I have often wondered this, why one person can have a great voice and another cant. Is there biological differences in a persons vocal chords or muscles that allows them to form pitch better? Is it better hearing to allow a person to self correct their tone and pitch? Is it a more developed part of the brain that enables musical talent, or allows them to recognize the pitch and tone? Or, is it training and practice? Obviously some people are naturally talented, and some may have the ability to train and become better singers, and some (like me) have no vocal ability at all. So seriously, what are the things that contribute to a persons ability to sing well? This question is brought to you by a person with no music or singing ability at all.

4/21/2011 4:03:27 PM

Being able to understand and recreate pitches is huge. So is making this sounds in some sort of rhythm.

Then comes an understanding of being in key, which you can learn or hear naturally. Some people have natural talent at these things, anyone can be taught. Hearing and recreating the right pitches is the hardest part.

4/21/2011 4:05:51 PM

i only sing to myself so i have no training or expertise but i think i sound alot better after a strenous warmup of just yelling, its not that i'm able to hit notes i couldn't before but it's more like i can transition better and eliminate the bad notes that i'd normally get stuck on

4/21/2011 4:08:36 PM

my sister was born with a naturally good singing voice, and with voice exercises it got better

she can also sight read music, and can hear any song and immediately play it on the piano

some people are just more musically gifted than others

her brain is just more developed toward music/art and with practice the results only got better, so i guess it's a mix of both

[Edited on April 21, 2011 at 4:13 PM. Reason : .]

4/21/2011 4:11:28 PM

With singing or playing an instrument, two people can play the same song and it sounds totally different. some people have just got it. I don't really know what "it" is. But anyone can play notes. if you've got it, you can play music

that being said, anyone can get better with practice.

4/21/2011 5:37:59 PM

i think i can stay in key decently if i'm singing to music, but the actual quality of my singing voice is really poor (i think). some people just have voices that are conducive to producing music, and with training can hone it.

4/21/2011 5:47:16 PM

Yes, I acknowledge that some people are naturally talented.....but why is the question. What biologically makes someone have a better voice.

4/21/2011 6:58:02 PM

wiki says: The sound of each individual's voice is entirely unique not only because of the actual shape and size of an individual's vocal cords but also due to the size and shape of the rest of that person's body, especially the vocal tract, and the manner in which the speech sounds are habitually formed and articulated. (It is this latter aspect of the sound of the voice that can be mimicked by skilled performers.) Humans have vocal folds that can loosen, tighten, or change their thickness, and over which breath can be transferred at varying pressures. The shape of chest and neck, the position of the tongue, and the tightness of otherwise unrelated muscles can be altered. Any one of these actions results in a change in pitch, volume, timbre, or tone of the sound produced. Sound also resonates within different parts of the body, and an individual's size and bone structure can affect somewhat the sound produced by an individual.

so basically, with the right combination of body size, shape, and vocal tracts, pleasing singing voices are produced.

[Edited on April 21, 2011 at 7:54 PM. Reason : .]

4/21/2011 7:53:09 PM

I think EVERYONE can be a decent enough singer with proper training. Learning how to control your air, annunciate, match pitches, etc....that's all training. Sure, some people it comes more naturally for, but I think anyone can at least be taught to be serviceable and sing within a group without standing out and sounding terrible.

I'd say the incredible singers out there are just blessed with talent. They had the training and the practice.....and just also happened to have perfect vocal chords. Some things you just can't teach

4/21/2011 9:00:58 PM