kprouty Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Any vocalists out there that may have a suggestion in helping heal strained vocal chords? Ive tried honey, chamomile tea, throat coat and other tea related herbs, etc and of course resting it. Nothing seems to work. Strained it way back in spring and has not been the same since....thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenKen Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 The only thing that really works is rest. If you have had this problem since "early spring" it might suggest something more than a simple strain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Nazarenie Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'm no vocalist but things improved for me when I tuned my guitar up 1/2 a step and did some eq on my pre amp. I've have had a cough for 1 1/2 years and the Dr said it is nothing... it's bloody hard to sing when you cough all the time... anyone got anything for that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenKen Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I've have had a cough for 1 1/2 years and the Dr said it is nothing... Well it's something. Get a new doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Any vocalists out there that may have a suggestion in helping heal strained vocal chords? Ive tried honey, chamomile tea, throat coat and other tea related herbs, etc and of course resting it. Nothing seems to work. Strained it way back in spring and has not been the same since....thanks! kprouty, That's an awfully long time. How much are you singing? Daily, once a week, some where in between? What "hasn't been the same"? Have you lost some your range Is it an endurance problem? (like you're ok for the first 20 / 30 minutes, then things go south on you?) Or your voice has lost some of it's strength, or sounds hoarse and raspy? Could be anything from persistent allergies, a nodule or scar tissue somewhere on your vocal chords, or even a low grade deep sinus infection. If it was just s strain, you should be passed that by now. I would get a referral to an ear/nose/throat specialist if it was me. Good luck man.. /KB.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bldsnn Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Maybe it's just a technique issue. Using your voice the wrong way will not give your vocal chords the chance to heal properly. Often people start straining their voice further just to keep performing at the same level (during a cold or something similar). The remedy is usually very simple. A specialist is probably the right solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daryl M Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I had some major voice trouble a few years ago when I was on the road 200 dates a year. I went to the Vanderbilt Voice Center here in Nashville; specialists who work with lots of professional singers. Bottom line is 1)rest, 2)water, 3)better technique. I know...some answers are too obvious to be correct...but it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Daryl... Yup on all... until it ends up being surgery 'cuz folks didn't follow that advice. I remember my old days with RealLemon, blackberry brandy and even the old "codeine and 84-proof alcohol included" terpin hydrate that's been banned for a cupla decades at least. We told ourselves it helped - which is easy when you're about age 20 or below, or you think what you're doing vocally is "successful" for your gigs. The problem was the screaming rock/blues 4-hour gigs; simply didn't exist doing country in the '70s, although I know some country singers pushed themselves into the rock singer throat problems - probably because of a poor sound mix. All kidding aside, I'd add that a sound mix with some preference to vocals may be part of the proper technique - although everybody keeps getting more and more powerful guitar amps 'stedda a better and more powerful PA setup complete to functioning monitors that mixes well regardless of venue. Honestly, I think my generation's fetish with more guitar amp power and consideration of the PA as only a necessary evil is a bad lesson "we" haven't tended to learn more than half a century later. Sad. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I had some major voice trouble a few years ago when I was on the road 200 dates a year. I went to the Vanderbilt Voice Center here in Nashville; specialists who work with lots of professional singers. Bottom line is 1)rest, 2)water, 3)better technique. I know...some answers are too obvious to be correct...but it is. 'Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I asked my ENT specialist what was the best thing for strained vocal cords-he told me to shut up-no kidding.I made up my own great remedy for strained vocal cords and that's taking a mug of fairly strong coffee and adding an ounce of over-proof dark rum such as London Dock or Lemon-Hart 151% proof and then pouring in an ounce each of Grand Marnier and Bailey's Irish Cream,stir in a couple of heaping teaspoons of sugar and drink it down slowly.I found this mixture really relaxes the vocal cords-and the rest of you too...lol,but it really does the trick.A lot of my friends use that remedy now if they are brought down with strained pipes mid-set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Yep already been said - but rest a lot of water and if it's been since the spring a good specialist. Ive done so much damage over the years between singing to0 much, smoking too much and living too hard in general but luckily raspy is popular when you get a little older and luckily I don't