Question:
What can I do to recover my voice?
Tyme
2013-08-28 12:05:52 UTC
I've been practicing my metal vocals (screaming) and I'm trying new techniques. So I think I did something wrong and now I can't scream and my speaking voice cracking and is low in volume. This just happened today. What can I do to recover it quickly?
Three answers:
TVC
2013-08-29 01:41:44 UTC
Cantilena, I'm sorry, but I really disagree with you on that. screaming is safe if you know how to do it. A scream in heavy metal is not yelling, it's distortion, it is a hyper-compressed vocal effect. "Screaming" is a deceptive name for the vocal effect because it sounds like screaming, but it's not. Metal vocalists have been doing it for years. I've done it for quite a while myself (a year or more) and I have not experienced vocal trauma, injury, pain, discomfort etc. in fact, I don't feel anything unhealthy at all. I practice this technique very frequently. My SLS teacher, who I didn't learn it from, even says is sounds safe.



In 2007, a joint study from CVT and an ENT surgeon ran a research program with a bunch of speech level therapists and determined that growling and distortion are safe if done correctly. Check out the video on the CVI website:



http://completevocalinstitute.com/vocal-technique/research/



Sorry, you may be a student, but these ENT's and speech level therapists are in the field already practicing, they have more credibility.



But of course, if you want to provide a counterargument, go for it.



Tyme: there was a point in time that I tried it the wrong way, before I knew the correct way, and really did hurt myself. I still practiced it while in pain, but eventually realized it was being done wrong so I took the time to get training and go through recovery. Did I get it checked out? No, there is no need to panic about everything.



Learn the correct way, there are plenty of sources out there like CVT and TVS that can help you with distortion. Recovery won't happen fast, sorry. Wounds take time to heal. Go on vocal rest for a while by not talking for a few days. Nodules actually are a risk, I happened to be lucky it wasn't severe. If symptoms persist, you actually might have to get them checked out.
cantilena91
2013-08-29 06:33:30 UTC
First of all, STOP screaming for good, there is NO SAFE WAY whatsoever to do it, sorry. You also need to be examined by an ear-nose-throat specialist in order to see the severity of the laryngeal damage.
Confused
2013-08-28 19:33:24 UTC
You may of over worn out your voice box I suggest going to a doctor and they could do something for you.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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