Never sang Happy Birthday? Or anything? I'm stunned.

This is not meant sarcastically - I just genuinely am stunned that anyone could go through life and never sung anything.

Most people I know who can't (or don't) sing actually do - they just can't (or think they can't) do it very well. Most of them can speak though and the two are pretty closely linked!

I started singing (in public) only when I was 50ish so no reason not to. It's only like another instrument. Practice makes better. If you can bear it then record yourself as you go and you'll see a difference. One of the things that cheered me up enormously was hearing one line I sang some years ago - and I thought that actually sounds ok, if only I could do all the other lines like that...

Pick 'easy' songs too. Nothing worse than trying to do something really hard when you are not ready. I tried to sing 'First Girl I Loved' by Incredible String Band a couple of years ago and god it was awful.

Coming Round the Mountain or something like that isn't a bad start. Straightforward strong well known tune and not a huge range.

Whether it is good or not I don't know but I personally found the following book that I found in the library very good for me with a useful CD with it - Set Your Voice Free - Roger Love. £6.85 on Amazon when I looked so not a huge amount! Good luck and hope you enjoy it.

I, like you, have always played instruments but was scared stiff of my voice. I knew it made a sound but had no confidence in it (I still don't hugely but know it's ok) but I have practiced a fair amount and have sung in front of a few hundred people in a band and solo to as many people as you can pack into a pub :) and actually quite enjoy it these days - I'd just like a larger repertoire ad more songs that I am happy with. Thats's just practice and laziness from my end.