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Major Problem...Don't Know How to Fix It...


grace_slick

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Ok, well...I'm a 30 yr old woman who has been singing along with various CDs and stuff since I was 12. I've pretty much sang along with a wide range of songs from about 1-3 hours most days/nights since I was 15 or so...

 

I've never liked my own voice much, even though technically I used to think I was pretty damn good. I never had issues with range. I stretched my range early on (about 12 years old) and have since been able to sing high notes easily. I've never had any lessons...I assume at least some of you are probably thinking I probably DO have issues singing high notes and just don't recognise it. I don't squeak or anything. I sing them clearly and my voice actually improves in sound and comfort level when I sing higher (not too high obviously).

 

I don't know what range I would be classed as - soprano I suppose. It doesn't really matter to me as I've never cared much for placing any sort of restrictions or expectations on myself.

 

I never had any problems singing in tune. Effortless and easily controlled vibrato came at around 14 years of age after a very brief period of knowing what it was but not being able to work out how to use it...

 

Anyway, to get to the point (I have a tendency to ramble, sorry!!), I've never been able to properly project. At all. I thought I could, back in my teens, but now I see I never could do this.

 

I think all this time I've been using bad techniques to try and sound like my idolised singers, and here's my problem - about 10 years ago I found if I sang very loudly and for a long time, I'd begin to feel this unpleasant sensation in my throat. Like a tickle, and as if the 2 sides of my throat were touching each other. It was horrible and I had to immediately cut off whatever note I was singing or I'd end up coughing and spluttering. I found if I stopped singing and rested, it'd be fine until maybe a few days/weeks later.

 

However, after a while of this happening, it never went away. Even if I didn't sing for weeks at all, it'd be there when I next would sing. At least though, it was only loud/strong/belting notes and relatively high ones too.

 

But now. For the past 2-3 years or so, it's on ALL songs. Not just loud. Not just high notes. It's always there. I can sing certain things, but once I get to a relatively normal decibel level and not even very high notes, it comes and I have to stop. It's hideous!!!

 

What have I done to myself? Is it just really terrible technique??

 

I also find, and this is totally related I know, that when I'm singing a loud/strong/belting type of song, in my head I sound and feel like I'm really singing strongly and well. But then if I record it and play it back, it sounds so...one dimensional. My voice is never breathy. It's not weak-sounding either. But it just sounds...very superficial. Like there's just not any EFFORT being put in. It sounds lethargic. And yet it FEELS to me and sounds in my head like it's FULL ON effort there.

 

Any suggestions?

 

I'm thinking I should get a few singing lessons to just see what an exper would advise...

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Oh dear...you've got the same sensation, eh? Hard living...I don't think that's what's going on in my case. I've never been a hard partying type of gal. I don't smoke anymore. Strangely, if anything this problem has gotten way worse since I quit smoking! I don't drink too frequently. I don't yell or shout. I never sing live so have had no need to try and be heard over a loud band or anything.

 

*sigh* It really upsets me because I LOVE to sing, and even when I'm just hanging out singing along to my fav tunes, after a while and on certain songs, I'll be going along fine and then have to just stop. It's against my nature to be quiet when a song I love is playing. I have to literally keep my lips tightly shut to keep from singing.

 

And now that I'm creating my own songs, I want to be able to sing ok and for a long time...that's another thing I forgot to mention in my original blab-fest post. In my teens I was able to sing for HOURS with no problems. My singer friends would get tired voices after a few hours and would get sore throats and be hoarse but I'd be going strong. Not anymore.

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Oh goodness, how embarrassing. I'm actually currently in the process of trying to work out how to get my recordings out of Ableton and into some form of format I can email or post or copy to CD so others can hear the music, but I'm not sure how to do this, and that includes posting vocal recordings.

 

When I work this out, I'll post a link in here. Another problemo however, is that I tend to be too shy and embarrassed and may have troubles singing in a way that would show my problem areas, out of silly pride and embarrassment, you know? Hmm.

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Yeah, I’d be interested in going to a doc just to see, but I don’t know. I’d feel silly. I’d be worried they’d want me to sing or something. lol. And then when I did that, they’d laugh and say something like, “What? What’s your problem? You can’t sing anyway. Give it up, girl! Don’t waste my time!”

