Karaoke Forums

[font=Verdana]I researched this subject several months ago, but have forgotten most of what I found. What, if anything, do you do to make your voice sound the best it can. I know there are sprays you can buy, has anyone tried these?[/font][schild=4 fontcolor=C0C0C0 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]Singing[/schild]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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Sprays are something you probably don't need to use unless you have overdone it - at which point you should probably have vocal rest.

Long, slow tones starting at the bottom of your register, moving up slowly. Important to warm up the vocal cords.  There are plenty of singers who jump right in, in their zeal to sing, and do something that has high, sustained notes. You can hear their voices cracking. Not the best way to start. Start with a song that is in your lower register, too, and as your voice warms up move upward and apply more volume.

It is really tempting to avoid the warmup and at some places you may be warmed up for your first song but if you have to wait an hour to sing, all those benefits are lost.

Another other thing to avoid, and it is difficult to avoid this in certain situations, is speaking loudly or yelling over music for sustained periods of time. Constantly 'clearing' your throat is really harmful to the cords. Drinking cold or icy liquids will keep your voice from performing the way it should. Also, smoking completely dries your vocal cords and is detrimental (sorry smokers, physical fact).

There are trained vocalists who use this forum and some of them will hopefully contribute to this thread. It's a good thing to know.

K

I warm up before I sing -- always. I use a warmup routine I bought from voicelesson.com -- it takes about 15 minutes to warm me up completely.

I also hydrate well. "Sing wet -- pee pale" is a little ditty that applies.

Using sprays or throat-coat tea is OK, but don't expect a magic bullet. Also, make sure you avoid dairy as it thickens the phlegm on most everyone's vocal cords.  Gargle with warm salt water, and avoid clearing the throat. You can sort of apply suction instead to clear some phlegm.

Once I warm up, I start out with a song in the middle of my range, never one that hangs around the high end of my tessitura. I try to sing a couple of songs as part of warmup, and try to rest a couple of minutes after every couple of songs.

I find once I am warmed up, I stay that way pretty much for the rest of the day.

Finally, sleep is very important for me. I sing much better if I am well rested.

 Practice.  Every day for at least half and hour but work up to that and don't strain anything.  Use a tape recorder to detect suckage.  Correct suckage slowly again, don't strain anything.  Soon you will be so wonderful you won't be able to stand yourself.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Me, I just start drinking pitchers of beer, after the 3rd one my vocal cords are GREATTTTTTT!!!

I always start out with an easy song.  This helps me find out what shape my voice is in, and also how well the KJ is handling the sound system.  There are some songs I won't even try at certain bars, because the sound isn't being done correctly.  You can wear yourself out singing songs by Boston or Foreigner if you aren't getting good amplification over the whole frequency range.   That said, tequila is harder no my voice than beer for some reason.  Your mileage may vary.

Don't drink anything too cold.  Nothing with ice, room temperature is best but a little chilled is okay.  

Vocal warm ups are a MUST.  If you don't have a routine, you can you-tube some and just sing along with the instructor and just repeat it.  (motorboat is the best )

Sprays have NEVER helped me, but then again that's just me......


Physically warm up before you sing.  Roll your shoulders backwards and forwards make sure your posture is supported and in the correct position.  Also physically warm up your jaw opening it as far as possible and moving it side to side.

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[scroll][glow=darkorchid]~I'm the girl your mother warned you about~[/scroll][/glow]

A shot of whiskey with honey; not too much, just a enough......guarantee to work or money back    :yes: