This always sucks i'm sure.......when your just getting over the flu or something, throats sore but you think you can make it through that nights gig. It turns out, not far into the 1st set it's givin out, and now you don't know what to do. Soon your throats so sore again, you sound like you've never even heard the song your playing(i't pretty bad)!!
This happened to me last night and wasn't sure what to do.....got through it with help from friends in the crowd. And to top it all off it was a very nice crowd. Thanks for everyone for comin out too!
If any singers have advice on what is good for a sore throat please throw some tips around. I guess it does happen, just makes ya feel like shit when it does.
Sore Throat..........Should I still Sing??
Yes , That sucks. I fortunatly only do about 8 songs a night and I keep them well within my already limited range so even when I'm feeling a little rough its not too bad.
Keep a humidifier by the bed at night maybe even throw 2 in the room, gargle with salt water, lemon water , lots of rest. A good troat spray, the more popular stuff they sell these days at the music stores called Clear Voice isn't all that great. Musicians friend has a product called vocal eze ( yeah a little close to Ananl eze huh? ) It tastes like hell but really helps. They are actually out of stock on it till mid january ( just tried to order some this week ) Don't be too proud to call in a friend to help you get through the night also. When you are selecting songs make sure you have backup tunes to take place of the ones that are really on the edge of your vocal range because they will be the ones to really give you trouble. Oh Yeah........... extend the guitar solos !!!!!!
Keep a humidifier by the bed at night maybe even throw 2 in the room, gargle with salt water, lemon water , lots of rest. A good troat spray, the more popular stuff they sell these days at the music stores called Clear Voice isn't all that great. Musicians friend has a product called vocal eze ( yeah a little close to Ananl eze huh? ) It tastes like hell but really helps. They are actually out of stock on it till mid january ( just tried to order some this week ) Don't be too proud to call in a friend to help you get through the night also. When you are selecting songs make sure you have backup tunes to take place of the ones that are really on the edge of your vocal range because they will be the ones to really give you trouble. Oh Yeah........... extend the guitar solos !!!!!!
Don't bitch to me about the economy while you're still buying Chinese products.
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
*At the end of a gig at Peter C's where Dan blew out his voice and was given numerous concoctions by friendly fans*byndrsn wrote:Hey Dan (GuitarII) - what is it you try to do when you are having a hard time with your throat? Are they "Snake Bites?"
Paul: How do you feel?
Dan: Spent.
I don't know why, but that night just sticks in my mind so well. That was also the night were Dan was introduced to the seedy underbelly of Altoona by a man simply known as "Crutch".
Ahh, the interesting adventures we musician-types have.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
gh
Scott,
When I drank, snake bites did the trick ... and lots of them.
Sore throats are tough, but another thing that works temporarily is a little "herbal" treatment prior to the set. Usually expands your pain threshold.
r:>)
When I drank, snake bites did the trick ... and lots of them.
Sore throats are tough, but another thing that works temporarily is a little "herbal" treatment prior to the set. Usually expands your pain threshold.
r:>)
That's what she said.
thanks for the advise......Probably cutting down on the smoking would probably help too:) I tried 2 shots of yeag and 3 shots of ginger brandy last night( and that ginger stuff sucks) but i tried..helped for a few min and that was it. But the humidifier is a really good idea, i've been meaning to get my ass out there and buy one. BUT I'M SO GLAD FRIENDS HELP YA OUT!! I just wanted to hide behind the speakers!lol
One thing i've always noticed...your glands in your neck...if i can't feel them very well it's gonna be a good night but if i can, it's iffy. Anyone ever discover this one?
One thing i've always noticed...your glands in your neck...if i can't feel them very well it's gonna be a good night but if i can, it's iffy. Anyone ever discover this one?
I'm no doctor but that may be an allergy type thing ( aside from this instance of cold / flu ) Do you commonly have a stuffy / runny nose also ? Ya may wanna look at getting on some allergy type meds ?subimeman wrote: One thing i've always noticed...your glands in your neck...if i can't feel them very well it's gonna be a good night but if i can, it's iffy. Anyone ever discover this one?
