Losing Voice/Vocal Cord Damage

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 07:23pm

I'm an aspiring metal vocalist and I have a problem. Ever since the "Slayer Incident" in my bedroom I haven't been able to make my voice hit any high notes whatsoever...And it's been like this for over a week...Is it possible I have vocal cord damage? Should I see a doctor if my total voice doesn't come back within the next week?

...Though continuing to sing along to Down and Pantera like a complete idiot doesn't really help the situation.

What's happening? Anyone know anything about vocal cords here? What can I possibly do?

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 07:28pm

Rest your vocal cords, don't raise your voice above normal speaking levels and don't sing. See a doctor soon, especially if its giving you discomfort. My drama teacher had something similar (not through singing metal songs, granted), and it could be serious. Better safe than sorry though, get it looked at.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2003-12-30 07:28pm

if it's been over a week, i'd say go see a doctor. and. . .dare i ask. . .'slayer incident'?

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2003-12-30 07:31pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:I'm an aspiring metal vocalist and I have a problem. Ever since the "Slayer Incident" in my bedroom I haven't been able to make my voice hit any high notes whatsoever...And it's been like this for over a week...Is it possible I have vocal cord damage? Should I see a doctor if my total voice doesn't come back within the next week?

...Though continuing to sing along to Down and Pantera like a complete idiot doesn't really help the situation.

What's happening? Anyone know anything about vocal cords here? What can I possibly do?

My suggestion? Shut the fuck up. Give your body time to recover. Drink honey tea or something soothing. Ice Cream too...straight ice cream, no chunks of stuff. Don't shout, scream, talk in soft, measured tones. Don't push it. If that doesn't work after a week or two, see a doctor.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-12-30 07:32pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:I'm an aspiring metal vocalist and I have a problem. Ever since the "Slayer Incident" in my bedroom I haven't been able to make my voice hit any high notes whatsoever...

Did you try to sing "Angel of Death" by any chance?

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 07:34pm

I'd just liek to hear what this incident is, actually. Though it doesn't sound like something I'd like to happen to my voice.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 07:38pm

I hate tea. How's coffee? I've been using that to heat up my cords before I start...Before I fucked my voice, anyway.

No discomfort as in pain, but it kinda feels like I have a congestion.

Slayer Incident: "The final swing is not a drill, it's HOW MANY PEOPLE I CAN KIIiIIIiIiiIILLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"...fuck..."

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 07:43pm

I got the same problem. Recently I put up my old metallica CD and I have a really, really bad sore throat it's not even funny.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 07:47pm

This is why I sing showtunes and Radiohead.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 07:49pm

heh heh

I was even going to buy a microphone but now I'm having second thoughts about that

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 07:52pm

James Caan: That sucks, man, but I'm in no pain whatsoever. Do you think it's serious if there's no pain? Feels more like something's out of whack.

Starting right NOW I'm not going to raise my voice at all. If it doesn't get better in a few days I'm calling a doctor.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-12-30 07:52pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:Slayer Incident: "The final swing is not a drill, it's HOW MANY PEOPLE I CAN KIIiIIIiIiiIILLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"...fuck..."

"War Ensemble" huh? Good job. A friend of a co-worker suffered severe leg cramps trying to play the drums to that song.

Just take it easy on your voice for a while, in other words don't sing screaming music, in fact, try not to sing at all. Drink lots of warm fluids, and just chill for a while.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-30 07:53pm

I can do aall sorts of things with my voice: growl like Pantera, croon like an angsty teenager, SCREAM like said angsty teenager (Linkin Park, anyone?), rap like the Kottonmouth Kings (after mucho practice and looking up lyrics), and I have been known to scream through five Corporate Avenger songs in a row...

That said, get your voice checked by a doctor aand drink SHITLOADS of Vitamin C!

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-12-30 07:58pm

Its a problem many vocalists have actually. Beware though--many death and black metal vocalists have permanently fucked up their vocal cords--scar tissue, strains, lots of nasty stuff.

The first thing to do i guess is condition yourself. Dont overexert your cords, which is what you have done. Before you sing, you have to exercise your voice as well--dont just go into a scream. Imagine an olympic runner who doesnt stretch and just walks onto the track and sprints--you can imagine the injuries he'd have, which is what you've done. Try singing bars in classical style, stretching your jaw even (it loosens your cords) and just generally warm up before singing.

Keeping your throat moist is also important, so be sure to drink lots of water between songs--i think sugary stuff like cola is bad for the voice as well. As is alcohol, unfortunatly--lay low on the booze before shows.

Drink tea--its very therapeautic for the throat. You might want to try adding a little bit of honey in it as well. Coffee can work but i find it far too coarse. Tea--trust me, it works.

If you've strained your cords, they'll come back in time, it just takes time to heal them. Dont try singing--especially death vox--for at least a few days, and in the meantime drink tea and honey. After a week of healing, do simple vocal exercises, just to get your cords back in shape. Try singing some bars--without the death vox mind you--and just getting your voice back into shape. It should be right as rain in notime.