have to sing everyday anymore. Still I know it's not a normal thought but for a singer it's a instrument like anything else abuse it and you can strain it or even damage it or even destroy it. But if it's been six months see a specialist. And another obvious hopefully your not a smoker. If you are a smoker get used to your new singing voice they rarely heal Be careful though your voice is like your hearing - Easy to ignore with small problems but you really miss them when there gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Used to be hot tea with lemon worked fine for me...since it has lasted this long, I recommend you see a good doctor...might have something happening in there. Good luck...and pick a GOOD doctor. The real best remedy is to totally NOT USE YOUR VOICE even to speak for a while..like a week or so. The other stuff just soothes the problem. REST allows your body to repair itself. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Well it's something. Get a new doctor. Yeah...my FORMER doctor told me i was having frequent bronchitis and that the pain in my arms was carpal tunnel. Turned out I had blocked coronary arteries...I had 2 heart attacks one day in 2003, and had to have a 5 artery bypass...the BEST one I had was 85% blocked...and no one caught that! I have not had "bronchitis" or "Carpal tunnel" since then. Get a second opinion...NOW! mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kprouty Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks for all the great suggestions....a common problem as I suspected. I did see an ENT who video-scoped my vocal chords....said the chords looked ok but the "flaps" that open and close to the chords irritated, red, etc....Problem is my voice gets raspy very quickly, even from talking in louder environments such as a bar or other social gathering. Singing a whole worse matter.... Ive particularly lost my ability to hit higher pitches while singing, when I can sing......just cant get there and seems lost. Doctors suggestion was rest voice, speak softly, avoid loud environments that cause you to speak loud and hydrate often which I have always done anyways. Just turning 48 and not sure if the voice is just going on me? Ive never done voice training/strengthening or technique lessons. Have others out there done this? Can you strengthen the voice so it can tolerate singing? Thanks for all the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Ive never done voice training/strengthening or technique lessons. Have others out there done this? Can you strengthen the voice so it can tolerate singing? Thanks for all the help! I highly recommend that you get your can into a room with a voice instructor. Look for one that will cater to your style of music. No sense in working with a classical singer who will push for a bunch of Celine Dion vibrato when you're trying to since ZZ Top. My comment about starting voice lessons was strengthened by your comment of not being able to hit high notes anymore. Pitch should come from your gut, not your throat* so it does sound like you are not using good vocal technique and straining your voice box. *unless your diaphragm is jacked up ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bldsnn Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 The voice should be powered by your body, not the vocal chords themselves. It's all about using the right muscles. If your neck area is tense during singing or speaking, then you're straining your voice. It's mostly the abdomen that should be powering the voice. Posture and such. Also not every voice is capable of being loud. The irritation comes from straining and it can be prevented. Relax the vocal chord area and use your body. There are exercises to train this. Not speaking at all is never the answer (only in cases of vocal trauma of just after an operation is it a solution). Just speak in a relaxed manner and never whisper. Whispering is really bad. It dries the vocal chords and makes them vulnerable so more damage can be done. To sum up: Relax the neck area and use the body drink water before singing and in between songs (no juice or milk or alcohol or whatever) Know the limits of your voice volume wise (proper technique should be learned first). Hope this helps. Voice training isn't my major, but I do know the basics as an almost speech therapist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaysEpiphone Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Any vocalists out there that may have a suggestion in helping heal strained vocal chords? Ive tried honey, chamomile tea, throat coat and other tea related herbs, etc and of course resting it. Nothing seems to work. Strained it way back in spring and has not been the same since....thanks! Alright listen to me very carefully! Do not use any of these remedy things on your vocal chords as they will tear them up! Just gargle servile hours before your going to sing with water, preferably water from a well with paper filtering. Nothing else! Just water! I do it every day pretty much but I'm old and have little of a voice that I had in my 20's and 30's. And don't smoke anything, ever, try and stay away from smoke filled rooms too. There are plenty of natural minerals in every-day tap water from a well that will help clean out your voice. Toxic fumes are bad for ya too, gasoline and area's that have a lot of stuff floating in the air, we have textile mills here and they are really bad! They have better air cleaning systems now a days but its still bad to be around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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