Voice troubles

joshofalltrades

OK, this is something of a multifaceted problem.

Over the past few years, my voice has seemingly been getting weaker. I can still instantly find a pitch and hold it, but after singing just a few songs my voice begins to get so tired that it is a struggle to keep singing. I used to sing all the time; I'm the praise band leader at my church, I sing backup in an Irish band, I do my own solo stuff, hell even in the car and shower. Now I'm scared to sing along to the radio, especially on my way to a gig, because I feel like it will wear me out before I even begin. I pretty much constantly drink water during my performances.

I had a doctor look and he says he sees only mild irritation, but nothing a cough drop couldn't fix. Pain isn't the problem, though -- I feel like my vocal chords just give up after a short bit.

The big trouble for me is that this is making me lose confidence in my singing ability. I have a thin, nasal and youthful-sounding voice as it is (I would post songs but I don't want this to be interpreted as a whoring thread -- think Ben Kweller/Elliott Smith), which I already have confidence issues with when I'm not feeling like I'm about to have a coughing fit.

What do you think, H&A? Got any H or A?

Khavall

Stop singing from the throat.

Find a voice teacher. You only need to take a few lessons to see what you're doing wrong, or maybe just talk to one about it and if they're free they may float you the basic breathing/singing technical thing.

Basically, though, your throat should feel like it's not doing anything when you're singing. All the work should be done with your diaphragm. What you're doing it tightening up and wearing out the throat, which is going to kill your voice. Singing should be incredibly relaxed and feel like absolutely no tension is anywhere. When you breathe, it should be from the stomach. When you sing, you should feel tall and vertically extended, and as though you are pushing down with your stomach, and completely relaxed.

One technique I like is try first stretching a little and loosening up, then leaning with your back against the wall or try learning over and letting everything flop down, and then try singing. If you feel tension in your throat stop. Now try to get that relaxed state when standing up.

Basically, everything should be free and easy, and if you ever feel tension in your throat, stop and make sure you're breathing right and singing right.

The general rule of all things music is if there is any pain or any tension, you're doing it wrong.

Figgy

Are you a smoker? That will dry out your vocal chords and over time could completely ruin your voice.

As for drinking water all the time while singing, that's something you should be doing anyway. You want to keep lubricated while those muscles are going at it.

LewieP's Mummy

What warm up exercises are you doing before you start to sing? I find if I've not done any, my pitch can be a little off and my voice not as strong/

Satsumomo

I agree with Khavall, you seem to be singing from the throat, or as some teachers may say: shouting. I never felt tired on the throat when I was in choir, and these were 3-4 hour daily practices.

Jeedan

"Thin, nasal and youthful sounding" are bad words becasue they imply tension. It may be you're going to have to change the way you sing.

If you have a overly breathy sounding voice, like the sensitive singer songwriter type that will fuck you up over time also. The vocal chords like resonating at full power, they dont like a bunch of dry air being pushed through them for a long period of time.

Work on breath control so you arent pushing more air than you need, work on resonance so your voice is ringing out fully.

Post some songs becasue I'm just working on guesswork here.

joshofalltrades

Hey thanks for the good thoughts so far, guys. I was in choir for 4 years, I don't sing from the throat. I will post a song when I get back in town so you get what I mean. My voice is just naturally youthful-sounding, not really breathy though.