Another note on the sore throat weather its cold / flu or allergy related the drainage from your sinus running down to the back of your throat can be a large cause of the sore throat try elevating your head at night to cut back on this and use lots of tissues to try and keep your sinuses cleaned out as much as possible
Don't bitch to me about the economy while you're still buying Chinese products.
ClearVoice seems to work alright for me, although I'll admit that I have noticed at times that it only helps for a few minutes. But that's only in extreme cases.
Quitting smoking will definitely improve things. It may also change your singing voice somewhat, which may be better or worse, it depends.
If you find that your voice is getting sore often during gigs, then you might want to explore different vocal techniques, as you might be using muscles in your throat more than you need to be, or more than they can handle. (everybody's different) You might find that by learning to direct the flow of air in a different way, you'll be putting less stress on the part of your throat that's always wearing out on you.
It also may help not to talk to people as much in between sets, and speak softly when you do, if possible. Being exposed to loud music tends to make you talk louder when speaking to others in an effort to hear yourself better, and this can contribute to wearing out your voice early.
Finally, learn to do a warm-down after the gig. Check out http://www.voicelesson.com/home.htm for more information.
Quitting smoking will definitely improve things. It may also change your singing voice somewhat, which may be better or worse, it depends.
If you find that your voice is getting sore often during gigs, then you might want to explore different vocal techniques, as you might be using muscles in your throat more than you need to be, or more than they can handle. (everybody's different) You might find that by learning to direct the flow of air in a different way, you'll be putting less stress on the part of your throat that's always wearing out on you.
It also may help not to talk to people as much in between sets, and speak softly when you do, if possible. Being exposed to loud music tends to make you talk louder when speaking to others in an effort to hear yourself better, and this can contribute to wearing out your voice early.
Finally, learn to do a warm-down after the gig. Check out http://www.voicelesson.com/home.htm for more information.
Something that works for me, too, is to not just concentrate on singing the lines, but to relax in between lines. Get a good deep breath, not just what you need to sing the next line, but enough to relax your throat muscles a bit. Also relax during guitar breaks, intro's and such.
Rest always helps, at least some... man, if I can't get 8 hours sleep... I mean I'm not a real standout vocalist to begin with, but without rest, it's torture for everybody involved.
I feel for ya, get well soon.---->JMS
Rest always helps, at least some... man, if I can't get 8 hours sleep... I mean I'm not a real standout vocalist to begin with, but without rest, it's torture for everybody involved.
I feel for ya, get well soon.---->JMS
I have bad allergies, and have tried Allegra & Clariton...watch with these, they tend to dry up everything, making it easier to damage your vocal chords when singing.
Tips I've picked up.....
-Run through some scales while gargling with room temp. water to warm up.
-Drink room temp water while singing, the cold stuff tastes better, but it makes the chords rigid.
-When I'm sick I stay away from the rum, but usually it's 1 rum & diet, 1 water at my side.
-Try going to vitamin world and getting some bee pollen, either in crystal or gel form. Bees use pollen to disinfect their hives and a mixing some of this in some water can help to flush out your throat. Stay away from the pills b/c they never get to your throat. ********Also, if you might be allergic to bees, put a TINY bit under your tongue first to see if it swells. Drinking bee pollen with a big bee allergy could be dangerous!*********
-I have a think of Vocal-eze as well, but haven't been sick since I've bought it...go figure! And my shows are so sporatic right now, that I haven't tried it on a regular basis.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod. ... ssional_th
Good Luck
Justin
Tips I've picked up.....
-Run through some scales while gargling with room temp. water to warm up.
-Drink room temp water while singing, the cold stuff tastes better, but it makes the chords rigid.
-When I'm sick I stay away from the rum, but usually it's 1 rum & diet, 1 water at my side.
