Heavy Singing Health

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: paddymac
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:45 PM

I've had this conversation a time or two with my eldest, who used to play and scream in a heavy metal band, but now does folk in my band. He would never listen until he started doing folk and realized people were actually listening to his singing. Two things to keep in mind: 1) your vocal chords are very specialized muscles, and can be ripped and torn like any other muscle; and 2) things you put down your throat will not directly affect the vocal chords because they are not in the throat. However, the irritation you sense may truly be in the throat and they may help in that case. My sense of most rock vocal styles is that they are "all in the throat" and generally lack good diaphragmatic support. The fellah who used to sing with us swore by whiskey or whisky (they are two different things)and would be sipping the stuff in medicinal quantities throughout a gig. We're not talking about getting sloshed here, but enough to be psychologically and. perhaps, physiologically relaxed. It worked alright for him, but he also had good breath support. Guinness works as well for me. The bottom line is that you will most likely screw up your voice for good if you stay in that genre. The best advise has already been given - get out NOW!

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: breezy
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 08:45 PM

mime

it wont contradict what I say, if it does its not worth a jot.









This week at St Albans folk club Friday 2nd April at the Duke of marlborough - Tommy Sands

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 06:03 PM

Good point about the hearing thing...

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: open mike
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:54 PM

cure: convert to folkmusic!
also get Thayers slippery elm throat lozenges,
Traditional Medicinal's throat coat tea
lemons and other soothing throat things...

you are also probably damaging your ears..
so get some ear plugs...

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: Dreadnought
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 01:17 PM

Cast an eye over "The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual" by Mark Baxter - Here is is at Amazon

Loads of good advice including how to scream without doing yourself a mischief - could be just what you're looking for.

Contradicts what Breezy says so there's a good recommendation for a start.

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 01:15 PM

Breezy's right.

There are a number of good threads on this topic, which you should be able to access by typing "voice" or "singing" in the Forum search box at the top of the main page. However, for some curious reason I can't get it to yield anything, though I KNOW they are in there. Anyway, below is a link to an old thread I had in my personal tracer, which should start you off. The Mudcat member "Alice" is an expert in voice matters, and there is a lot of good advice on offer which can be of great help.

But what it can't do is work miracles - I think you pretty well summed up the situation when you wrote that there is no way to sing in that style (i.e. screaming and growling) and not destroy your voice. It strains and abrades the vocal cords, causing damage that will eventually become permanent, and I'm really afraid that home remedies - or even professional medical ones (who will all tell you to stop singing until you're healed) - will not solve the problem, which is being caused anew every time you do a gig. I'm sorry this answer is such a bummer, but offering false optimism will do you no favours. You really need to make some serious decisions about what you want to do with your vocal future while you still have one. Anyway, try the search-the-forum feature and take a look at THESE links. And - best of luck.

Subject: RE: Heavy Singing Health
From: breezy
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 01:07 PM

your knackering it yourself.

this is a clear case of self infliction , abuse.

You're not singing you aint now ainger you're a noise.

You will damage your voice beyond repair.

remedy -- dont do it

Subject: Heavy Singing Health
From: GUEST,Larry
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 12:29 PM

I am a singer in a pretty hard rock band. This involves a lot of screaming, growling, etc. We do music like Godsmack, System of a Down and some really hard Nickelback and Creed. Now I am convinced there is no way to sing this stuff and not destroy your voice. We usually play two nights in a row on a weekend and the second night my voice is squeaking pretty bad. I need some really good home remedies for that second day. Someone please help!