JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum How do you let loose?

I, too, am familiar with the technique of going off-key on purpose. My violin instructor in 1961 had all of us in the orchestra do just that with our (fretless) instruments. He called it "fishing" as we were just fishing around the note, rather than playing it straight.

In the same vein, I suggest you practice deliberately holding yourself back as a way to "undo" your habit. You are on the right track by identifying that you are holding yourself back. But just saying it is so does not make the habit go away. Now to get at exactly how you are doing it, just try consciously to "hold yourself back" when singing. Hold yourself back a little, hold yourself back a lot. I bet you will have some realizations as you do this thoroughly. And if you are really brave, make a list of some of the awful consequences that would certainly occur if you were not to hold yourself back. Give this list to a trusted friend. Then fasten your seatbelt and ask your friend to act out each of these consequences while you are singing.

These are just a couple of ways (along with the suggestion to sing, sing, sing, etc.) to gain familiarity with your voice and with using it as a tool to sing with. In my mind, there is no substitute for familiarity. Hope this helps.

Anyone who needs help using the above techniques can email me below and I will help in any way I can.