Members Rhythm Junky Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 I'm torn on this one. Sometimes I think it makes a difference, and other times I think it doesn't. It can't be good for the singing voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flemtone Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 I've found that drinking (at least in my case) doesn't necessarily allow a wider vocal range, but will uninhibit me enough to push my voice harder than it should be pushed. I definitely feel it much worse by the end of the gig and the next day. This is one of the reasons I stopped drinking at gigs, especially when I had a gig scheduled the next day. Just too much chance of wrenching my voice and being unable to hit the high notes or bring dynamics at the next day's gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bajazz Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 Varies with me. Sometimes, I can get by OK, but mostly it kills the high notes. So I never take a drink when playing important gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sydfan Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 I find that drinking makes it more fun to play and sing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members b_nehpets Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 this is the only pertinent thread in the singers forum, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cherri Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 I don't hear the effect of alcohol the first night, but I do hear it the next day. I'm not sure if it's the alcohol per say or the smoke, yelling, and other wear and tear that comes with a night of drinking. I have noticed that exhaling alcohol fumes is very tough on the vocal cords. Dries them right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rhythm Junky Posted September 12, 2008 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 I don't drink for two days before I know I have to sing, and never during gigs. Look out after the gig is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SevenString Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 So, two singers walk past a bar. Hey, it could happen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted September 12, 2008 Members Share Posted September 12, 2008 While I'm convinced that alcohol, especially in excess, has long-term detrimental effects on a singer's voice, in my experience a few sips of B&B does wonders for smoothing out & tightening up a rough voice. I have no idea why or how but I keep a flask of it in my gig bag just in case. My bandmates (all sing) who never tried the stuff before they met me will occasionally get some to sip on during a gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted September 13, 2008 Members Share Posted September 13, 2008 Alcohol dehydrates you. In the very short term it might help loosen you up a bit, but I'm guessing the next-day result would be from the strain of the gig combined with the dehydrating nature of alcohol. I say a bit of drinking shouldn't really be a problem, provided you do everything else to look after your voice (which you should be anyway). That said, I can hardly preach about anything, being a smoker 'n' all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zax2000 Posted September 13, 2008 Members Share Posted September 13, 2008 this is the only pertinent thread in the singers forum, imo. lol! Not sure if it does or not, but the more I drink the better I sound to me. The more the audience drinks my voice seems to sound better to them, too! Seems that's the case with everything, though, I sing better, play bass better, definately golf better - I have scorecards to prove it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SevenString Posted September 13, 2008 Members Share Posted September 13, 2008 Alcohol dries out my vocal chords almost immediately, so I avoid it like the plague. But on the flip-side, I never had the "dairy" issues that a lot of singers seem to have. Hot fudge sundae before a gig? No problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nick* Posted September 13, 2008 Members Share Posted September 13, 2008 Yeah...alcohol dehydrates you, and that is where the negative result comes in. And smoking also limits my range......either way, I do both. Maybe that's why when I bust out the higher notes my voice gets so rough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members g400man Posted September 14, 2008 Members Share Posted September 14, 2008 when recording Van Halen Davide Lee Roth stopped drinking to take things more seriously, turns out, when he was sober, he couldn't sing worth {censored}! got back on the Jack Daniels and it was all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bajazz Posted September 14, 2008 Members Share Posted September 14, 2008 My experience from many years on the road is that there is many factors, and all are different from person to person. For example I can't use the air conditioner in my car driving to the gig, but quit smoking didn't have any effect on my voice at all. The sum of mental & physical shape, hydration and rest will dictate yor performance. And if everything is fine, I don't think a drink, a smoke, Milkshake or a greasy burger will do much difference. But once one of the factors are out of tune, the danger is that something "harmless" can push you over the edge. If you've had little sleep and are dehydrated, then a drink can make a big difference. Take a little nap and drink lot's of water 1 hour before gig, and you've pretty much prepared well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Centaur Posted September 15, 2008 Members Share Posted September 15, 2008 I don't have any problems with hard liquor. I usually do a shot between sets, and sometimes am offered a shot while onstage. Beer, on the other hand, completely rags my voice out. I also stay well hydrated as I'm chugging water like crazy during the sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PigWings_v2.0 Posted September 15, 2008 Members Share Posted September 15, 2008 You wanna sound like Tom Waits? Keep drinking! Light that cig up too, you're almost there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THeLoveGun Posted September 19, 2008 Members Share Posted September 19, 2008 My Brother does buy them lil Baileys, and just have a couple of drinks before singing...not sure, but aren't they supposed to warm up your vox cords? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members search now Posted September 20, 2008 Members Share Posted September 20, 2008 Alcohol dehydrates you. In the very short term it might help loosen you up a bit, but I'm guessing the next-day result would be from the strain of the gig combined with the dehydrating nature of alcohol. I say a bit of drinking shouldn't really be a problem, provided you do everything else to look after your voice (which you should be anyway). That said, I can hardly preach about anything, being a smoker 'n' all... what he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Miket156 Posted September 23, 2008 Members Share Posted September 23, 2008 I can't handle alcohol when I gig. I sing and play KBs. I do a solo act and sing every song. I do my own roadie work and haul my rig in a U-Haul trailer. By the time I tear down and load-out, I'm driving home late. I usually have "company" on my tail when driving back to my "rural" homestead. I guess the cops have nothing else to do at that time of night. I know from years of past experience, that alcohol and playing music just doesn't mix. Maybe it relaxes you, but it also dehydrates you. I tend to sing flat when I drink, so I just don't do it. I've heard bands that drink while they play, and if they have a few too many, their performance deteriorates as the night goes on. The only advantage they have is by that time, almost everyone else has had a few too many too! Mike T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted September 24, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2008 I'm torn on this one. Sometimes I think it makes a difference, and other times I think it doesn't. It can't be good for the singing voice. Back when I was singing full time, I noticed a few things. Alcohol didn't seem to directly affect my voice, but it did reduce my control. Staying on pitch became a problem for me when I drank. Alcohol reduced both inhibitions and the pain reflex, so oversinging was a real risk. Given those issues, I stopped drinking when I sing. I save the drinking for afterwards. The downside there is that I'm often the only sober person in the room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted September 24, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2008 lol! Not sure if it does or not, but the more I drink the better I sound to me. The more the audience drinks my voice seems to sound better to them, too! Seems that's the case with everything, though, I sing better, play bass better, definately golf better - I have scorecards to prove it I think that "to me" are the operative words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members micmike Posted September 29, 2008 Members Share Posted September 29, 2008 I find if I've drunk a lot, a lot, a lot of water, and am well hydrated then alcohol has little effect. Within reason. If I'm drunk, I'm in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FUBTAG Posted September 30, 2008 Members Share Posted September 30, 2008 Drinking DEFINITELY affects your singing.. and your ability to recover. Singing while dehydrated is especially tough on your vocal chords. you may not notice it during the gig... but the next morning when you can't talk and can't remember a song where you felt you were stretching your ability is where it is shown. in prep for a gig I make sure that the day before I hydrate well so I CAN have a beer or two as the gig goes on. I also have alot of water with Ricola (cough drop) in it. .. yeah it looks like urine and doesn't taste much better... but seemingly cheaper than throat coat and works just as well (for me at least) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vanlatte Posted September 30, 2008 Members Share Posted September 30, 2008 Hey, I noticed that when I am drinking I sound much better. At least to my own ears! Woooohhoooo! *takes another shot* :poke: ( Actually I have "friends" with video evidence of some of my drunken-singing attempts and it's not pretty ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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