Choosing the Right Song or Genre for Your Voice
If you are serious about singing and aiming to develop your voice for performing, seeing a qualified singing teacher for lessons is highly recommended. It takes about a year of dedicated effort and maturing to find your voice. Only after that should you evaluate and choose your genre. Best of luck on your singing journey!
Understanding Your Voice
It's great that you are taking steps to improve your singing. With continued practice, consider getting voice lessons to learn the basic and proper singing techniques that are common across all genres. Melissa Cross's Vocal Coaching DVD can be a valuable resource in molding your voice toward the rock genre. From my experience, the rock genre appears to be the closest fit for your voice, which is fantastic. While not everyone is born with a voice naturally suited for rock, with dedicated practice, you can develop a raspier, more appealing voice in the rock genre.
Expanding Your Musical Repertoire
Many singers find that their natural voice type may not perfectly match the genre they initially love. Acknowledging and accepting this initial state is important. However, with consistent practice and refinement, singers can improve their ability to sing in various genres. Even if certain genres may always have a more natural fit, you can still develop a versatile singing voice. For example, while I deeply enjoy heavy metal and rock, my voice is more suited for Frank Sinatra's music. Yet, I still practice and develop my ability to sing across different genres.
Discovering Your Voice
Based on your vocal range and style, you may be well-suited to sing ballads or pop music. However, don't limit yourself to just one genre. Many singers start with one genre but evolve as they grow more mature and gain better control over their singing. Taylor Swift's evolution from ballad/country to pop and RB is a great example of this progression.
Exploring Jazz
Your voice seems to have potential for jazz as well. Professional training and extensive practice will be key to proficiency in this genre. If jazz is a genre that appeals to you, you should dive in and explore it further. Jazz requires a specific set of vocal techniques and control, and with training, you can significantly improve your skills in this genre.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the journey of discovering your voice is personal and unique. Whether you settle for rock, ballads, pop, or jazz, the most important thing is that you enjoy the process and continue to develop your skills. Keeping an open mind and embracing the versatility of your voice can open up countless opportunities in the world of music.