# Correlation between voice & musical talent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2024, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351 "2024-11-17T06:38:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/21 "2024-11-18T02:54:57Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > They can hear the pitch and get it right with their instrument, but not with their voice. This is me. I used to play trumpet/coronet, french horn, bass/tuba, and could fake it on a trombone. When I was out of pitch, I could tell instantly and could fix it. I love to sing, but suck at it. I can tell I’m out of pitch, but have no idea how to fix it . Although my daughter tells me when I can manage to sing (and stay in) lower range tenor, open my throat, and breathe properly, I’m passable - not good, but not so bad that people immediately wince. Unfortunately, all of those things happening at once is accidental, not deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/22 "2024-11-18T07:29:10Z")
A few years ago, I had a revelation - I can hear my own voice much better with one ear plugged. Suddenly I can hear my own voice distinctly as compared with anything I might be playing. And I speak as someone who has been leading singing for about forty years. Mostly with more enthusiasm than skill, I will say. I think I do much better now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/23 "2024-11-18T13:30:14Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I can tell I’m out of pitch, but have no idea how to fix it . That’s me too, although with none of your other musical skill. For the untrained among us, I suspect that the pitch range where we have _relatively_ some control is maybe 1/2 octave. Beyond that narrow range, we have more like little to no control rather than some. The problem is that other than the _One Note Samba_, there’s essentially no music written for a half-octave vocal range. And even _One Note Samba_ is going to be out of range for many of us. To add insult to injury, the darn song actually uses _two_ notes. So twice as too hard for us. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/24 "2024-11-18T13:57:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For the untrained among us, I suspect that the pitch range where we have _relatively_ some control is maybe 1/2 octave. Beyond that narrow range, we have more like little to no control rather than some. I don’t know if I can get that close. If I try to sing I have no idea what sound comes out. My best bet is to stay monotonal and try to get the timing right. I can whistle well enough for the changes in pitch and tunes to be recognized, but with very little control of the pitch, basically it becomes just a low-medium-high distinction. My larynx, tongue, and the rest of my mouth can’t create any particular note at will by singing. I have played musical instruments mechanically, but not very well. I have very little musical ability at all, those components necessary to produce music in any form are mainly missing in me. ---
**Author:** ![StringsandHammers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stringsandhammers/32/17933_2.png) [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/25 "2024-11-18T15:24:38Z")
It all comes down to practice and where you invest your time. I’m originally a keyboardist that couldn’t sing to save my life, then I started practicing and I got better. Then I got a voice teacher and I got better. Then I started singing in church and college choirs and got even better. Today I am proud to say after all that hard work I’m officially a passable singer. I bet with a bit more practice I might even be an “ok singer.” \*fingers crossed ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/26 "2024-11-18T22:49:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The problem is that other than the _One Note Samba_, there’s essentially no music written for a half-octave vocal range. Now I’m wondering if there are popular songs with such a narrow vocal range, and if they get sung at karaoke nights a lot. And also wondering what famous, well-regarded professional singers have the narrowest vocal ranges. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351/27 "2024-11-19T08:49:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > And also wondering what famous, well-regarded professional singers have the narrowest vocal ranges. Leonard Cohen? Lou Reed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-voice-musical-talent/1010351.md?page=1)