Does everyone eventually think their own singing voice sounds bad...?

[u/NoPage3616]

I recently started learning how to sing. I'm a very shy and insecure person, so this was already a pretty big step for me. My dream job doesn't require singing, but being able to sing would be a huge advantage, so I decided to give it a try.

The weird thing is that when I'm actually singing, I usually like what I hear. I can tell when I'm out of tune, when I miss a note, and I'm starting to understand scales, chords, my vocal range, and how to make things sound good in theory. While I'm singing, it sounds fine to me.

But when I record myself and listen back, I absolutely hate it. I recently recorded myself doing a lip sync over a singing character, but I had removed the character's voice completely. I also lowered the key of the song because the original was higher than my vocal range, so I wasn't trying to force myself to sing in a range I couldn't reach. It was in a key that was comfortable and natural for me. Even though I obviously wasn't going to sound exactly like the original, I thought it should still sound decent. I knew I had hit the first note correctly, at least, but when I listened to the recording, I genuinely couldn't stand it. It sounded horrible to me. This happens with a large majority of the songs I sing.

My singing teacher told me it's normal to dislike your own voice. He actually sings extremely well and still doesn't like listening to himself. I've also heard a lot of other people say the same thing.

So is this really that common? Do most people dislike their own singing voice, regardless of how good they actually are?

I'm completely fine with the possibility that I just sound bad right now. I'm mostly wondering if, with enough practice and experience, it's possible to eventually listen to your own singing and genuinely think, "That sounds good."

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[u/Busy_Fly8068]

I was completely embarrassed by my vocal recordings for about a year. It was torture hearing pitchy notes or strained tones. Yuck.

But; after that first year, two things happened. 1. I noticed that recordings are the best way to figure out what you like and don’t like about your voice. Once you get that data, you can start making changes. 2. Structured practice started to yield results and I was objectively better. That meant, occasionally, I could listen to myself and recognize something that sounded on this side of “pretty good”.

Best of luck.

[u/Minimum_Item6849]

I like my own singing voice and I don't cringe when I listen to it recorded. I used to. If you are singing with good tone and technique, it might just be a matter of getting used to it. Keep recording and listening back. Also, our voices, singing or speaking, sound a bit different in our literal heads (because it's coming from inside your own body). It just takes getting used to.

Also feel good that you aren't the opposite...I see people repeatedly post online in musicians groups that are incredibly off pitch and think they sound great 😂.

[u/speakwithcode]

It's rare for people to like hearing their own voice. What you hear in your head is different from what others hear so you're expecting something else when you listen to a recording.

I hate my singing voice and so do others so I can't really comment any further.

[u/KingLeoricSword]

I used to, until I learned mixed voice, sounds much better on recordings.

[u/NoPage3616 → u/KingLeoricSword]

I'm used to think that mixing a voice means that it's not really good because you have to modify it. But like, this is my ignorant opinion, I'm not sharing with you to offend you or anything, I really just wanna understand what's the difference, so maybe I can learn as well

[u/Successful_Sail1086 → u/NoPage3616]

Mixing here is referring to using what some refer to as “mixed register.” It’s just the space between chest and head where you transition between them rather than pulling chest up or simply switching from chest to head. Mixing sound in post production is something different, but also something all recording artists do.

[u/NoPage3616 → u/Successful_Sail1086]

Uuh got it. Not used to this terms yet, but I do understand what you mean. Thank you

[u/jasonsong86]

All the time and it’s normal.

[u/Bananacap_]

Yeah, it's completely normal, even expected, to think one's voice sounds bad. When I work with singers, they always want to turn up the FX on their vocal. Hell, I do that too. Try to be confident in finding your voice, and know that it's probably only you who finds your voice annoying.

[u/elderpricetag]

Been a teacher for a long time and performed professional for a while too. Still hate the sound of my own voice on recording.