Hey everyone,
Ok, I am still kinda new at singing and was hoping others out there can help me out a little. I actually never had any singing lessons, as you guys can probably tell, and I've been blowing out my voice recently during shows. I was hoping other vocalists can share what they do to warm up before a show or any other advice you guys/gals can give. (I found drinking tea with lemon helps or citrus drinks, but any other remedies out there?)
thanks.
pees.

I'm not the singer, but my wife is and so I've gotten a few things from her. First off, don't be afraid to do voice lessons. Somehow it's cool to be "self taught" these days, but some lessons will do wonders for even seasoned singers. Second, proper singing is from he diaphragm, down in the lungs. In other words, don't sing from high up in your throat-that's what blows voices out. A good vocal tacher can show you how to sing from your diaphragm, and doing this you will never blow your voice again. Third, I know it sounds cheesy, but singing vocal scales in several different keys before a show is probably the best warmup you can do. Last of all, don't eat or drink dairy the day of a show. A mucuousy throat is not conducive to good singing. Hope any of these might help.

I'm not a singer, but having recorded a couple vocalists, I've picked up on things that aren't good for you. Maury's right, no dairy!! Excessive vocal straining with dairy in the throat can cause "cheesy plugs." Seriously. Ask an ENT doc. Also, smoking (obviously) can wreck your voice. As will shots of Jack. Or anything ingested nasally. You're right on the money with the tea(no honey). Warming up will warm your cords up.

Good advice! I'm a terrible singer so I am right there man. I'd love to get lessons someday, but frankly I'd just rather get another singer...

Sing in your range (volume and octaves). I wrote most of our songs when I thought we were going to get a real singer, and not for my own limitations (smoker with no training). Some keys are harder for me to keep up, and going higher than my good range blows my throat out fast (I can only do one or two of those older songs per night, and never back to back). The first thing I think about when I write a song now is how I can sing it. It's a bummer, because I know just how I want the voice to sound (kinda like Vince Niel but I sound more like Ian Curtis naturally). Any affectation, any singing in the throat is just not going to sound as good, and will hurt eventually. Especially around here, where your vocal monitors are never good enough so you always belt it out.
I also try to keep my throat wet. I chew gum or have a lozenge during the set. In an emergency (sick or something) I'll drink some thera-flu, warm with some lemon juice in there before a set. I sing like a fucking champ then, but afterwards my throat gets very dehydrated, so it's not a long term solution.

quote:

Originally posted by Levi Eleven:
...I sing like a fucking champ then...

A fucking Champion Chimp?

I'm not the lead singer of Winterlock but i'm the only one with actual vocal training and it goes as follows:

First No dairy at all even like the day before just give the cows a break.

Second It's hard at first but you really do have to sing from the diaphram if you start singing through your nose you'll eventually just start singing like The Smashing Pumpkins.

Third singing scales like mc was saying helps big time just don't over do it all you need to get fully warmed up is like 5-8 minutes any more and you'll start cutting into the power you will need to sing while you're playing.

Fourth green tea with a lot of honey in it not only tastes good but is super good for your voice and keeps you awake throughout the night. drink three cups the day before and up to six the day of and your voice will do things you never imagined.

Fifth never and i stress never practice the day before a gig using your full voice you don't want to chance blowing it out. What our lead singer cliff does and almost just talks his way through the songs as were playing them.

Sixth don't drink anything but water before you go on stage alcohol and soda are extreemly bad for your vocal chords.. ever been to Silva Lanes Kareoke after abaout midnight? If not you should it's incredible what alcohol does when your trying to sing..

and lastly if you can't reach it without making your face red you probably shouldn't be singing it.

All of my singers usually smoke before their shows/rehearsals. I am not sure if this helps though.

