest & Extended Mix/Head Examples:

Male Chest & Extended Mix/Head Range:

  • I’m Yours by Jason Mraz; Pop

  • Something’s Coming from West Side Story; Musical Theatre

  • Stupid Boy by Keith Urban; Country Rock

  • Speak Now by Leslie Odom Jr; Jazz Soul

  • Never Tear Us Apart by INXS; Rock Ballad

  • Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Michael Bublé; Pop, Swing/Jazz

Female Chest & Extended Mix/Head Range:

  • You Are The Only Exception by Paramore; Alt Rock

  • It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing by Shania Twain; Pop Country

  • When We Were Young by Adele; Pop Ballad

  • Popular from Wicked; Musical Theatre

  • Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin; R&B

  • Songbird by Eva Cassidy; Folk Pop

GET IN CONTACT

To enquire about lessons or register your interest in lessons, events, or workshops, contact Sue by emailing sue@suekingham.com or filling out the form.