I know there are some really nice, smooth voices here, so I need to ask you all something.

-the setup
I noticed that my throat gets kind of thick feeling. You know, a little tight, and it feels like I need to clear my throat, but it never helps. I found that it always happens if I'm having a couple beers, during the evening, but lately it can start right off the bat. It effects me most in songs with a wide range that have a lot of energy behind them. It only happens when I sing.

-the question
Have any of you had this problem? What helps? What are your suggestions?

-the followup
I've tried water, and it doesn't help. Somebody said honey, and that sucked in so many ways. It bothers me so much that I'm almost ready to see a doctor over it, but knowing doctors, I don't think that will get me anywhere.

Really cold diet pop.

I should have added cold diet soda (pop to you cutie) to my tried that list, as well as cold tea.

I'm gonna try the hot tea for sure! I don't know why I haven't yet, but do bars have hot tea with lemon?

Vocal coach...huh...god knows I need one, but it's definitely a come and go problem. I mean that some days the problem is there, and some days it's not, and sometimes it's right off the first song. When I said it effects me more then, I didn't mean that I think it causes it, just that the problem makes those types of songs more difficult to get through. I end up doing nothing but slow mushy easy to sing stuff, when I know people would rather hear the faster more energetic stuff.

At first, I thought the cause could be the alcohol in the few beers I drink, but drinking water or soda didn't fix it. Now, I'm leaning toward some kind of minor allergy being the cause.

Going back to the vocal coach...I should look into that anyway, but I'm not a professional. I do this for free now. It's a fun hobby, nothing too serious.

I think I might have to try that stuff. But I'm gonna give the hot tea with lemon a try if it comes back tonight.
*places tea bag in an on-call status*

I often get this problem, the tightness, the phlegm, the catch, the works.

I skimmed the other posts, and (being someone who is always in a rush and has at least one weekly 4 hour singing gig at any given time) here's what else I have to offer:

1) Warm up. Really warm up. Do the silly word exercises, the police sirens, the fog horn, all of it. Start slow and easy, work your way up. I find I usually hit my peak vocal stride after about 2.5 hours, so it can't hurt you.
2) Don't smoke anything, ever. Don't ever be around smoke. I know this seems obvious, but it's funny to note that most of us encounter quite a bit of smoke every day, and we usually don't even give it a second thought. After, of course, the initial "ack, gross!".
3) Avoid alcohol. I know, I'm one to talk, I have a double whiskey on the rocks every time I perform to calm my nerves. Alcohol is, however, very bad for the vocal cords. It dries them, then the body sends mucus in, then everything goes to shit.
4) Get good sleep. "Thank you captain obvious" but it's true. I usually find this problem occurs less frequently when I'm fresh and rested.
5) Keep hydrated every day. I agree, when it comes to the moment of, it's too late. And again, I'm one to talk, I'm usually in a state of perpetual dehydration. But I once again find that this problem is less bothersome during the periods when I drink more water on a regular basis.

Also if you are, like me, an untrained singer, you (and I) are probably doing a million things wrong to create and shape the sound. I have, however, picked up some key techniques like proper breathing, posture, neck and chin alignment, vibrato and resonance within the body. Through these, and years of practice, I have not only lessened the occurance of the icky throat phenomenon, but I am able to belt it out at the absolute top of my lungs (louder than I can yell... and my yell's a doozy), without straining my voice. The very end of the night is still a bit hairy at times, but 4 hours is quite a long time to be working any set of muscles.

Hope some of this helps, I know how much this sucks :wink:

Marg

I knew I'd get some great suggestions here.

I wanted to try out the tea last night, since I had nothing planned, I could just sing all night :) but sweetie had other ideas. So, I'll try that this weekend.

The voice lessons is probably the one suggestion that would make the most difference, overall. I really should do that, 'cause I know I do things wrong all the time.

Well, smoking is not a problem. We live in such a smoke-free place, it's great. No one can smoke at work, or even in a bar. I'm around it very little. The alcohol, though...well that's where I originally placed the blame, because it happens EVERY time I drink. I noticed, though, it would be there even when I didn't drink, on occasion. Warm up (hahahaha) my kind of warm up is starting off with the easy songs. But, I have been caught off guard by people wanting me to play a certain song without warning. (usually goes- Robbie, go get your guitar and play xxx for xxx, pleeeese)

Vocal coach it is, then. I'm still gonna try the tea, though.

Just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I played bass in a band where we averaged 2 shows a week, and practiced twice a week aside from that. I never sang in any band, except to demonstrate songs I wrote to our singer. Although I've been playing guitar for many years, I'm not very good at it. I play an accustic/electric and have a small 300 watt PA for my voice. I play at vertually every party we go, and occasionally at small local bars for fun. One of the guitar players from my last band heard I was singing, called me up and wanted to know if I sang better now, because I sucked back then (he was right :( ) I love performing in a band, and wish I had the time to start another one, but I don't. I am VERY inexperienced with vocals.

BTW, you guys are great!

Hey, this guy really seems to know something...

...and not just about the mechanics, either.

I can't see me learning much about this subject from books alone. You all have convinced me to look into singing lessons. I'm starting to get excited, like someday I may actually be able to sing well 8O

$12.21 Very reasonable.

*dragging my feet like a puppy who doesn't know how to go for a walk yet*

But books have no personal interaction, no feedback.
(I know, of course, you're right)

Oh, most definitely. I got the book around the same time that I started singing lessons, and the two of them together made a big difference. It's the equivalent of having a textbook to read before the class. The subject matter in-class makes so much better sense in the context of the more thorough chapters.

Okay-Okay, I'll buy the book, geez.. :roll:
As it turns out, my sweetie knows a vocal coach (she knows everyone) so, she's going to call her today, and set something up.

I played about 90 minutes straight, on Saturday, and didn't have a problem, so I still don't know if the tea helps.

Sweetie called and the voice lessons are $15 per session. That could get expensive, if I go often. I believe the local college has a voice class, and in the long run, would probably be cheaper.

I don't know, what do you think?

btw - after messing around with some new songs, last night, the kids said I should record a cd for sale...so I asked them if they wanted ice cream, or a raise in their allowance :D

That makes sense. I'll see if I can get it scheduled for next week. Thanks :)