Right on witht he whole singing with your diaphragm thing. The hardest thing about it is getting the mic up in there. I find I sing best with a massive hangover, as it keeps me away from the beer and cigarettes before the set. I am also in a pretty relaxed state when thus afflicted, which helps, and I am usually pretty handicapped attention wise, so I can direct my limited capability to just singing. Also, I am usually pretty irritable and confrontational when hung over, so my front man abilities are better, too.

OK seriously... A real warm up like how real musicians warm up will help you out. Ive had a lot of friends who were voice majors in college and have seen all the funky stuff they do to warm up (vibrating their lips, humming, singing scales with different vowels). The most basic thing you can do is warmup with scales and arpegios, stuff like that. It is like stretching before a workout.

I have been taking singing lessons for about a year from this guy named Paul Barrientos who sings opera. He has taught me a lot about singing.

First off good singing is quite easy. It requires massive amounts of energy NOT effort. Dont try to blast out the notes even when you sing with your diaphragm. You will just hurt your voice. and of course, more air you pump out the higher the pitch is of the note you sing. Dont use your throat to change the note, put out more air. singing should be as easy as talking.

Im not a great singer but i am getting Much better. I hardly ever hurt my throat anymore. scales have always been the way i warm up

Something else: Frank Sinatra swam three miles a day in order to increase his lung capacity. It allowed him to keep smoking too. I always like to to get some exercise before a show, walk a couple miles or so to open up my lungs. During the time I quit smoking I had a lot more air in there, but during the actual process of quitting I was terrible. My lungs were stiff.

Lots of good advice on here. Especially the diaphragm stuff. Singing in the throat just sounds worse anyway, besides the trouble it causes. All the fancy shit people try to do using their throat just never sounds as good as clean voice.

Was it Souxsie Souix who had voice problems and her doctor told her she had to change her styule or she'd never sing again?

I bedlieve it was, Levi. Also, think about dear old Janis Joplin. Had she lived a couple more years, she probably wouldn't have been able to talk. Shit sounded killer, but I bet it took a toll on her vocal cords!

Back when I was doing stuff I'd play shows for about 2-3 hours and be singing pretty much the whole time. The only thing I can say is, don't brush your teeth right before, try to keep water by and possibly eat something kind of greasy. And always practice if you can everyday, even if that means singing loudly in the car while you're driving.

For some reason when I went long stretches without singing full blown for at least half an hour, after about 8 or so songs, my voice would start breaking up. Also at practice decide what songs rip up your voice and what don't. Leave the rippers for the end if you can.

hahahahaha...fuck that...we play in bars where smoke and booze prevail...sure in the big scheme of properness yeah...we all say yeah we get our practice on...but ive seen band members get drunk before and while onstage smokin like there is only one night left to live...being a drummer...i can pontificate bout gettin my rudiments on prior to a show...but honestly...maybe ill do a few lil exercises going onstage...but rarely...i cant speak for the rest of my bands...what they do in their cars going to the show...420...redbull...shooters of tequila...but i can tell you that from experience...fuck it...till we truly get salary for our performances...most of us will smoke drink and have a good time...

on another point...robert plant...nancy wilson...to me...fantastic vocalists...smoked like stacks...

o.O

sean

7of9

everybody has always asked me my secret to hitting those high notes I do....well here it is......

I find that a smoke, a colorado bulldog, and a shot of butterscotch shnapps helps me hit those high notes


seriously

awesome, great advice here! I will definitely try some of these.
thanks.

First of all, I'm not a singer so I'm not sure if what I share will provide any valuable insight. I shout, spit and faux-scat my little head off continuously on stage. When I was a smoker this proved to be very difficult and after each gig I was exhausted. I have since quit smoking and now I can get through a gig without panting and feeling fatigued. I tend to drink a lot of water and "warm up" before a gig. Warming up consists of going through a set and shouting along or singing along with other people's music which include an eclectic mix of Sinatra, Sepultura, Bauhaus and Wu-Tang Clan. Oh yeah, learn to use your diaphragm, your throat will thank you. Also contrary to popular belief tea doesn't actually help. Water and annunciation do wonders though.