Voice

jor.pandolfo · #1 05-20-2007, 03:49 PM

I know this is a guitar forum but I figure there's a good amount of singers here as well. I've been playing guitar for some time now but recently I have been singing(past 3-4 months). I sing and play guitar everyday. Every now and then I work my voice to hard and I become hoarse but I also get this "lump in the throat" feeling. Someone told me it was a throat polyp which is not good. My question is: Does this happen to anyone else? If so then is this a serious problem or more of my throat warning me I'm pushing it?

Rick Shepherd · #2 05-20-2007, 06:31 PM

I wouldn't say that it is a polyp for sure, but any time you strain your voice, it will become inflamed, sore, and hoarse. If you strain it too much, you can cause a polyp, but I would imagine it would take alot of abuse before that happens. I have had a node on mine before, and it took lots of rest to heal. Definitely heed the signs telling you to rest your voice. You will know when it is time to rest and a time to sing, just follow what you feel and hear. If the problem persists, go see a ENT specialist to get a look at how your vocal folds look.

Giannini12 · #3 05-21-2007, 08:10 AM

My two cents -- By all means, do get your throat checked -- and do consider taking voice lessons with a good teacher. S/he will show you how to use your voice to its max without straining. Worked for me!

Guyute · #4 05-21-2007, 09:43 AM

Yeah, if I had a lump in my throat caused by overusing my voice, I'd definitely have it checked. An ounce of prevention and all that good stuff.

jor.pandolfo · #5 05-21-2007, 10:33 AM

i truly don't think there is something wrong with my voice/throat. I havent been singing that long and sometimes the songs i choose to sing really do put a strain on my voice, but i always recognize that and stop to prevent further damage. As far as te lump in the throat thing, i think im just freaking myself out; ive always had that feeling before i began singing. I do know to be careful, but as far as voice lessons. my profile may say differently but im 17 and I don't know if lessons are too important right now, but maybe it is. Any feedback?

Guyute · #6 05-21-2007, 10:47 AM

Why are you singing songs that strain your voice? Have you considered transposing them to a key that works better for you?

As for voice lessons, I think most people could benefit from them even though I've never had one myself.

S-L-A-C-K-E-R · #7 05-21-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jor.pandolfo

I do know to be careful, but as far as voice lessons. my profile may say differently but im 17 and I don't know if lessons are too important right now, but maybe it is. Any feedback?

I think the fact that you are having some pain from singing means that you may not be singing quite as correctly as you could be. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way. Singing really shouldn't hurt. If it's done correctly, it should come easily and shouldn't cause you pain.

If you can afford lessons, I'd defintely take 'em. I had them for 2 years and they helped alot. It is a big help to have someone there to listen to you and give you instant feedback. What you hear when you sing is not a real good representation of what you sound like to other people. Your ears can decieve you. So that aspect of lessons is absolutely priceless.

If you can't afford lessons, try reading a book on the subject. I read this book before I tried lessons and it helped alot. Plus, alot of the points in the book were covered by my teacher so I think the author knows what he's talking about. It comes with some CD's with exercises that are very helpful.

Secrets of Singing - Jeffery Allen

Good luck!

jor.pandolfo · #8 05-21-2007, 12:14 PM

Most songs I sing are just fine for my voice, but there is a specific artist. I dont know how many of you know Dave Matthews, but some of his songs call for i guess what you would call "screamed vocals?" I think it is somewhat foolish of me to have tried singing stuff like this without lessons but I have stopped.

An example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM_vFszKTyw

(a few minutes in i believe)

Guyute · #9 05-21-2007, 12:24 PM

Oh well, if you're doing Dave songs, the screams will definitely hurt your voice. Just look at how Dave's voice has changed over the years....and when he's touring, the vocals go downhill as the tour goes on (largely because of the screams).

If you can pull off a good Dave wail, kudos to you. It's not easy to do and stay on pitch

jor.pandolfo · #10 05-21-2007, 03:20 PM

i understand what youre saying completely and have defintely seen his voice change over the years. Its incredible listening to an album from early 90s and comparing it to the recent one.

DonBob · #11 05-21-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannini12

My two cents -- By all means, do get your throat checked -- and do consider taking voice lessons with a good teacher. S/he will show you how to use your voice to its max without straining. Worked for me!

Can't agree more. During my lost youth, a love of singing James Brown songs while getting through about 2 packs of Camels [and one or two "other" cigarettes] a day turned my voice from Josh Groban to Joe Cocker. It never got back anywhere near to the level it once had until about 6 years ago when I worked with a voice coach.

It's amazing what just a few adjustments to posture and breathing can do, as well as learning how to use the instrument without straining it. My voice strength and quality improved after about two sessions, and what I learned has kept me going since.

jor.pandolfo · #12 05-21-2007, 08:40 PM

thanks for the advice guys

Chicago Sandy · #13 05-21-2007, 10:59 PM

Definitely see a good voice teacher, who will analyze what you're doing with and to your voice and may (as did mine) send you to an ENT. You want an ENT who works closely with singers. And this may sound weird to you, but you wouldn't by any chance also be suffering from acid reflux (a/k/a heartburn)? Stomach acid can pickle your larynx, especially while you sleep, and result in both excessive phlegm and a "lump in the throat" feeling. My ENT scoped my vocal cords and found a bowed cord (or "fold") caused mostly by reflux. He changed my acid-reflux meds to bedtime, and gave me a more powerful one; along with proper vocal exercises, my voice came right back.
Short answer is that it is normal for an untrained voice that is worked long and hard (especially without proper warmups) to experience some vocal fatigue, especially at the upper and lower extremes of your range; but pain, irritation, and a "lump" feeling are definitely NOT normal. You may not have any damage yet--and a good teacher and ENT can nip any problem in the bud before it gets worse or even irreparable.

Sometimes if you have a lot of postnasal drip (from allergies or infections) and you are dehydrated (not drinking enough water) you might feel as if you have difficulty swallowing. Again, see a teacher and/or a doctor and drink as much non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages (a gallon a day) as you can comfortably stand.

cotten · #14 05-21-2007, 11:05 PM

This is an oversimplification, I know, but it's also a good place to start:
1. Find your most comfortable range, and rarely exceed it while performing. With care, you can do some vocal excersises that can gradually help expand that range. Most pop/rock, and even country singers try to sing too high for their voice.
2. Relax. Tension in the neck, throat, mouth and even the shoulders is a voice killer.
3. Learn to breathe deeply, from below the belt, so as to avoid "squeezing" to sustain a note or phrase.
4. Begin a yawn. Feel that cold air on the back of the mouth/top of the throat? Keep that area tall and open, and you'll sing with more power and resonance without having to "push" the sound with tension.

Lessons from a good voice coach can be a tremendous help, even if it's just for a few weeks. Don't be afraid. You won't come out sounding like an opera star - not without a huge natural gift for it and a ton of training for it. But almost anyone can benefit greatly by learning to use their voice, both speaking and singing, correctly.

cotten

jor.pandolfo · #15 05-22-2007, 06:57 AM

i unfortunately have taken a pill for a while that sometimes at night would not go down all the way and open up on my throat while i was asleep. It has happened a couple times and made for the worst day of my life, but I take it in the morning. You have all convinced me of the importance of voice lessons, and while it won't be immediate, i will defintely get around to taking them. If anything, I need to find some good books.