Can I Teach Myself to Sing? A Realistic Look at Self-Teaching Versus Working With a Vocal Coach
- Val Bastien
- Jan 11
- 8 min read
If you’ve ever typed “teach myself to sing” into Google at 11 p.m., you’re not alone.
As one of the best vocal coaches who works primarily with adult and semi‑professional singers, I see this question come up constantly. Many of my clients are motivated, intelligent, and deeply musical—and most of them tried to teach themselves to sing long before they ever booked a lesson. What they discovered (often the hard way) is that effort alone doesn’t always equal progress when it comes to the voice. Many singers—especially adults—wonder whether it’s truly possible to learn how to sing well on their own. After all, there are countless YouTube tutorials, TikTok vocal hacks, apps, blogs, and online courses promising dramatic vocal improvement without ever stepping into a lesson.
So… can you teach yourself to sing?
The honest answer is: yes, to a point—but the outcomes are often limited, inconsistent, or short‑lived. There are real limits to how far self-teaching can safely and efficiently take you. Singing is one of the most abstract skills a human can learn. You can’t see your instrument, you can’t easily measure what’s happening inside your body, and what feels right is not always what sounds healthy.
In this article, we’ll explore:
What you can realistically learn when you teach yourself to sing
Why self‑teaching often leads to plateaus or vocal issues
The limitations of YouTube and online tutorials
Real‑life examples of singers who tried to teach themselves to sing—with mixed results
Why working with an expert vocal coach is often the fastest, safest, and most effective approach
By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether self‑teaching is enough for your goals—or whether personalized coaching could make the difference you’ve been missing.
Teach Myself to Sing: What You Can Learn on Your Own
Let’s start with the positives. Teaching yourself to sing is not useless—far from it. Many singers develop important foundational skills independently, especially in the early stages.
If you’re motivated, curious, and consistent, you can absolutely learn:
Basic pitch matching by singing along with songs or using apps
Song familiarity and musicality through repetition
Breath awareness (at least conceptually)
Stylistic preferences (pop, musical theatre, jazz, rock, etc.)
Confidence to use your voice instead of hiding it
Some singers also develop a strong ear simply by listening and imitating artists they love. This intuitive learning can be valuable—especially for those who grow up singing in choirs, bands, or informal musical environments.
However, intuitive learning has a ceiling.
Most singers who try to teach themselves to sing eventually reach a point where:
High notes feel strained or unreliable
The voice gets tired quickly
Tone sounds thin, nasal, breathy, or forced
Vocal breaks appear unexpectedly
Progress stalls despite “doing all the right exercises”
This is usually where frustration begins.
Why Singing Is So Hard to Self‑Teach
Unlike learning piano or guitar, singing happens inside your body. You can’t look at your vocal cords. You can’t visually confirm whether your breath support is efficient. You can’t easily tell whether tension is helping or hurting you.
This is why singing is considered an abstract motor skill.
Read the blog post below to learn more about what does your voice really sound like:
Here are a few reasons self‑teaching has limitations:
1. Sensation vs. Reality
One of the biggest challenges when you try to teach yourself to sing is that what you feel is not always what’s actually happening.
For example:
You may feel like you’re supporting your breath, but you’re actually holding tension
You may feel relaxed while your neck and jaw are working overtime
You may feel like you’re singing softly when you’re actually pressing the voice
Without trained external feedback, it’s very easy to reinforce habits that feel productive but are vocally inefficient—or even harmful.
2. Compensation Patterns
When singers struggle with range, power, or control, the body naturally compensates. Common compensations include:
Raising the shoulders when inhaling
Tightening the jaw or tongue
Pushing more air to reach high notes
Over‑darkening or brightening the sound unnaturally
These strategies can “work” temporarily, which is why many self‑taught singers believe they’re on the right track—until fatigue, inconsistency, or vocal pain sets in.
3. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
If you’re teaching yourself to sing, you’re limited by your current understanding. You may not even realize:
Why certain notes are unstable
Why your tone changes across registers
Why your voice doesn’t carry in performance
Why your range isn’t expanding despite daily practice
A skilled vocal coach doesn’t just give exercises—they identify why something isn’t working and adapt the strategy accordingly.
Teach Myself to Sing Using YouTube? The Pros and Cons
YouTube has become the go‑to resource for singers trying to teach themselves to sing. And to be fair, there is some excellent information available online.
The Benefits of YouTube Tutorials
Easy access to vocal exercises
Exposure to different terminology and approaches
Motivation and inspiration
A sense of community
It's free!
For beginners, this can feel empowering.
The Major Limitations
However, YouTube tutorials are general by nature. They are designed to reach as many people as possible, not to address your specific voice.
Here’s the problem:
An exercise that helps one singer may confuse or strain another
Many videos oversimplify complex concepts
Some creators prioritize views over vocal health
You may unknowingly choose exercises that reinforce your weaknesses
Even high‑quality tutorials cannot see or hear what you are doing in real time.
This is why many singers say:
“I’ve watched hundreds of videos, but I still feel stuck.”
Online videos and tutorials can be useful for inspiration and general understanding, but they are not a substitute for personalized feedback. What works safely for one voice may be completely wrong for another.
Singing involves breath coordination, vocal fold behavior, resonance balance, and muscle release—most of which cannot be accurately self-diagnosed. A singer may believe they are singing “correctly” because it sounds acceptable, while the body is compensating in unhealthy ways.
As one of the best vocal coaches out there, I often work with singers who practiced for years on their own, only to discover that small technical adjustments dramatically improved their range, tone, and stamina—sometimes within a single session.