You can also go to a vocal class to learn how to best take advantage of your range and optimize yourself but for an amature i wouldnt recommend it unless you are very serious.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2003-12-30 08:00pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:I hate tea. How's coffee? I've been using that to heat up my cords before I start...Before I fucked my voice, anyway.

No discomfort as in pain, but it kinda feels like I have a congestion.

Slayer Incident: "The final swing is not a drill, it's HOW MANY PEOPLE I CAN KIIiIIIiIiiIILLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"...fuck..."

if you hate tea, i'd recommend trying a warm cup of Chai. it's tea, but it's easily the best type out there imo. also the only one that i'll willingly drink.

definitely doesn't taste like your standard tea and is something i'd think many non tea drinkers would enjoy.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 08:02pm

James Caan wrote:heh heh

I was even going to buy a microphone but now I'm having second thoughts about that

Lol I don't have one either....I used to record my voice on a shitty cd player thing and it was horrible (so was my voice).

On the Down forums some people gave me tips (including the guitarist for the band itself) and so far the drink hot coffee to help mold your cords technique works for me. In the past month I've gotten better than I did the past two years...I hope to any god that'll listen this is NOT serious.

Einy: Phil is the fucking god of heavy metal. Just try doing his growls and howling on Down, which is more expansive vocals-wise. Look up Superjoint Ritual too, his metal/hardcore project. When my voice gets better I'll take a stab at King Diamond.

Just got some orange juice from the store today as well.

Never had you pictured as a Slayer fan, Aerius.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 08:11pm

*sigh*

Alright I guess I'll have to drink tea now.

I don't do death, Zombie84...Not even going to ATTEMPT that after what I heard now! I wonder what the Cannibal Corpse vocalist's speaking voice sounds like?

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 08:13pm

We've got pretty cool teachers at out school, if they know you and that you're not insane they'll let you use school mikes and recording equipment. Not the best, but they get the job done and we've got all sorts of programs for makings songs and stuff. Being in with the Music Dept. means that I'll never need to buy my own stuff... until I leave HS in two years.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-12-30 08:54pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:*sigh*

Alright I guess I'll have to drink tea now.

I don't do death, Zombie84...Not even going to ATTEMPT that after what I heard now! I wonder what the Cannibal Corpse vocalist's speaking voice sounds like?

Cannibal Corpse is grindcore AFAIK, the shittiest metal that exists that had the greatest potential to be good. Morbid Angel and Iniquity are Death Metal.

My vocals are somewhere between death and black metals, but without the high pitched parts, i can do a decent rendition of sjr's stuff, but i'm lower than Phil.

My advice would be to drink lots of fluids and learn how to pronounce things in your metal voice before adding the volume. Then stretch your vocal chords gradually and stop when it hurts (done that a few times, personally). Then try again later.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 09:00pm

I find I can sing difficult (really low or really high) notes better louder, singing quieter generally puts more of a strain on my voice. But I certainly agree that you should drink lots of tea, I've heard chamomille is very good for the throat, despite tasting like flowers.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-12-30 09:46pm

LOWER than Phil? Damn boy!

I wish I could get right that hollow yell he does. I've always had trouble with the sound of my yelling. I'm fat, and I've got that "fat guy" element in my voice so that might be why I always have a certain drone in it.

I still need alot of work. For the past couple years I've made my singing voice higher to go with NIN and Alice In Chains which were my primary influences stylewise. It's pretty much my 'natural' singing voice now since it doesn't require much effort anymore.

To give you an idea of what my throat goes through here's what I've been doing and my influences:

Broken/Downward Spiral NIN, Self-titled and Dirt-era Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath, Down, and a little black metal just for good measure. I've been getting into Doom metal more, so I put in Down and Sabbath to reflect this. I love the slow laid back vocals both those bands usually put out.

So you can see I actually want to be understood, I'm not real big on death metal in most cases.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-12-30 09:58pm

UltraViolence83 wrote:Never had you pictured as a Slayer fan, Aerius.

It's the cuddly chicks in my avatars isn't it?

But seriously, my musical tastes vary wildly and I'm all over the place. One minute I'm listening to Ozzy & Slayer and the next I'm chilling to Sarah McLachlan or Norah Jones.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 10:22pm

Hey Ultra you might want to check this out http://healthlibrary.stanford.edu/resou ... /ent4.html
It has a series of things that affect the throat.

According to this picture I can tell that my soft palate is extremely sore and that I can't feel my uvula

If by Friday you still have problems call the doctor and schedule an appointment for Monday. Good luck.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-30 10:28pm

I think if i began to feel my uvula I'd schedule an appointment, it's not a bit of my anatomy I'm terribly familiar with.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 10:41pm

Well it's rather strange I just rinsed my mouth and I noticed that it folds sometimes. During the last couple days it felt like I had something stuck in there, but now I know it's because it's folding. I'm just going to take it easy and drink something warm.

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Losing Voice/Vocal Cord Damage

Losing Voice/Vocal Cord Damage

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