 

I don’t think it’s a physical issue in terms of nodes or anything. I think it’s a technique-based issue. When I speak, I’m not hoarse or croaky or breathy, and when I sing, even right when that horrible throat feeling is happening and just before I have to stop singing, my voice sounds fine. It just FEELS bad in my throat.

 

Also, if I’m relaxed and stuff, I can be REALLY loud with no pain or discomfort whatsoever. I’m 95% sure it’s technique, but I just don’t know how to overcome it. If anything else, it could be some scar tissue from my years of bad technique. That combined with the bad technique I still use would possibly cause this.

 

Lessons for me I think. At least one lesson anyway.

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You say it feels like both sides of your throat are meeting, well, your vocals chords essentially rubs together from both sides of your throat to create the noise required to sing. I know this because i scream/growl, and what they tell you is that when you do that, it's essentially a gain knob for your vocal chords, they start smacking together and hitting each other, in the process getting swollen and in some cases for prolonged periods developing sores. The solution to that problem is essentially to STFU. I don't mean to be rude, just to get the point across. Try quieting down for a bit, see if it gets better, allow your vocal chords time to heal, and go see a doctor, maybe you have some sort of infection that is causing the vocal chords to swell. Good luck.

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Seeing a doctor is not a bad idea, just to make sure you're healthy around the throat-larynx area. Also technique problems can cause that tickle and cough. Sometimes when you get to a sensation that you think is right, but it's actually very wrong, it does seem like the end of the world; some coaches call that being "stuck in a funk". You have to start looking at breath support, open throat, no belting and head resonance (instead of belting). With the right technique you can let the voice be what it is, and not try to muscle it up to get it to do stuff.

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Instead of using the word "project" try using the word "resonate." Listen closely to an opera singer and you will realize that they aren't singing LOUDLY, and yet their sound fills the room with little effort. They aren't pushing volume, they are producing more high-mid and high harmonics in their sound. The listener hears this as being louder or having more punch because we equate higher frequency sounds with volume. When you learn to add higher harmonics to your sound your voice will carry much farther with little stress on the vocal cords and throat. You'll get the results you are looking for without the pain and hoarseness. This technique is used by almost all of the great singers, pop, rock, country, metal or classical

 

Did you ever walk into a room full of people and notice what it sounds like? I mean really notice? Let's see if I can describe this: You just walked in, and you hear a kind of dull, low buzz from all the people talking to each other. You really can't pick out anyone's voice in particular. It all just seems to blend in together. Then, a specific sound grabs your attention. It seems to shoot out of all the rest and go right into your ears. It isn't particularly louder, or more irritating—in fact, the sound is clear, electric, and interesting. You can even tell where it's coming from; you can probably recognize the specific person making that sound. Now, before I tell you what that sound is, let's talk about singing. Specifically about those very special singers who always seem to keep our attention. The quality of their voices is so unique, and so electric, that we want to hear more and more of them. Whenever we hear them sing, their voices seem to shoot right into our hearing and grab us and say "listen to this—this is an excellent singer singing." They stand out from all the rest. What if I told you that this singer is only doing the same simple thing with their voice that the person did who's voice stood out at that party. And this is something you do almost every day of your life! Remember how I described that sound? I quote myself. "Then a specific sound grabs your attention. It isn't particularly louder, or more irritating. In fact, the sound is very clear, electric and interesting." Wouldn't it be great if you, as a singer, could discover how to make that sound whenever you wish, and then incorporate it into your singing voice? If you could do that, you could become one of those very special singers who commands the attention; who becomes the "star;" who is recognized as a singer with a professional quality voice.

 

*********** Well, you are going to make that sound right now, and you'll probably do it the first time you try, with practically no effort. Are you ready. All right; I want you to laugh. That's right, laugh. You've got to let go and do a great big "ha-ha!" Notice what happens to your sound. Suddenly your voice seems a lot louder and more brilliant. It commands much more attention than when you just speak. Try it again, and begin to focus the energy of the laugh directly into your forehead. Chances are, it is already focused there. Most laughter is. But if you laugh deeply into your throat and chest, you are not achieving that special sound we are looking for. Check your laughter out. Is it dull and deep, throaty and in the chest, or is it bright, electric and full of treble energy? Now try another sound. Imagine someone just pinched you where it hurts. You yell "owww!" very loudly. Try that. Pitch the sound up high in your head as you yell. IT HURTS!* That's the feel. That's the sound. Now, spend one minute each day laughing—brightly, with a piercing, energetic sound. then sing a familiar phrase of a song. Then work back and forth between the two. Laugh, then sing. Laugh, then sing. If laughing seems too deep in the chest, try squealing out the word "owww!" Then sing. Begin to notice how the bright, energetic qualities of your laughter will filter into your singing. This is a very important quality of good singing, and this is the quality used by professional rockers, country singers, gospel and blues singers, pop and jazz singers and classical singers. The best go for the 'laughing" quality. Play around with this, crazy as it might seem. It will make a great difference in all aspects of your singing.

