# Is there a reason why people like to sing in the shower?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 29, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726 "2011-12-29T15:37:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SDMBKL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDMBKL)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/1 "2011-12-29T15:37:53Z")
My physics textbook says that people like to sing in the shower, because they like the amplified sound. Is this claim true, or is this claim more of an opinion of the textbook authors? đ
The question is NOT âwhy do people like to sing in the shower?â. The question is âIs there a reason why people like to sing in the shower?â If there is a reason, then what is the reason? Big difference in the wording, because the former assumes that people DO like to sing in the shower, while the latter makes no such assumption.
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### Author:  [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/2 "2011-12-29T15:51:20Z")
I donât know, my wife and I arenât really shower singers but Iâve noticed recently that both of our children (4 and 6) give it the full monty in the shower. Real, âla-la -dee-dee-deeâ tuneless nonsense. Weâve never taught them this so I reckon it must be a human instinct.
Perhaps it confers some selection advantage? perhaps it scares bears?
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### Author:  [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/3 "2011-12-29T15:57:11Z")
I believe humans naturally exhale when we get immersed in water. We either gasp if the water is cold, or sigh if the water is hot. Pay attention next time you get into the hot tub. Singing in the shower plays off this natural instinct to exhale/inhale when weâre wet.
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### Author:  [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/4 "2011-12-29T15:59:23Z")
Because it sounds cool. Itâs like yelling for an echo, just something we do to amuse ourselves.
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### Author:  [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/5 "2011-12-29T16:06:12Z")
The small tiled space of a shower offers the best acoustics one is likely to find in oneâs day to day life.
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### Author:  [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/6 "2011-12-29T16:14:12Z")
[joke]
First son: This study says that 60% of people sing in the shower, the other 40% masturbate. Do you know what they sing?
Second Son: No
First son: I didnât think soâŚ
[/joke]
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/7 "2011-12-29T16:20:13Z")
usually you hear your voice much different from how others hear you. if you record your voice and play it then people are often surprised that they sound like the way they do. in a shower you have echo which gives you a much different sense of your sound than usual, people might find that pleasing, some people even do it without the water.
people do hum and sing when not otherwise concentrating on something. taking a shower or bath doesnât take lots on concentration. so it could be recreational.
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### Author:  [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/8 "2011-12-29T16:27:24Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#):
>
> The small tiled space of a shower offers the best acoustics one is likely to find in oneâs day to day life.
This. Small tiled spaces give you reverb without a recording studio. One dorm I was in as a student, I used to play guitar in the bathroom because of what it made it sound like. Iâve sometimes done that in my own, less public bathroom too.
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### Author:  [@SmithCommaJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmithCommaJohn)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/9 "2011-12-29T16:40:39Z")
Besides the acoustics, itâs probably the fact that taking a shower generally feels good, and is relaxing. I know it puts me in a better mood, anyway.
That, combined with the perceived privacy, probably reduces a personâs inhibitions, and makes some people feel like singing.
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### Author:  [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/10 "2011-12-29T17:19:37Z")
> [@SDMBKL](#):
>
> The question is NOT âwhy do people like to sing in the shower?â. The question is âIs there a reason why people like to sing in the shower?â If there is a reason, then what is the reason? Big difference in the wording, because the former assumes that people DO like to sing in the shower, while the latter makes no such assumption.
Iâm sorry for the hijack, but I canât get past this. As far as I can tell, both questions assume that people like to sing in the shower. The difference is that the former question (âWhy do people like to sing in the shower?â) assumes that there is a reason for the behavior, while the latter question (âIs there a reason why people like to sing in the shower?â) asks if there is a reason.
To not assume that people like to sing in the shower, wouldnât you need to ask âDo people like to sing in the shower?â or âIs there a reason why people might like to sing in the shower?â?
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/11 "2011-12-29T22:59:35Z")
The shower is home-made autotune.
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### Author:  [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/12 "2011-12-29T23:50:55Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> The shower is home-made autotune.
Close enough. It isnât amplitude, but resonance. Every enclosed space (eg organ pipe) has a characteristic frequency. When that frequency or some multiple of it (specifically, its overtones) is sung, that pitch (frequency) will resonate much more âcleanlyâ and audibly â from positive wave interaction â compared to singing elsewhere. You will also sing more in tune since your feedback is much more apparent.
Next time youâre in the shower, try singing slowly, to the best of your ability, an upward scale, each note at the same volume. One note all of a sudden will get louder and easier to hold onto. Check above and below that note to confirm the phenomenon.
You have now found the fundamental frequency of your shower.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/13 "2011-12-30T00:03:01Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> Next time youâre in the shower, try singing slowly, to the best of your ability, an upward scale, each note at the same volume. One note all of a sudden will get louder and easier to hold onto. Check above and below that note to confirm the phenomenon.
>
> You have now found the fundamental frequency of your shower.
âŚand WhyNot suddenly developed a new Doper Crush. đ
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/14 "2011-12-30T02:35:10Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> Close enough. It isnât amplitude, but resonance. Every enclosed space (eg organ pipe) has a characteristic frequency.
When my high school music teacher played trumpet in an Army band they used to take turns practicing in the menâs room.
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### Author:  [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/15 "2011-12-30T02:38:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Is there a reason why people like to sing in the shower?
I like to sing in the shower, and Iâm not exactly sure why. Do I need one?
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### Author:  [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/16 "2011-12-30T02:40:02Z")
In my case, I sing in the shower to limit collateral damage only to myself.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/17 "2011-12-30T03:22:08Z")
There are stories in Hollywood studio lore about certain bathrooms being used â secondarily â as echo chambers to augment audio recordings in the distant past. This was long before digital processing, of course.
I guess you had to be careful not to flush while the recording was in progress.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/18 "2011-12-30T03:24:59Z")
Anyone recognize this rough and obscure reference, about singing in the shower?
âDo the dirty, the dirty dog, now, dirty dog on the carpetâŚâ
Background chorus: âDirty, dirtyâŚdirty dogâŚâ
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### Author:  [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/19 "2011-12-30T03:37:20Z")
I think itâs serotonin/endorphin induced as I donât think many people sing terribly sad songs and weep while showering⌠but hey, I could be wrong.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-why-people-like-to-sing-in-the-shower/607726/20 "2011-12-30T04:20:47Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#):
>
> When my high school music teacher played trumpet in an Army band they used to take turns practicing in the menâs room.
They donât have to do that anymore.
âŚ
do those plastic shell surrounds have similar acoustic properties?
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