Why You Don’t Need a ‘Good Voice’ to Start Singing

A lot of singers out there are doing the unthinkable. They’re constantly comparing their own singing voices to everyone they think sounds so good, and they believe they’ll never measure up — that they’ll never sound the way she does.

Well, what if I told you that if this is you, you’re basically shooting yourself in the foot? 

Developing one’s voice is a process. It’s something that starts off with the belief or feeling that yes, you can also be “as good as her” — whether you believe this right now or not. But not in a comparative way at all, and not to sound like her either. It’s about finding your own signature sound.

Learning how to sing — and sing well — won’t necessarily happen overnight. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t even try. Why would you hold yourself back from the great possibility that you can cultivate a voice that is uniquely you — something you can be proud of? Developing a great singing voice takes time, dedication, continuous effort, and a lot of self-compassion along the way. Consider it a marathon, not a sprint.

But you can’t start this “marathon” at all if you’ve already shot yourself in the foot, right?

Maybe you listen to others sing and think they all have this natural talent you don’t — so you assume you’ll never be able to sing like that. But that’s completely untrue. Even if your current voice isn’t where you want it to be, that doesn’t mean it never will be.

I’m living proof of this. I sounded okay through much of my own singing journey — a bit shaky at the beginning. But because I dedicated myself to developing my craft, learning ear–brain techniques to train my musical awareness, and discovering that my authentic voice is what truly matters, my voice has gone from “meh” to “whoa — is that me?”

The same can (and most likely will) happen to you.

But the first step is the most crucial one: saying yes, I can. Yes, I have the ability too (even if you think it's not there yet).

You do have vocal cords, right? Just like the person you admire? So, what’s the difference then — physically? Just like an instrument, you can learn how to play it — and play it well. Your voice is an instrument. Think of it that way.

Just like she trained her voice to be what it is now, you can do the same. But your mindset must be the first step in overcoming the belief that you’ll never measure up.

If you’re in school, for example, and you start out in kindergarten, would you expect to suddenly be in Grade 6 without going through the grades in between? Of course not. The singers you admire started off at the same level as you.

Yes, some singers have what people call “natural talent,” but a developing talent, over time, can sound just as great.

Here’s the truth: you shouldn’t be comparing yourself to another singer — not now, and not ever. The only person you should compare yourself to is, yup, you guessed it… yourself. The Kindergarten-to–Grade 6 analogy fits perfectly here.

So start fresh — with a new belief. Take those vocal lessons, and give yourself permission to begin where you are, knowing deep down that you can become the singer you’ve always wanted to be.

Have patience and dedication as you develop your craft, your voice, your instrument. Because once you learn the ropes, stay patient with yourself, and keep believing you can (because it’s true), you’ll move beautifully from Kindergarten to Grade 6 in your vocal ability.

And those great singers you admire now? Instead of comparing yourself to them, learn from them.

Listen with curiosity — notice how they hit the notes, shape their tone, and express emotion. Appreciate them instead of resenting them. Think, That’s nice how she sings it — I can learn from that. Keep listening and learning.

These singers are like the textbooks of your own vocal education. Let them inspire you, not inhibit you. And learn to sing on your own terms — discovering how your voice can become a true, authentic expression of you.

And next time you catch yourself doing the same thing — comparing yourself and thinking those same old lies about yourself and your own potential, just immediately replace it with the belief that you can and that you do have what it takes, because you do. You will be proving it to yourself in time.

Anyone’s voice can progress — and the key isn’t to sound like them anyway; it’s about how you can sound more like you. Your voice will develop, especially if you allow yourself to discover what it is authentically. You don’t want to be a carbon copy of someone else, even while you’re learning the ropes.

So allow yourself the freedom to discover who you are as a singer by first letting go of your limiting beliefs. Take the first step toward vocal self-discovery by making a commitment to yourself that your voice is going to shine — especially as you practice new things and give it the chance to develop and grow.

And you can’t expect a seed to bloom into a flower overnight, right? It needs time, sunlight, and care. The same is true of your voice. It needs time, patience from you, compassion when things don’t sound right in the moment, and the knowledge that progress will come as you develop your singing ability with the right attitude and self-belief.

Even if you don’t believe it right now, that’s okay. It’s not about forcing your mind to think in ways it doesn’t yet accept; it’s about the inner knowing that, just like when you learn an instrument, you’ll get better and better. So open your mind to your potential, your ears to music (with curiosity and a spirit of learning), and your voice to how you can cultivate it into something as beautiful as one of the loveliest flowers in the garden.

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If this post resonated with you — and I hope it did — check out my e-book, From Shy to Shine — A Beginner's Path to Singing Success.

It’s a comprehensive digital guide to help beginner singers get out of the starting gate and begin developing their own authentic sound. It’s easy to understand, motivational, and instructional without being technical — a fun read for anyone ready to give themselves (and their voice) a real chance.

So, click on the button below to get the e-book downloaded to your inbox. You and your singing voice will be realy happy you did!

💜
Stella Jasmin
(Your Motivational Singing Coach at The SInging Journey)