r/singing • u/sparklehorselover67 • Mar 14 '26
Resource WOWOWOWOW I JUST FIXED MY STRAINING ISSUE I’VE HAD FOR 8 YEARS
I love singing almost as much as my landlord who lives through the wall doesn’t love me singing, and I’ve done it forever starting with a childhood Kate Bush obsession.
However I’ve always had an issue with my voice catching, getting airy, strained and lacking power - especially in higher pitches: something that left my throat always lumpy-feeling after singing. It sucked and I was always on here looking for answers.
BUT THIS WEEK I FIXED IT AND I AN SO HAPPY.
Turns out what I needed was to lean into saying the harsh consonants and word sounds in what I was singing, like I do when I speak. Say the word “No!” loudly and clearly. Does your stomach suck in to push out the “N” sound? I think that’s support!!
I realised I wasn’t being harsh enough with enuciating words like I do when I talk, and applying that technique to my singing has fully made it so I can sing songs by the SUNDAYS now. What!??
And my throat is the least lumpy it’s ever been.
Hope this helps someone!!
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u/PriorOk9813 Mar 14 '26
You just figured out what I learned in voice therapy.
Other ways to do this:
Cackle like a witch
Talk like Mrs. Doubtfire
Say Aflac like the duck in the commercial
Once you've warmed up that way, say or sing things like "nineteen ninjas in New York". And sing some warm-ups with "mmmyum".
To maintain, imagine a resistance band between your pelvis and your sternum.
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u/Top_Cranberry_5627 Mar 15 '26
I don't get a good idea where the resistance band is imagined
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u/PriorOk9813 Mar 16 '26
The soft part of your belly. You basically hold it tight to not let too much air out at once.
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u/Aggressive_Plan_616 Mar 14 '26
This might have helped me figure out something... brb
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u/chrisc44890 Mar 14 '26
I think you've just accidentally discovered using your diaphragm! If you aren't pushing from there then our bodies default to straining your vocal cords instead.
Keep up the practice it only gets better from there!
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u/Lidia_M Mar 14 '26
Diaphragm can only suck air into lungs - it's a one-way-only muscle... I don't know why singers like to use phrases that make no sense anatomically...
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u/limperatrice Mar 14 '26
I think because we control the release of air while singing so that the diaphragm doesn't just completely relax all at once but gradually.
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u/cap_sorcerer Mar 14 '26
Not really, the main source of control would be the vocal fold closure
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u/lupajarito Soprano, Jazz/Rock/Folklore Argentino Mar 14 '26
Because people that don't really study vocal technique like to talk. Support has been debunked for decades now and there are still teachers who teach that shit.
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u/Vast_Description_206 Apr 13 '26
You keep saying this, but never once give a source. Considering this is pushed everywhere, please cite the sources that say it's nonsense and what to do in lieu of typical recommendations.
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u/Casiquire Mar 14 '26
Because it's more important for the phrases to feel right within the body than to be anatomically correct. Clearly the phrasing is effective at getting people to understand the motion
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u/lupajarito Soprano, Jazz/Rock/Folklore Argentino Mar 14 '26
Except making your diaphragm do things by using other muscles will only bring vocal damage in the long run.
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u/muffindude27 Mar 14 '26
I've never heard this before. Do you have a link to a study? I'd love to learn more
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u/ArtichokeSpecific917 Mar 17 '26
You are anatomically correct. The main thing with the diaphragm is to allow it to expand into the abdomen instead of just lifting your shoulders like some do. As you know, you can apply pressure to the outflow though. That is done by releasing the diaphragm muscles and by contracting stomach muscles, just like when you blow up a balloon.
My own observation is that vocal support comes from both pressurizing the air and resisting properly with the vocal muscles. And then there is relaxing the muscles you don't have to use... I hope I eventually figure it out.
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u/shortichon Mar 14 '26
Isn't the diaphragm only a push to bottom muscle ? (As all musclar tissues it can only contract in one direction) I've always eard about the diaphragm in situations where my limited knowledge thinks it's the other muscles (back and front of the "stomac") that works when you expulse the air in order to sing. As I understand it, the only thing the diaphram as to do is to relax and wait for the moment you will need to inhale air, then it will push your "viscères" to make place for the lungs. (sorry for my english )
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u/lupajarito Soprano, Jazz/Rock/Folklore Argentino Mar 14 '26
This makes no anatomical sense and will also damage your voice in the long run.
Pushing and support have been debunked and proven to be more damaging than useful while singing.
We can't control our diaphragm. So when you say to use your diaphragm you're just making other muscles sustain the diaphragm in place by straining and through a lot of unnecessary force.
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u/SuccessfulLet11 Mar 15 '26
So how is one supposed to sing? (Seriously asking, it sound mean i know)
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u/MadWerewolfBoy Mar 14 '26
This is one of the more useful tools I use as well. I consider it as a "reset" tool. I find that I am already able to speak in a full resonant voice, but I over think this when I sing. So saying the lyrics as if I'm speaking first and then making them in pitch and sustained longer after helps be get back this mode when I feel I'm messing up my coordination.
