by Mark JW Graham – Vocal Coach in Nottingham, UK
Why Is Singing So Hard?
Understanding the unique challenges of singing, the reasons for so many asking “why is singing so hard” — and how to overcome these challenges.
1. Singing Requires Incredibly Precise Muscle Control
Most people don’t realise singing involves coordinating dozens of fine muscle groups in real time — without any tactile or visual feedback. Contrary to what you might hear online or hear from young bombastic performers, great singing is not about gritting your teeth and blasting your way to the top notes. That’s what causes voices to give out, and shortened careers.
Great singing requires very fine motor control that takes years to cultivate and develop. Here are a few articles that go into this in more detail so you can understand why.
2. The Voice Isn’t Like Any Other Instrument
Unlike guitar or piano, you can’t just buy a better voice from a store. Voice is the only instrument you have to build at the same time as learning to play it.
In this regard, voice lessons can make huge differences in your voice, but you DO have to build the instrument yourself, and it takes time. Moreover, you can have to make these changes from the inside while learning to use it.
3. You Don’t Hear Yourself the Way Others Do
Your own voice sounds different in your head than it does to everyone else. This disconnect makes tone control and self-evaluation much harder. It helps to have a trained outside pair of ears to guide you, and also a recorder to listen back. This helps align what you hear in your head, with what the rest of the world hears.
4. Some Songs Are Just Genuinely Hard to Sing
No matter how great or well trained your voice is, some songs are just a pig to sing well. Large intervals, awkward vowels, fast shifts in register — some melodies are inherently harder to sing well. Let’s cover a few of these idiosyncrasies.
5. Your Voice Changes As You Age
Hormonal shifts, tissue changes, and long-term use all affect your voice over time. In a trained voice, these are all changes for the better. But if someone is relying on excess force, or relying on their youthful vigour to make the notes, this isn’t a benefit.
6. Singing Feels Vulnerable and Exposed
Singing connects deeply with identity and emotion. That can make it feel scary — even confronting — for beginners and pros alike.
Closing thought:
If you are finding your attempts at singing hard, you’re not wrong for finding it to be so. Singing well seems hard because it IS hard. Singing draws on parts of the body, mind, and emotions that few other skills demand. But once you understand why it feels difficult, you’re much better equipped to make progress.
Suggested Reading
Mark JW Graham - Mark is a high-end vocal coach and singing teacher based in Nottingham in the UK. He is known as the "go-to voice coach" by singers wanting to experience dramatic improvements in their singing voice in a short space of time.
With a client-base from around the world, Mark's high skill level as a coach, singer and musician helps him to transform singing voices and enhance their musicianship to new levels.