There is one musical profession that is almost guaranteed to get you stares of amazement and admiration when you mention it - the vocalist. No matter whether you want to be a rock band singer or achieve fame with a solo career, the important thing is not losing track of what truly matters. As an experienced singer myself, I'll share with you a few tips on what makes a great singer - and how to become a vocalist yourself.Tip One: Get singing lessons. It seems like an obvious thing to do, but looking at the masses of people who think they can sing - when they actually don't! - it's worth emphasizing. A good vocal coach will help you hit the right notes and ensure that you're using your vocal chords correctly. If you're looking for some advice on singing lessons, check out the resource box below!Tip Two: Get experience. Again, for many this is obvious, but I just want to make sure you guys are on the right track! What I mean is - go out there and start singing! Whether it's at your cousin's birthday party or joining a local band, what matters most is that you get experience. Not only will it help you to become a better singer, it will also relieve psychological tension and/or embarassment over time.Tip Three: Get advice. If you're not ready yet to become an active singer, or even if you are, you should try to see and hear as many other singers as possible. Watch closely - what makes them good singers? How are they controlling their voice? How are they making use of their stage presence? Go and ask them after a show. Once you've got a good idea of good and bad, you'll know how to become a vocalist yourself.Tip Four: Get yourself recorded. In accordance with Tip Three, this is important. You'll only know how your voice really sounds - how good your performance is - when you record yourself. Do this frequently! Send your recordings to friends, relatives, etc. and ask what they think of it. Additionally, it's a great way to keep track of your progress. Listening to a months-old tape can be eye-opening!Tip Five: Don't give up! No matter how frustrating it is, whether you think you're making no success at all or whether you've been harshly criticized. The key is to persist. That's how all the other vocalists got famous too! Try to make the most out of negative comments and improve yourself. Then you can succeed.And now to our little secret advice...it's what all the famous vocalists are doing! Find a few warm-up exercises for your vocal chords (you can find them in the site mentioned in the resource box), and then do them whenever you have time - while watching TV, while cooking, etc.! This is simply an amazing way to train your voice all day even if you're not actually singing.I hope these tips were hopeful to you readers - here's to your success!