In this short video Stuart Burke gives us some advice and tips on how to sing well when your using a microphone.

“When you’re singing you want to let the mic do it’s work… and if you’re holding your mic in your hand you can tip it in such a way to create different timbres with your voice.”

Posture

Good mic technique starts with good posture. Your mic should follow the line from your ears to your mouth. You should be standing with the crown of your head as your highest part with your shoulders down and relaxed.

If you’re playing an instrument make sure you’re using good posture there too.

Chin Up or Down

If you’re having to lift your chin to reach the mic then you’ll actually inhibit the air flow in and out and make your vocal chords strain for it. Similarly, if your chin is too far down, you’ll close off your larynx completely.

Leading/Backing Vocals

If you’re leading or you’re backing vocals there’s two ways to use the mic. When you’re leading, get your lips as close to that mic as possible. That way the sound guy won’t need to ride the gain too high and you won’t feed back. If you’re singing backing vocals, sing with a fist or even two fists between you and the mic. That way you won’t over power the lead vocal.

Hear Yourself

When you’re singing you want to let the mic do it’s work so don’t scream into it with the full power of your voice, you’ll never be able to sustain that! Sing with good technique and stamina and if you can’t hear yourself then you need more of your voice in the monitors. If you can’t hear enough of yourself, you will inevitably push your voice and go out of tune or hurt yourself.

Creating different Timbres with the mic

If you’re holding your mic in your hand you can tip it in such a way to create different timbres with your voice. This is dependent on the mic you’re using though.

Thanks for joining me in going through these vocal techniques. Thanks for everything you do as you serve your church and God Himself.