Does Your Voice Decide Your Genre?

I see a lot of questions floating on Reddit around genres.

“What genre should I sing?”

“I don’t know what music my voice suits”

“How do I find my genre”

Let’s break down this question together today

Real quick! For those of you who don’t know me. My name is Ivan, I love making music and also teaching singing to students all around the world. On this newsletter my goal is to make learning to sing simple. If that’s up your lane, consider subscribing. If you want to improve your voice faster, check out the links down below for ways to work with me

If you want to inspire our next episode! Drop in the comments below what you want me to talk about next.

1. Are there genres that you’re more suited for?

The answer is yes. But only right now.

Let me explain.

Each genre has sounds it asks for.

For example, rock might require the singer to stay in a higher range or more intense vocals like belting.

R&B might need you to get good with timing and runs. You might also need some falsetto in there.

Now most of us will have things that we’re better at. Some you might be better at runs, others with range.

And so depending on how this matches up to the genre.

You might have genres you’re better at.

But just because it suits now, doesn’t mean you have to sing this genre for the rest of your life.

And that’s because

2. The voice is way more malleable than you think

I feel like with singing, so many of us feel like what we have is what we got.

But this isn’t true.

So much of the voice is developed. Ultimately it’s a bunch of habits and muscles at play.

Let me give some examples.

Common things that affect the genre we can sing are our range, our ability to sing sing soft/loud.

But the reality is these things can be developed.

They correlate to some very specific muscles, that can be trained.

For example, range is developed by coordinating the muscles that stretch the vocal folds.

Volume or power is developed by coordinating the closures of the folds

And so one way to think about this.

Is rather than what genres suits my voice?

How do I develop the skill or musculature to sing in a certain genre.

Now to drive it home

3. Some of the greatest singers are also the most versatile.

For example Adam Lambert, think Michael Jackson, Beyonce.

Why is it that they’re able to sing different genres?

Sure you might say they were born for it.

But I personally think it’s because they’ve developed a voice, their craft to adapt to these different genres.

Personally with my students I’ve also seen a lot of benefit.

Sometimes, I’ll often deliberately choose a song that’s the complete opposite of what they like.

Because it can allow them to focus on certain parts of their singing. Maybe it’s their range, their rhythm, the way they finish a phrase.

It’s powerful!

Anyway! I hope this answers your question.

If you found this episode useful, please share or give it 5 star wherever you’re listening from. This really helps spread the word and means the world to me. If you’d like to study with me, links are down in description. Take care!

Extra Links/Resources

🌍 Book Private Singing Lessons here: https://calendly.com/singingsimply 

🌍 Step By Step Singing Course: https://www.singingsimply.com/courses/singing-fundamentals 

🌍 Stream my music: https://linktr.ee/singingsimply

🌍 Business/other inquiries: [email protected]