-Try going to vitamin world and getting some bee pollen, either in crystal or gel form. Bees use pollen to disinfect their hives and a mixing some of this in some water can help to flush out your throat. Stay away from the pills b/c they never get to your throat. ********Also, if you might be allergic to bees, put a TINY bit under your tongue first to see if it swells. Drinking bee pollen with a big bee allergy could be dangerous!*********
-I have a think of Vocal-eze as well, but haven't been sick since I've bought it...go figure! And my shows are so sporatic right now, that I haven't tried it on a regular basis.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod. ... ssional_th
Good Luck
Justin
www.seventides.net
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
When the lymph nodes in your throat are swollen, it means that they are busy fighting an infection of some type.subimeman wrote:One thing i've always noticed...your glands in your neck...if i can't feel them very well it's gonna be a good night but if i can, it's iffy. Anyone ever discover this one?
... and then the wheel fell off.
hjk
The best remedy for a struggling vocalist is a talented soundman. I can't tell you what a difference it makes the day after when you have a guy that knows what he's doing. A good monitor mix is vital because if you can't hear yourself well enough, the tendency is to force things harder, hence damage to your throat.
Don't ever be afraid to let the sound guy know you're having a problem. Believe me, there have been nights where I should have said something and didn't and it cost me for a few days.
Other notes:
• If you're attempting to hit notes you just can't hit, it's better to not than to push yourself. Pick stuff you can pull off rather than strain.
• Sing from your diaphram, not from your head. I always have people saying, "Wow, I didn't expect that big voice to come out of you." It's all about technique. You need as much oxygen as you can get, especially when you're trying to hit upper register stuff.
I'm sure I'll pipe in on this more later, but there's some stuff to digest or disregard.
r:>)
Don't ever be afraid to let the sound guy know you're having a problem. Believe me, there have been nights where I should have said something and didn't and it cost me for a few days.
Other notes:
• If you're attempting to hit notes you just can't hit, it's better to not than to push yourself. Pick stuff you can pull off rather than strain.
• Sing from your diaphram, not from your head. I always have people saying, "Wow, I didn't expect that big voice to come out of you." It's all about technique. You need as much oxygen as you can get, especially when you're trying to hit upper register stuff.
I'm sure I'll pipe in on this more later, but there's some stuff to digest or disregard.
r:>)
That's what she said.
I have found that you have to warm-up properly before any show to keep your throat from giving out or your voice from becoming too scratchy. Of course, not smoking is the biggest key, but it seems that singers have a penchant for wanting to smoke. Also a few cool tips I have learned,
- gargle warm saltwater
- honey-lemon cough drops
- chewing gum while playing keeps your throat moist (thanks Dave Grohl)
- drink warm water on stage (cold water shocks your vocal chords)
and the biggest thing is just trying to keep yourself healthy...I go the gym three or four times a week, and I have found that the more cardio related exercise that I do, the better my voice feels....sleep before shows, and also lay off the booze, especially beer since it tends to dry out your throat...good luck
- gargle warm saltwater
- honey-lemon cough drops
- chewing gum while playing keeps your throat moist (thanks Dave Grohl)
- drink warm water on stage (cold water shocks your vocal chords)
and the biggest thing is just trying to keep yourself healthy...I go the gym three or four times a week, and I have found that the more cardio related exercise that I do, the better my voice feels....sleep before shows, and also lay off the booze, especially beer since it tends to dry out your throat...good luck
From the immortal words of members from the old band Over The Edge...."Yukon: Vocals in a bottle!"
Jae Smith
Root and The Fifths
www.rootandthefifths.com
www.facebook.com/rootandthefifths
www.twitter.com/rootfifths
www.pabands.com
Root and The Fifths
www.rootandthefifths.com
www.facebook.com/rootandthefifths
www.twitter.com/rootfifths
www.pabands.com
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
Ewww, yeah. Do definitely get lots of clear liquids, though, if you have a cold... it helps loosen the phlegm. Actually, hydrating is always a good idea for singers, even when healthy. You heavy-music guys, especially. I drink at least a 20oz. soda or water on the way to the gig... more in hot weather, when I know I'm gonna sweat it back out.