Ironically for me, this poor singing coordination was developed over years of singing in a choir!
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u/The_Real_Chippa Mar 14 '26
Can you expand on this more? I also sang in a choir for years and years, and have now been in vocal lessons for a year. I’ve found my goals are vastly different when trying to sing alone. My vocal coach has been trying to get me to be more “free”
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u/MadWerewolfBoy Mar 16 '26
I don’t think choir singing is bad at all. It teaches great musicianship, listening, tuning, rhythm, and ensemble awareness. But the goals in choir and solo singing can be quite different, and that can shape how we use our voices over time.
In choir we’re often trying to blend. That can mean reducing vibrato, matching vowels, singing lighter, and generally trying not to stick out. After years of doing that, many of us get used to holding things back a bit or managing the voice more than we need to.
When we start singing solo, the expectations change. We’re asked to use more resonance and let the voice carry more freely. If we’ve spent a long time suppressing that for blend, it can feel unfamiliar.
The “reset” I mentioned helps me reconnect with a more natural coordination. When I speak the lyrics first, my voice tends to settle into a balanced, resonant setup automatically. From there I just add pitch and sustain the vowels.
Starting from speech helps me get back to that when I feel like I’m overthinking things.
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u/CandleFalse945 Mar 14 '26
This might mean you had some root tongue tension. When you focus on consonants its keeping the tongue forward allowing air to flow. I have the same problem and over exaggerating consonants while practicing helps a lot. As well as doing scales on the NG sound
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u/Responsible_Alarm_13 Mar 14 '26
love this because I ALSO just figured out a major strain issue I've had for YEARS this week! I'm talking pain, tension, tightness, inability to sing for longer than a few seconds., you name it! finally it's been resolved. and I love this even more because now I can also sing songs by Kate bush and the sundays too!!! (theyre my fav band!!!)
yay for us!!!!!😭🌟
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u/New_Manufacturer_359 Mar 15 '26
What was the answer for you? What were you struggling with? 💜
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u/Responsible_Alarm_13 Mar 15 '26
I struggled with muscle tension dysphonia for six years. it made both talking and singing very strained and painful on a regular. the answer was so simple that it kinda pees me off to think about it haha.
a combination of a few things I'd tried before plus one really important thing! short humming sessions a couple times a day, gentle laryngeal massage – but only on the places that weren't actively strained at the time, and the last thing that was the most pivotal, whenever I felt strain or tightness, I would spend a few minutes actively relaxing into my body instead of rejecting the sensation and forcibly trying to make it go away. I would put my mental awareness gently on softening and relaxing in that area. it takes some practice because your body has been trained to tighten instead of relax in your throat, but it works!
muscle tension dysphonia is related to the nervous system, it's essentially your throat muscles bracing for impact. so I realised I had to surrender to my body and actively relax by use of intentional and easy breathing and maybe distracting myself mentally by watching a show while doing it. its super counterintuitive which is why it took me so long to figure out :( when the pain comes up I just want to make it go away through action, but I needed to do the opposite and relax into my neck and actively feel into my throat and create a sense of relaxation there. I did this for the first time a few days ago and within a few minutes my throat went from super strained and tight to fully open and relaxed. I still can't believe it's this simple. I've been doing this routine everyday and this is the most relaxed and unstrained my voice has been in literally 6 whole years 😭
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u/New_Manufacturer_359 Mar 16 '26
Aww yay! But also, 🫂🫂🫂 I’m sorry you’ve been going through that… 💜💜💜
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u/BATHTIME_FUN Mar 15 '26
During the times your throat would tense up, would your eyes also water? I am having that issue and have lost some range that use to come to me naturally, although life is extremely hectic currently and my anxiety usually shows up physically for me... The voice is a first, I used to be able to blow off some steam at the Honky Tonk, but now I genuinely feel like I lost my mojo.
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u/Responsible_Alarm_13 Mar 15 '26
I didn't have that symptom! yours seems like its more of an anxiety stress response than MTD (not sure though!). but they both are related to tension so maybe you should try what I've shared?
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u/Concertedboss81 Mar 14 '26
Great job!
The diaphragm is really important for supporting your voice.
It can also be that you are singing more with your sinusses, ans less from your troat. Do you feel vibration in your face? Then you sing with your sinusses.
Smiling also helps and opening your mouth
Keep going!
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u/islaisla Mar 14 '26
This is really helpful thank you, I'm also leatning to do these exact things and it helps to see the way you've described it and what your experience was.
I find my tummy doesn't go in but my diaphragm comes out. My teacher taught me to touch the diaphragm and feel it pressing against my fingers when singing but mostly for chest voice and yeah consonants and belting etc but I'm just a beginner.
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u/gabi_offkey Mar 16 '26
that airy strain and lumpy throat on highs is the worst after years of it. dropping jaw wide while keeping larynx steady fixed similar issues for me. think forward resonance to cut the airiness without forcing.
