Humming vs. Singing — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 7, 2024
Humming involves vocalizing a melody through closed lips, focusing on tone without words, while singing combines vocal tones with lyrics, emphasizing melody, harmony, and expression.
Difference Between Humming and Singing
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Humming is characterized by the production of musical sounds with the mouth closed, creating a resonant, muffled tone that conveys melody without the articulation of words or specific notes. This method allows for a continuous, smooth flow of sound, emphasizing the musicality of tone over lyrical content. Singing, on the other hand, involves the full use of vocal cords, mouth, and sometimes facial expressions to produce musical sounds and words. Singing can encompass a wide range of styles, pitches, and volumes, and it is fundamentally about conveying both melody and lyrics, allowing for a more detailed expression of emotions and stories.
While humming is often used as a form of personal entertainment, relaxation, or musical exploration without the necessity of remembering lyrics, singing requires a certain level of skill, practice, and sometimes training to effectively communicate through song. Humming can be seen as a more accessible form of music-making, as it does not require knowledge of lyrics or the ability to maintain a wide range of pitches accurately. Singing, with its emphasis on lyrics, pitch accuracy, and vocal technique, offers a more comprehensive and expressive way to engage with music.
Humming is typically performed softly and is used in various contexts such as soothing a child, expressing a tune stuck in one's head, or enjoying music privately. It's a way to engage with music in a more internal, introspective manner. Singing, however, can range from soft and intimate to loud and public, making it a versatile form of expression that can be shared with others or performed as a solitary act of enjoyment or emotional release.
In terms of physical engagement, humming requires less vocal strain and can be maintained over longer periods without fatigue, making it a preferred option for casual, spontaneous music-making. Singing engages a broader set of respiratory and vocal muscles and can vary significantly in the physical effort required, depending on the style and duration of the performance.
Both humming and singing play significant roles in human cultural and emotional expression. Humming can serve as a simple, universal way to experience and share music internally, while singing provides a rich, complex medium for storytelling, emotional expression, and artistic performance.
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Comparison Chart
Vocalization
Through closed lips, no lyrics
Open-mouthed, with lyrics
Emphasis
Melody and tone
Melody, harmony, lyrics, and expression
Accessibility
Easier, requires no training
May require skill and practice
Volume and Style
Typically soft and muffled
Ranges from soft to loud, various styles
Physical Engagement
Minimal vocal strain
Engages respiratory and vocal muscles
Purpose
Personal entertainment, relaxation
Expressive storytelling, emotional release
Performance Context
Often private or introspective
Can be both private and public
Compare with Definitions
Humming
Producing a musical sound with closed lips.
She was humming her favorite tune while working.
Singing
Expressing emotion or storytelling through song.
Through singing, he shared his journey of heartache and recovery.
Humming
Vocalizing a melody softly without words.
Humming softly, he lulled the baby to sleep.
Singing
Involving vocal technique and musicality.
Singing in the choir requires both individual skill and the ability to harmonize.
Humming
A form of music-making accessible to all.
Humming requires no musical background, making it universally accessible.
Singing
A versatile form of musical expression.
From opera to pop, her singing career spanned a wide range of genres.
Humming
A way to engage with music internally.
Lost in thought, she hummed a melody that matched her mood.
Singing
A performance art that can be both personal and shared.
Singing at the community event, she felt a deep connection with the audience.
Humming
A method of casual, spontaneous musical expression.
He found himself humming along to the radio without even realizing it.
Singing
Vocalizing musical sounds with open mouth and lyrics.
She loves singing along to her favorite songs.
Humming
A hum is a sound made by producing a wordless tone with the mouth closed, forcing the sound to emerge from the nose. To hum is to produce such a sound, often with a melody.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist (in jazz and popular music).
Humming
To emit a continuous low droning sound like that of the speech sound (m) when prolonged.
Singing
To utter a series of words or sounds in musical tones.