Here's the hardest thing for me to do: shut the f**k up. I talk A LOT, especially at gigs, when I should be resting, no, I'm trying to blab with the break-CD blaring on the PA... I have to go outside where there's nobody to talk to. Hard to believe, huh?----->JMS
Here's the hardest thing for me to do: shut the f**k up. I talk A LOT, especially at gigs, when I should be resting, no, I'm trying to blab with the break-CD blaring on the PA... I have to go outside where there's nobody to talk to. Hard to believe, huh?----->JMS
It seems like i'm doiing the opposite of what everything i should do!
I'm smoking...but after last sat. i haven't smoked at all....hard to believe, i know...so now i'm chewing....it's so hard! i have been drinking more and more at shows and illl have to stop or moderate a little better. I am allergic to bee stings so that might be out but a good idea! Phil, our guitar said as some of you have to go through notes to stretch out the voice before we play. And rob, what you said about the sound guy is sooooooooooo right. Some of the smaller clubs such as the hitchin post where it's kinda harder to hear my self because i'm trying to get away without a actual monitor right in front of me and just using the speakers i have turned in on me a little bit....blah blah blah...i'm lost now!LOL
Anyway i'm gonna have to change that a bit so i don't have to strain to get my voice heard! I figure this...live and learn...try new things..if they don't work try something else untlil you find what works for you. I"m not sick right now, i feel pretty good but the throat is just rough and coughin up alot of phlem...nasty! I have two show this weekend and i'm praying this goes away!
I'm smoking...but after last sat. i haven't smoked at all....hard to believe, i know...so now i'm chewing....it's so hard! i have been drinking more and more at shows and illl have to stop or moderate a little better. I am allergic to bee stings so that might be out but a good idea! Phil, our guitar said as some of you have to go through notes to stretch out the voice before we play. And rob, what you said about the sound guy is sooooooooooo right. Some of the smaller clubs such as the hitchin post where it's kinda harder to hear my self because i'm trying to get away without a actual monitor right in front of me and just using the speakers i have turned in on me a little bit....blah blah blah...i'm lost now!LOL
Anyway i'm gonna have to change that a bit so i don't have to strain to get my voice heard! I figure this...live and learn...try new things..if they don't work try something else untlil you find what works for you. I"m not sick right now, i feel pretty good but the throat is just rough and coughin up alot of phlem...nasty! I have two show this weekend and i'm praying this goes away!
The worst thing about the situation when this happens:
Example...we played the hitchin post sat. and i had unexpectly alot of new people there, and the reason they were there is because their friends recommended them to come! And I dont' give the preformance I want to!
Thats a hard thing to deal with! Well i guess it's better then lip syncing
Example...we played the hitchin post sat. and i had unexpectly alot of new people there, and the reason they were there is because their friends recommended them to come! And I dont' give the preformance I want to!
Thats a hard thing to deal with! Well i guess it's better then lip syncing
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Brian of the Clan Plush
- Gold Member
- Posts: 292
- Joined: Thursday Aug 19, 2004
- Location: State College
- Contact:
already alot of great advice up here....but here's my 2 cents:
when the issue is a cold or the flu, I drink about 3 "Hot Toddies" (I think thats what they're called) about an hour before the gig. Its just hot tea with lots of honey, lemon juice, and about a half shot of whiskey. This has never failed for me, but save this for when you're really struggling from a cold because caffeine, sugar, and alcohol are ALL bad for your vocal chords. Honestly, you should never drink alcohol or soda while you're singing (the day I can follow that advice myself they'll be selling snow cones in hell, but I'm trying).
The other thing (thats also very hard to do) is try not to clear your throat. I know its about as easy as trying to sneeze with your eyes open (physically impossible for you trivia buffs) but clearing your throat constantly irritates your vocal chords, which then produces more phlegm, and a vicious cycle ensues.
