Read pitch height and timing as separate signals
A trace can miss the guide for more than one reason. Separate vertical pitch, horizontal timing, and detected voice coverage to find the one thing to fix next.
- Vertical means pitch
- Horizontal means timing
- Compare your trace with the guide
Read one bar on two axes
The vertical position shows note height and the horizontal length shows duration. A trace above the bar is sharp, below is flat, and a later start can indicate delayed onset.
- Check vertical offset first
- Compare the start positions next
- If the trace breaks, check volume and microphone distance
Check octave and key when the whole shape is displaced
If the contour matches but sits far above or below, you may be singing another octave. If only the chorus is unreachable, check the song key and your usable range before forcing the note.
When watching the lane makes you tense, listen and sing first, then use the trace for review.
Correct one short phrase at a time
Repeat a phrase with the same error instead of chasing a full-song total. Correct height, onset, and release one at a time.
- Record the baseline
- Correct only vertical pitch
- Correct onset and duration
- Return to a full-song check
When the trace does not match
- Is the whole trace shifted up or down?
- Do only the highest notes fail?
- Does the voice start before or after the bar?
- Does low input level break the trace?
Pitch guide FAQ
- Does a wobbly line mean I cannot sing in tune?
- Natural vibrato, consonants, and microphone conditions all move the trace. Judge the centre of a sustained vowel, not one instant.
- Is singing one octave lower acceptable?
- It can be useful for practice, but scoring may treat it as a pitch difference. Consider changing the key instead.
- What if watching the screen makes singing harder?
- Watch only one target during the take and review the detailed trace after singing.
See your own pitch trace
Overlay your voice on the guide using an audio file you provide.
Sing with the pitch guide