posted
I just need a little advise, I have been singing in this little bar every Friday night now for about the last 6 months. After singing 4 or 5 songs my voice starts to sound crackie, then in a day or 2 its gone. My doc says there is no damage to my vocal cords, when will I be able to sing without getting hoarse, I love the bar and the KJ guy which by the way is so good everything he sings and his sound system is the greatest. I look forward to this its fun and good therapy after a long week of working. Anyone got good advice ? cheryl
------------------ Cheryl L McCoy
Posts: 2 | From: Virginia beach, VA | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I usually find that my voice gets funny after a few songs, but then picks back up again. I think you might just need time to warm up. Could be the air in teh bar too. Maybe too smokey, or dry. Maybe that combination with what you are drinking is screwing up your voice as well.
Posts: 2367 | From: London, Canada | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Although this may sound a little silly, one of the best things you can do is sing in the car on the way over..warm up your voice singing scales or songs that really travel a range of notes (the Star Spangled Banner)
Just as a word of warning to you all: if your voice starts to go, NEVER EVER EVER use Chloraseptic..all it does is numb the vocal cords and you can do all kinds of untold damage!
As for when you are hoarse, the tried-and-true remedy I know of to help in healing is this (and you won't like it..) 1/4 cup vinegar mixed with 1/4 cup warm salt water..gargle. Repeat. ( If you think of it as gargling salad dressing, it's not so bad..)
Good luck, and take care of that voice!
Posts: 303 | From: Portland, OR, USA | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
When I first started doing karaoke I would be very hoarse after a long night of singing. This continued for about a year and sometimes it even got so bad I couldn't talk for days. After awhile it seems the more I sang, the less frequently I would get hoarse. It rarely even happens now. RC was right about warming your voice up on the way over. Also, if you know you are going to sing on the weekend, sing a couple a little dittys through the week while you are in the shower, car and so on! I used to come home after a show on Sunday nights and unpack my karaoke equipment and stick it in an outdoor building until my next show the next weekend. Now I set it up again in the den when I get home and every now and then I try a couple of songs. Keeps the ol' vocal chords wound up! Take Care, Angela
posted
I usually just belly up to the bar and have a shot of DR. McGillicuddy's ( peppermint schnapps). It soothes the voice and makes your breath minty fresh. Hahaha. OK I know its not the best way. I agree with singing in the car too. Vocal cords are kinda like any other muscle, the more you use it the less sore its gonna get when you do(nothing dirty intended).
posted
Definitely warm up your voice. Definitely have a shot of your favorite beverage(Hot Damm works great for me) And realize the more you sing the less you will notice the hoarseness. It's just like working out and being sore. After a while you get stronger and don't get as sore as you did when you first began. Sooner or later your voice will get stronger and the hoarseness you speak of will go away. Regards, GaryC
Posts: 426 | From: Oklahoma City, Ok | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
I have no affiliation with them, but their product works- and unlike any other throat spray I've ever used, has no mineral oil or alcohol, nothing to numb the throat.
posted
I've noticed the smokier the bar atmosphere, the harder it is for me to sustain notes and hit high ones. I am a country radio Dj and get to meet a lot of singers. I once asked Jo Dee Messina what she does in smoky conditions and she said she eats some potato chips before going on. The oils 'coat' the throat. I tried it and it does work to a degree. Plus it's a good excuse to pig out
Dale
------------------ (<>..<>)
Posts: 175 | From: Grand Rapids, MI | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
While the "oil" in many forms of schnapps will either coat the lining of your throat or make you care less how you sound, there is another option in most bar-rooms. My girl uses an ice-water with a couple of lemon slices...drink the water, chew on the lemon slices. Ricola, no. But it works for her, naturally!
Posts: 63 | From: Sturgis, MI | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Bad idea. Raw citric acid strips protective moisture off of the vocal chords. Not a good idea when singing. Diluted lemon is generally okay- about one or two lemon slices squeezed into a 12-16oz. glass of water or iced tea (decaffeinated, of course).
posted
anyone ever tried Chloraseptic? How 'bout a good ol' water with lemon?
Posts: 9 | From: El Mirage, AZ, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I keep my system setup all the time to use.I,m a karaoke NUT!!!.I believe that practice makes the voice grow stronger.HAve Fun
Posts: 11 | From: Olney, Texas U.S. | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I started having significant trouble with my voice last year. Long story short, I saw a physician who works with singers and public speakers and began taking voice lessons in September to identify if I was singing in a way that strained my vocal chords. My voice teacher is a professional singer and is fully trained in all aspects of voice, including the physical aspects. Bottom line, a lot of the advice posted here goes against everything I've learned since then. Following the advice of the doctor and teacher, using mild allergy medication when needed, and learning to sing properly have eliminated my problems, although my voice remains sensitive. Here's some of the advice related to items mentioned:
Don't use straight lemon (for the reasons noted by l'opera).