I'll echo some of the other advice for general vocal health. ALWAYS do a vocal warm up before your sing - some good warm-up advice can be found at www.voicelesson.com (Mark Baxter is a great voice coach by the way - I highly recommend him). Also as Songsmith said - relaxing is the key to expanding your range. Let your jaw hang loose and roll your shoulders and neck to loosen up - I know this sounds hokie but you'll be amazed how much better you'll sound if you consciously make an effort to relax your head, jaw, neck and shoulders.
Some other important things I've learned from experienced voice coaches - don't lock your knees, it keeps your diaphram from being able to sink to its lowest point, because when you lock your knees it tenses your groin muscles; and don't gasp or forcefully suck air in to try to get more air in your lungs - this actually has the opposite effect. Your lungs fill with air automatically when they're empty because of the difference in air pressure. The key instead is to control your exhale to make the most efficient use of the air available.
Sorry thats was way more than 2 cents worth. I hope I wasn't just restating stuff that's all common knowledge... most of it was news to me when I made the switch from drummer to singer.
when the issue is a cold or the flu, I drink about 3 "Hot Toddies" (I think thats what they're called) about an hour before the gig. Its just hot tea with lots of honey, lemon juice, and about a half shot of whiskey. This has never failed for me, but save this for when you're really struggling from a cold because caffeine, sugar, and alcohol are ALL bad for your vocal chords. Honestly, you should never drink alcohol or soda while you're singing (the day I can follow that advice myself they'll be selling snow cones in hell, but I'm trying).
The other thing (thats also very hard to do) is try not to clear your throat. I know its about as easy as trying to sneeze with your eyes open (physically impossible for you trivia buffs) but clearing your throat constantly irritates your vocal chords, which then produces more phlegm, and a vicious cycle ensues.
I'll echo some of the other advice for general vocal health. ALWAYS do a vocal warm up before your sing - some good warm-up advice can be found at www.voicelesson.com (Mark Baxter is a great voice coach by the way - I highly recommend him). Also as Songsmith said - relaxing is the key to expanding your range. Let your jaw hang loose and roll your shoulders and neck to loosen up - I know this sounds hokie but you'll be amazed how much better you'll sound if you consciously make an effort to relax your head, jaw, neck and shoulders.
Some other important things I've learned from experienced voice coaches - don't lock your knees, it keeps your diaphram from being able to sink to its lowest point, because when you lock your knees it tenses your groin muscles; and don't gasp or forcefully suck air in to try to get more air in your lungs - this actually has the opposite effect. Your lungs fill with air automatically when they're empty because of the difference in air pressure. The key instead is to control your exhale to make the most efficient use of the air available.
Sorry thats was way more than 2 cents worth. I hope I wasn't just restating stuff that's all common knowledge... most of it was news to me when I made the switch from drummer to singer.
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esa
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1172
- Joined: Tuesday Dec 09, 2003
- Location: I am the Who when you say "Who's there?"...
- Contact:
Well, her's my 2.5.
Ginger shots are good for colds. They don't do anything for your vocals but they do help with cold feelings (stuffiness fever feelings etc).
Jaeger will clog you and make you more nauseous than help you. (don't get me wrong, i love jaeger). Plus, it's served very very cold and that will shock your throat/chords.
Yukon/Snakebites with lemon are good for your voice. They clear things up...quickly warm up your throat and that loosens the vocal chords.
Chewing is worse for you. Go back to smoking. It's the lesser of the two evils all around.
You know what they say though...when you can't sing, you were meant to become a bass player.
j/k
::knows four people who will beat on her later on for that comment::
Ginger shots are good for colds. They don't do anything for your vocals but they do help with cold feelings (stuffiness fever feelings etc).
Jaeger will clog you and make you more nauseous than help you. (don't get me wrong, i love jaeger). Plus, it's served very very cold and that will shock your throat/chords.
Yukon/Snakebites with lemon are good for your voice. They clear things up...quickly warm up your throat and that loosens the vocal chords.
Chewing is worse for you. Go back to smoking. It's the lesser of the two evils all around.
You know what they say though...when you can't sing, you were meant to become a bass player.
j/k
::knows four people who will beat on her later on for that comment::
~*~Esa~*~
I'll be the one left standing behind you, looking the other way as you glance back at what you've lost.
