How to practice singing?

How can I practice singing in Key and how do I know If I'm singing off key?

• I play guitar, I'm learning singing, my drummer tells me, Your singing off key. I can't hear it. How do I know, how should I practice if I record myself can I hear it better, any programs, thanks!

• Answer:

  Recording yourself is an excellent idea. You can also plug up one ear, or put your voice into the mix and isolate it with headphones. Your vocal cords are muscles and they need to be exercised. The voice inside your head is also quite a bit different from what people hear outside your body. You need to start listening to what everybody else hears. So, listen to what you record, listen to your voice through a monitor or headphones, listen to your voice along with another voice. Stretch your vocal cords by singing as high and as low as you can, extending your range by at least three notes at the top and bottom of your range over the space of several weeks. (or months, take your time) The main thing you need to do is keep singing and listening. Try singing with the minimal amount of background possible. Groups like Huey Lewis and the News sing accapella before each performance (that's singing without any background accompaniment) because they understand the importance of good tight harmony. Start with singing intervals like thirds and sixths, and go exploring from there. Hope this helps.