did I wreck my voice?

When I "retired" from the music biz a few years ago I continued to sing in the car, in my home gym etc. So I got on this kick trying to sing along with Koko Taylor and sound like her and roughen up my voice. Mistake. About 3 years ago I noticed that my cords sounded frayed (don't know how else to describe it) when I got around B above middle C trying to blend to my upper register. I could practically sing harmony with myself.

Then I got back into music and my range and technique have suffered, and it's tough to negotiate around this frayed sound. Does that ring a bell for anyone? I don't see that described in symptoms of nodules but is that likely what I did to myself?

(I did finally make an appointment with a throat doc for next month.)

You maybe you're just rusty, going from full-time to no time can make a big difference. I would see a vocal coach or something and let them get you up to speed.

If your throat hurts not matter what, see a doctor. But if you're noticing that you're just not as strong as you once were, I'm confident you can practice your way back.

What do you mean by 'frayed' ?

And has this affected your speaking voice as well?

There can be many reasons for voice issues. Can you try to describe it more in detail?

davie, I mean that in part of my range I get two or three simultaneous tones using upper register, so that it sounds like there is some abnormality at the edge of the cords.

But now I'm thinking I am just de-trained from laying off so long. Today I was able to go up singing a triad exercise up through C past middle C without getting that sound. It's on more open vowels like Ah that I get it.

simultaneous tones? two or three distinct notes? most likely its a due to a improper closure of the vocal cords. if it has subsided and was only temporary, then your cords were probably temporarily swollen.

Also its important not to mistaken natural overtones as those simultaneous tones. natural overtones are like octave steps that u can hear within a sung note and are normal.

I'm definitely no expert, but last week I had this same phenomena of a "frayed" voice and I wasn't trying to sing, cause I couldn't even TALK properly it was so bad!

I'd be ok on REALLY low notes (when speaking), but as soon as I got to the middle ranges, my voice would suddenly split into 2-3 different tones at once. HORRIBLE! Felt I had NO control over it either!

Previous to this occurrence, I'd been coughing a LOT and I think this really hurt my voice. It did return to normal in about an hour though, thank GOD! Scary stuff.

Not sure what causes it though.

thakns for info

Yes I've been coughing too, chronic allergies to dust here and at work. But it gets me that I sang for 30 years professionally in so many awful smoky venues without problem, thanks to some good training by Mr. Arthur Peters in DFW.

Can the throat doc look in and see the condition of my cords in the office or is a special scope appt needed?

The main thing that a Ear/Nose/Throat doctor will do during a visit is use his scope to view your throat and vocal cords. Its some scope they insert through your nose and down into your throat. Then he'll most likely have you vocalize while he's viewing it. This method can assess majority of voice problems from a physical level.

Yeah, went today - that scope was amazing but ow. No nodules or polyps, but thickening of the vocal cords. Probably from GERD, vocal strain, alcohol, and aging. Used to be a drink would loosen me up but now I think it dehydrates more than it used to. At least I don't smoke!

He suggested speech therapy because the two good singing coaches left town.

What gets me is I managed to preserve my voice through full time playing for 25 years or so, in real smoky bars and way more drinking than I do now. I think it's the high harmony parts I sing that are really straining me. But everyone else in the band is aging too so I'm not the only one lowering keys, LOL.