I'll be the one left standing behind you, looking the other way as you glance back at what you've lost.
Or better yet, switch to the nicotine gum. If you really want to quit nicotine, it will work. I speak from experience. However, don't follow the directions they give you on the packs. I simply buy a small (40 count) box of the 4mg for the first week, and then a small box of 2mg for the second, and after that, just regular gum. Weans you off of nicotine in 2 weeks, as opposed to the 12 or so that they suggest you chew it for. Saves you hella amounts of money doing it that way too. 
The small boxes cost about $28, as much as a carton of cheap cigarettes nowadays.
They've even improved the mint flavor so that it tastes better. (heck, I got to liking even the old stuff)
I'm chewing it right now in fact. When I first got back into singing on a more serious level about a year and a half ago, I quit smoking as I felt that it was impeding my progress. This past October, I let myself get addicted to it again. Strangely, I made major progress in my singing voice after that, though I don't like to think that it had anything to do with the smoking, but it did change things somewhat.
I quit again as of yesterday, in hopes of gaining back more stamina in my voice, and hopefully improve my high end as well.
The small boxes cost about $28, as much as a carton of cheap cigarettes nowadays.They've even improved the mint flavor so that it tastes better. (heck, I got to liking even the old stuff)
I'm chewing it right now in fact. When I first got back into singing on a more serious level about a year and a half ago, I quit smoking as I felt that it was impeding my progress. This past October, I let myself get addicted to it again. Strangely, I made major progress in my singing voice after that, though I don't like to think that it had anything to do with the smoking, but it did change things somewhat.
I quit again as of yesterday, in hopes of gaining back more stamina in my voice, and hopefully improve my high end as well.
lots of great advice people! One thing that helps me...I drink as much water as humanly possible before a gig, and be careful what kind of medication you are taking for your cold symptoms..some will dry you up and kill your voice. those Halls honey lemon cough drops work miracles, and firewater has always been my favorite throat clearing shot.
Obviously smoking is bad bad bad, but I can't seem to stop either. one thing I did notice about that is that before I started smoking, I had a really hard time singing in smoky bars. My throat would tighten up the minute the smoke hit me. If I could keep the smoke tolerance but quit the actual smoking It would be fantastic.
Obviously smoking is bad bad bad, but I can't seem to stop either. one thing I did notice about that is that before I started smoking, I had a really hard time singing in smoky bars. My throat would tighten up the minute the smoke hit me. If I could keep the smoke tolerance but quit the actual smoking It would be fantastic.
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dayzichick
- Gold Member
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Saturday Dec 14, 2002
- Location: Johnstown
singing
Something that wasn't mentioned that does the trick for me, when I"m sick, is the steam inhaler. You put water in this little contraption, it heats it up and makes steam and then you stick your face in it for about 15 minutes. If you have plegm it will loosen it up so you can cough it out. And it will keep your vocal chords moist. Do this a couple of times before a gig. Also, the thing about clearing your throat, that's correct, every time you clear your throat, you are bouncing your vocal chords off one another, try to swallow hard instead or take a drink of something. Even when you are sick and don't feel like warming up, do it anyway, unless you are to the point of laryngitis, then save your voice. My ritual is 40-minute warm up tape while taking a hot shower, the steam again helps, then ricola cough drops, they have licorice root in them which also is good for the vocal chords. Even if you eat licorice candy, it dries up phlegm. Those are the only things I can think of that weren't mentioned above. Oh, try warming up your voice every other day or at least three times a week, even when you don't have a gig. This will help you get into the groove of having to warm up your voice and will increase your range and mobility. Once you get used to working out your voice, singing will become easier for you, sick or healthy. Never whisper either, whispering is harder on the voice than speaking. And I've sang with bronchitis three times in my life, Black Haus did the trick on those nights. (of course combined with the things mentioned above)
Ribbon Grass
The Future's uncertain and The End is always near.
The Future's uncertain and The End is always near.