Humming
To emit the continuous droning sound of a bee on the wing; buzz.
Singing
To vocalize songs or selections.
Humming
To give forth a low continuous drone blended of many sounds
The avenue hummed with traffic.
Singing
To perform songs or selections as a trained or professional singer.
Humming
To be in a state of busy activity.
Singing
To produce sounds when played
Made the violin sing.
Humming
To produce a tune without opening the lips or forming words.
Singing
To make melodious sounds
Birds singing outside the window.
Humming
To sing (a tune) without opening the lips or forming words.
Singing
To give or have the effect of melody; lilt.
Humming
(Baseball) To throw or pitch (a ball) very fast.
Singing
To make a high whining, humming, or whistling sound.
Humming
The sound produced by humming.
Singing
To be filled with a buzzing or ringing sound.
Humming
The act of humming.
Singing
To proclaim or extol something in verse.
Humming
Used to indicate hesitation, surprise, or displeasure.
Singing
To write poetry.
Humming
Present participle of hum
Singing
(Slang) To give information or evidence against someone.
Humming
Making a hum sound.
Singing
To produce the musical sound of
Sang a love song.
Humming
(archaic) Of ale or beer: very strong.
Singing
To utter with musical inflections
She sang the message.
Humming
The sound of something that hums; a hum.
Singing
To bring to a specified state by singing
Sang the baby to sleep.
Humming
Emitting a murmuring sound; droning; murmuring; buzzing.
Singing
To intone or chant (parts of the Mass, for example).
Humming
A sound like that made by bees; a low, murmuring sound; a hum.
Singing
To proclaim or extol, especially in verse
Sang his praises.
Humming
A humming noise;
The hum of distant traffic
Singing
A gathering of people for group singing.
Humming
The act of singing with closed lips
Singing
The act of using the voice to produce musical sounds; vocalizing.
Singing
(informal) Disclosing information, or giving evidence about another.
Singing
(US) A gathering for the purpose of singing shape note songs.
Singing
(music) Smooth and flowing.
Singing
(of a kettle etc.) Producing a whistling sound due to the escape of steam.
Singing
Present participle of sing
Singing
The act of singing vocal music
Singing
Disclosing information or giving evidence about another
Singing
Smooth and flowing
Common Curiosities
Is singing a natural talent or a learned skill?
Singing can be both; some have a natural talent, but it can also be significantly improved with practice and training.
Is it easier to hum or sing in tune?
It's generally easier to hum in tune because it requires less vocal control and precision than singing.
Do professional singers need to hum?
Many professional singers use humming as a warm-up exercise to prepare their voices for performance.
Can humming help improve singing?
Yes, humming can warm up the voice and improve pitch and tone control, beneficial for singers.
How can I improve my humming?
Improving humming involves practicing pitch control and melody reproduction, much like singing, albeit in a simpler form.
Is there a style of music that involves both humming and singing?
Yes, some musical styles and cultural practices incorporate both humming and singing within the same piece or performance.
Why do people hum?
People hum for various reasons, including relaxation, expressing a tune, or as a form of spontaneous musical expression.
Can everyone hum?
Yes, most people can hum as it requires no special skills or training.
Can you hum and sing at the same time?
Technically, one cannot hum and sing simultaneously since humming requires closed lips, but one can switch between the two.
Can humming be considered a form of meditation?
Yes, for some, humming can be a meditative practice that helps with relaxation and focus.
What's the difference between humming for fun and humming as a technique?
Humming for fun is casual and spontaneous, while as a technique, it involves purposeful practice for warm-up or musical skill development.
Do all cultures have forms of humming?
Humming is a universal human activity, though its cultural significance and use can vary widely.
How do I start learning to sing?
Starting with basic vocal exercises, learning breath control, and potentially seeking lessons from a vocal coach are good steps.
Is there any health benefit to singing or humming?
Both activities can have health benefits, including stress reduction, improved mood, and, in the case of singing, enhanced lung capacity.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
