Singing without an instrument: 3 ways to accompany yourself
"I'll learn guitar first, then I'll sing" is the sentence that stops most people from ever singing at all. But the way to sing well is to sing a lot, and all you need for that is some accompaniment within reach.
1) Backing tracks and karaoke
- Upside: Zero learning curve, and the production quality is high.
- Downside: You're stuck with someone else's key and tempo. If the song sits too high for your voice, you'll struggle. And you can only sing along to songs that already exist.
2) Apps that play chords from a screen
- Upside: Key and tempo are yours; you build your own progressions.
- Downside: Your eyes stay glued to a screen and your fingers to tiny buttons. Staring at a phone while performing ruins both your posture and your video.
3) Playing chords in mid-air with a camera (Air Chord)
The third and newest option: hold your hand up to your computer's camera and play chords with hand signs. Your left-hand sign (1–7) plays the corresponding degree of the chosen scale, tilting your hand makes the chord major or minor, and your right hand drives the effects. → What is Air Chord? Play chords with your hands and a webcam
- Upside: Hands in the air, posture free, eyes on the camera — the performance looks natural. Key and tempo are entirely yours, and Reels/YouTube recording is built right in.
- Downside: You need a device with a camera, and it takes a few minutes to get comfortable with the signs.
Which one should you pick?
| Backing track | Touchscreen chords | Air Chord | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | None | Low | Low |
| Key/tempo control | None | Yes | Yes |
| Trying your own songs | No | Yes | Yes |
| Video performance | Medium | Weak | Strong |
| Teaches theory | No | A little | The degree system |
🎤 Our advice: backing tracks to warm up, Air Chord for writing ideas and making video content. They're not mutually exclusive — what matters is singing every day.
A 5-minute starter routine
- Open ChordPlai and allow camera access.
- Pick a scale that sits comfortably for your voice (A minor if you're not sure).
- Move back and forth between ☝️ (i) and 🖐️ (v); let your breathing settle into the chord changes.
- Build a four-degree loop (e.g. i–VI–III–VII) and hum a melody over it.
- Hit record and shoot a test video — it's the best way to hear yourself improve.