 

*********** Let’s pursue this: Go to the kitchen and find a large light-weight bowl. Before we talk about singing, we're going to bake a cake. NOT! What we are going to do is use the bowl to amplify your sound back to your ears, so you can better judge your progress. Got your bowl? (Or you can use your PA system) OK, hold it up in front of your face and sing the first line of "Happy Birthday." Sing it loudly, with a lot of energy, listening to your sound being reflected back to your hearing. Now, I want you to "ha ha" that same melody. That's right, sing the notes, using "ha ha's" instead of words. Do it again, but this time pop the sound brightly into your forehead. Get the "feel" of your sound out of your throat and lower mouth, and aim it at your forehead. Keep your sound very bright, and electric. Sing the phrase ten times, alternating words with "ha ha's." One time with words, the next with a “laughing” sound. I know this seems stupid, but do it anyway. It's tremendously important to your advancement! Do this exercise every day for a week, following it up with your regular practice of whatever songs you wish to sing. As you sing your songs, sing into the bowl, and begin more and more to allow the bright sounds of your "laughter-singing" to filter into your songs. You may not like the results at first, but keep at it. It's very important to only apply this to practice, not to performance. As your body-brain, or subconscious begins to absorb and groove it into itself, changes will begin to occur naturally in your performance. You won't have to force any changes. Your sound will begin to achieve more "punch," more treble quality and more power. Remain true to your own style and spirit, and your voice will not become anything except what you wish it to become.

 

******** Remember, if you sing rock, pop, jazz, country or gospel, you want your singing voice to be a natural extension of your own unique spirit. Any techniques or exercises given to you by teachers or friends should only be used to enhance what you already have…not completely change it. Many voice teachers try to make pop singers into classical singers. Beware of this! Sing what you love to sing, just learn to sing it better and better and by using proven techniques which will protect your precious voice. Your singing is for you, not for some teacher, or some well-meaning friend with bogus advice.

 

All of the good teachers teach this to their students in their own unique ways. Find a good teacher, not one who want's you to change your style or genre, and work with them. Most of the top teachers, Seth Riggs, Roger Love, Mark Baxter, Me, and many others have recorded courses out through their websites. Try one or more of them. A book won't do the job. You need to actually hear what these things sound like.

 

Al

 

*

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Oh, WOW! Thank you so much for that, Al!!

 

You know, I knew some of that deep down in my head already, but...it just hadn't fully come out into the forefront of my mind.

 

I knew that when I'm tickled or hurt, I'll yell OW or scream or whatever, and it's really loud (it actually seriously hurts my ears as well as my partner's if she's near enough) and sort of...resonating...but so effortless. Just no effort anywhere in my body.

 

I think I've confused myself for so many years of imitating people. Trying to copy them exactly...and I find with the songs I sing, if I'm trying to sound like a certain singer, and especially one whose specific voice type doesn't come easily to me, the straining is a lot worse. I find that I am trying so hard to get their sound, and if that means trying to add more rasp to my naturally non-raspy voice, or...I think sometimes I've found that if I do move closer to singing "properly" as you described, I don't like my own natural sound because it doesn't sound as much like whoever it is I'm trying to imitate...so I am combining trying to sing properly and imitate someone else's voice, which doesn't really work that well for me sometimes, obviously. lol

 

I think I'm also pushing way too hard. When I sing with a microphone my own songs, there's not much of a problem. It's only when I'm singing along with someone else (a CD I mean), really loudly, that this sensation comes.

 

Anyway...I've read one of Mark Baxter's books actually. Almost a year ago now. I do definitely need to see/hear something though, not just read. It's hard to grasp from reading.

 

I will be trying those things you suggested, Al. Thank you so much, once again!

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