Real‑Life Examples: Self‑Taught Singers With Mixed Results
Example 1: The Passionate Hobbyist
Sarah loved singing and spent years trying to teach herself to sing through YouTube and online courses. She improved her pitch and gained confidence—but her high notes always felt tight. She assumed that strain was “normal.” By the time she sought professional guidance, she had developed chronic neck tension that limited her range. With coaching, she made progress—but first had to undo years of compensatory habits.
Example 2: The Gigging Musician
Mark performed regularly in bars and taught himself to sing by imitation. He could deliver powerful performances, but after gigs his voice was often hoarse for days and he started worrying about vocal damage, and the daunting possibility of vocal nodules. A vocal coach quickly identified excessive pressure and inefficient breath use. Once corrected, Mark discovered he didn’t need to push nearly as hard—and his endurance improved dramatically.
Example 3: Famous Singers Who Started Self‑Taught
Many well‑known singers began as self‑taught or intuitive singers—but almost all eventually worked with vocal coaches.
Adele sought vocal training after experiencing vocal fatigue
John Mayer studied vocal technique to preserve his voice
Freddie Mercury, despite natural talent, worked extensively on technique and musical training
Raw talent may open doors—but technique sustains a career.
Teach Myself to Sing vs. Working With a Vocal Coach
Let’s compare the two approaches honestly.
Self‑Teaching Can Offer:
Flexibility
Low cost
Exploration at your own pace
Vocal Coaching Offers:
Personalized strategies for your voice
Immediate feedback and correction
Faster, more consistent progress
Reduced risk of vocal strain or injury
Clear goals and structure
Confidence built on reliable technique
A great vocal coach doesn’t force you into a mold. They adapt technique to your unique anatomy, goals, style, and experience level. Check out tips on how to find the best singing teacher for you:
This is especially important for adult singers, who often bring years of speaking habits, tension patterns, and self‑doubt into their singing.
Why Personalized Strategy Matters in Singing
No two voices are the same.
Factors that affect how you should train include:
Vocal fold thickness
Natural range and tessitura
Speaking habits
Musical background
Preferred genres
Performance demands
When you try to teach yourself to sing, you’re applying generalized advice to a highly individual instrument.
This is where many singers plateau.
A vocal coach listens not just for what you’re doing—but why you’re doing it.
The Emotional Side of Singing You Can’t Self‑Teach
Singing isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional.
Many singers struggle with:
Fear of being heard
Performance anxiety
Self‑judgment
Comparing themselves to others
These issues often surface more strongly as technique improves. A supportive vocal coach helps you navigate these challenges, creating a safe space to explore your voice without shame or pressure.
This is something no tutorial can replace.
Here are some tips to deal with singing and anxiety:
So… Can I Teach Myself to Sing?
You can teach yourself to sing—to a degree.
But if your goals include:
Singing with ease and consistency
Expanding your range safely
Improving tone and control
Performing without fatigue
Developing your unique sound
…then personalized coaching is a winning approach.
Rather than spending years guessing, compensating, and undoing habits, working with an expert vocal coach allows you to build technique that actually supports your voice long‑term.
Ready to Find Out What Your Voice Needs?
If you’ve been trying to teach yourself to sing and feel stuck—or if you’re curious about what personalized vocal coaching could do for you—I invite you to book a free consultation.
This is a relaxed, no‑pressure conversation where we:
Talk about your singing goals
Identify what may be holding your voice back
See if we’re a good fit to work together
Your voice is unique. Your training should be too.
👉 Sign up for a free consultation today and take the next step toward singing with confidence, ease, and authenticity:
Why Do Self-Taught Singers Often Hit a Plateau?
Progress in singing is rarely linear. Many self-taught singers experience an early boost, followed by months or years of stagnation. This usually happens because:
The voice adapts to inefficient coordination
Range limits are mistaken for “natural voice type”
Tension becomes normalized
Fatigue is ignored rather than addressed
At this stage, singers often practice more instead of better, which can make the problem worse. Strategic guidance—whether through finding the best singing lessons or seeking targeted coaching—helps break through these barriers safely.
When Does Coaching Make the Biggest Difference?
Vocal coaching becomes most impactful when a singer wants consistency, longevity, and confidence. Whether you’re an adult singer, a performer, or someone returning to singing after frustration or injury, personalized instruction accelerates progress and prevents setbacks.
Even occasional sessions with a best vocal coach can help you recalibrate your technique, clarify your practice goals, and ensure that what you’re doing on your own is actually helping—not holding you back.
Common Misconceptions About Teaching Yourself to Sing
“If it doesn’t hurt, it must be correct.”Many harmful habits feel fine—until they don’t. Vocal strain often builds gradually.
“Good singers don’t need lessons.”Most professional singers work with coaches throughout their careers, especially when preparing demanding material.
“I just need to practice more.”More practice doesn’t fix inefficient technique. Smarter practice does.
“My voice is just limited.”In most cases, perceived limitations are technical—not natural.
"Online tutorials are the same as lessons.”They provide information, not feedback. Your voice needs the latter.
Does this sound like you? If so, it’s completely normal—but the good news is, these habits can be changed. With personalized singing lessons, you can build technique, confidence, and a voice that works for you. Make a change today! Sign up for singing lessons with me and start building a voice you love to use:
Your voice is unique, and with the right guidance, you can reach its full potential. Stop guessing and start singing with confidence—it’s never too late to take the next step!
Val Bastien
Vocal Coach and Teacher, OCT