Don't use ice (would you ice your leg muscles before running? same concept) Room temperature water is the best.
Alcohol (and caffeine)dry out the vocal chords because they dehydrate us in general. Drink at least equal amounts (by volume)of water and alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
Singing in the car is one of the leading causes of vocal abuse, but only because we sing too loudly to hear ourselves over the traffic noise. Warming up in the car is excellent, just sing at your usual volume. Humming between songs is also very beneficial.
Once you start to get hoarse or discomfort, you should stop singing. Straining your voice can do permanent damage, as evidenced by all the singers who have had surgery for vocal nodes. Regular singing is helpful, but don't overdo it. Several short sessions a day are better than one long one for example, as long as you warm up each time.
An additional note for women: If you are of an age that your hormones may be changing and you start to get hoarseness or chronic laryngitis, have your hormones checked. The changes that come naturally with age dry out the mucous membranes over time. Hormone replacement therapy prevents that. If your vocal chords dry out for this reason, it is permanent and irreversible.
posted
Maybe your hoarseness comes from staying up too long? I've been in many long Karaoke shows and found out that I won't be able to sing well after midnight, regardless of how many songs I did before on that night. That's why I always try to find Karaoke shows starting as early as possible (one Chinese bar here holds the record with an opening time of 6:20 p.m.) and usually don't attend Karaoke shows that start at 9 p.m. or later. So I'd suggest to: 1. don't sing more than 8 songs a night 2. go home as soon as your voice starts crackling
Posts: 428 | From: Vienna, Austria, Europe | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow, I don't know the last time I got to sing 8 songs in one night. If I get to sing 4 songs, it's a dead night.
Posts: 235 | From: Plano, TX | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
The WORST thing you can do is DRINK ALCOHOL! Alcohol dries out your vocal chords. I was diagnosed with pollyups and nodules on my vocal chords and was told DON'T DRINK! I DIDN'T BEFORE BECAUSE I KNEW THE ALCOHOL WOULD DRY THEM OUT! I ALWAYS, ALWAYS DRINK LOTS OF WATER AND PEPSI WHEN I'M OUT! WATER IS THE BEST THING! DOn't sing, find more of "talking" songs, like "Devil Went Down To Georgia", "Shaddup You Face"....FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T DO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!!! WHY THEY MADE THAT HARD TO SING SONG THE SONG FOR A COUNTRY IS BEYOND ME! IT'S TOO HIGH WHEN YOUR THROAT IS ABOUT OUT OR OUT!!!! GOOD LUCK, I posted this subject somewhere on here! Go back and look at subjects for the last year and you'll find it!
Posts: 378 | From: Bloomington il | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
For your first song or two start with something that doesn't push your voice to it's limit. Just by projecting, it will help you to warm up. Also, the more that you sing from that diaphram, the less stress it puts on your vocal cords. Bob Prosing/Sound Escape Productions Posts: 206 | From: Clearwater, Fl | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Good advice from Rosemary. If you are interested in your voice and you want to preserve it and protect it, it's best to take voice lessons. Even if you can only afford to take them for a short time (I know they are not affordable for everyone), it is better than not taking any at all.
Posts: 397 | From: Strongsville, OH | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ditto on the good advice from Rosemary (and others) - I've read quite a few books/resources on singing, and the importance of the following are widely shared:
1) drinking plenty of water (to the point of being reasonably well if not fully hydrated) 2) generally avoiding things that dehyrdate you (as mentioned - caffeine and alcohol) 3) warming up your voice like you should warm up any other body part before "pushing" it a bit via exercise (humming is good, as, of course, is singing scales and intervals)
Also:
4) I've noticed that the smoke from fog machines also can have a drying effect on the voice, so I'd ask the KJ not to use it on my songs 5) bar smoke also is not good for the singing voice - avoid direct contact as much as possible 6) if you're singing without much rest, your voice also will (often, but not always) tend to be a bit rougher - try to sing material at these times that is not as taxing
[This message has been edited by dennybozz (edited April 11, 2002).]
posted
Why are you doing all the singing? You are suppose to be there for the people to sing. Posts: 3 | From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
There used to be a product on the market that would help the dry throat syndrome...I think it was called Entertainers Secret. It is supposed to be the the best stuff on the market...
Posts: 47 | From: Jacksonville,NC US | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have learned to put my songs in order from soft first to the stronger stuff for the end of the night. Works great for me! I like to mix my songs up and when I did the higher notes that strained my voice first I was usually done for the night!
Posts: 378 | From: Bloomington il | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Starting off easy and moving to the 'higher' notes works for me to. I find that it also helps me on occasion to get into the night, the crowd, you know.. build up to it.
However, I've done shows where I've completeley lost my voice!!! Scary thing!! Anyone able to help me with that? I have to admit, I don't have alot of singers and I tend to sing quite a bit, trying new stuff - - maybe that's my problem?
Posts: 92 | From: new brunswick, canada | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