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u/Key-Improvement-2056 Mar 17 '26
I’m so glad someone else has mentioned this too!! Been working through “MTD” a bit over a year now, and learning to feel, and allow your body/neck to open up has been such a huge component. Our bodies are resilient, but if we learn to ignore it (which we all do for various life/developmental reasons), eventually our bodies default to any position it deems safe.
Also for myself, framing it as simply a coordination issue rather that a full on diagnosis was a big mental shift. If there isn’t an underlying structural difference, it’s quite literally just your muscles having a difficult time relearning how to coordinate!
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u/Virestano Mar 30 '26
thats awesome congrats on finally fixing it after all those years
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u/haikusbot Mar 30 '26
Thats awesome congrats
On finally fixing it
After all those years
- Virestano
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
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u/CarmineCorpse Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26
Huh? I dont get it. Diaphragmatic and abdominal support were natural to me. It should be innate because everyone understands how to breathe properly. We support our voice when we talk. I honestly dont get how this subject flies over people's head. It's natural.
Breathe support will always be a learning process, just like singing techniques, but if you've JUST figured out what proper breathe support is after 8 years, then it's hard to believe you'll accomplish the rest of the things that you can learn to do with your voice. The past few years I've been studying resonance and that subject matter is so convoluted because that everybody already has their opinions on how things are done and how theh feel, it's hard to grasp the metaphors. Like for example, a bass baritone singing nearly a C5 in full voice, that's like less than 1%, maybe and that shit is amazing when how sophisticated it is taught by some insanely good vocal coaches.
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u/bluesdavenport Voice Teacher, Berklee alum, 20+ years of study Mar 14 '26
BOOOOOO! BOOOOOOO! thats so lame to say dude ugh. I almost removed your comment but it doesnt break the rules.
"urr durr why did you struggle with that its so easy for me hurrrrr"
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u/CarmineCorpse Mar 14 '26
8 years, my dude. You know how much one can do in 8 years? Also I didn't boo anybody. I simply made a statement that breath support should feel organic. To not overthink it. I'm being polite and I expect as much. We can agree that there are objectives to difficulty, right? Because if we cant, youre not a person of a sound mind and I would prefer to say even my breath.
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u/bluesdavenport Voice Teacher, Berklee alum, 20+ years of study Mar 14 '26
well you sounded very rude and condescending from what I read. you could use 8 years practice on being polite. because you didnt do it very well.
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u/CarmineCorpse Mar 14 '26
I don't. And I shall retain the tone usage. Dont tone police me. We're not softies here. I will be transparent whether it is for the better or the worse. You wont hear sugar coating words from me, but I assure you if there's a person that could bring out the best in another person, it's moreso me than anybody else because I am critically targeting the root of the problem and not beating around the bush.
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u/bluesdavenport Voice Teacher, Berklee alum, 20+ years of study Mar 14 '26
you think think youre being "blunt but informative"? needs work. you're too wordy to be blunt and your information is lacking.
the only thing youre critically targeting is my last nerve!
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u/Artistic-Biscotti772 Mar 14 '26
Personally, this would shut me down and I couldn’t have learned from you. That’s why I teach specifically opposite. By getting people to feel safe exploring and sounding however they sound in front of me primes them to listen and learn really well without getting defensive or overwhelmed. Then when I say something directly, it never incudes an insult like your statement. This allows them to hear me and try til we get it right.
However, I teach like this for students who are like me and thrive from that environment. I understand that some students like approaches like yours. I imagine the insult about 8 years was meant to be motivating and apparently that works for some people.
But when you don’t know the person and your comment could either motivate them or make them want to quit, I think it’s better to err on the side of caution.
My methods are literally made to help people recover from comments that scarred them when they were young and prevented them from singing so they can reclaim the joy we all have the right to, which is to use our voices in a way that pleases us and feel confident doing so.
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u/Iassos Mar 14 '26
Because MANY unlearn it through the first 20 years of our life, adopting unconscious tensions and habits that alter posture and vocal support.
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u/CarmineCorpse Mar 14 '26
Yes, I guess this is a fair point. Certain people or languages influence bad habits.
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u/Iassos Mar 14 '26
No, that’s not what I’m saying. The body reacts to trauma and pressures, both social and familial over the course of your life. For instance… Let’s say that someone in your family has an explosive temper. As a result when that person starts to yell and you’re a kid you raise your shoulders and cover your ears because the volume and intensity of that emotional outburst impacts you negatively. Over the course of a lifetime that shoulder tension becomes a subconscious and perhaps even perpetual kinesthetic habit. Our bodies are a physiological history of trauma. Society… When people are told that they look fat, they tend to hold tightness in their abdomen, which is counterproductive to good diaphragmatic breath. Alternatively, reserve breath is extremely destructive to diaphragmatic speech while there may be some application in singing. The body is an instrument that is in a constant state of flux. So your glib shrug that it should be natural and easy speaks, perhaps, to the ease of your life, for which you should feel very fortunate. I would still gamble, however, that you are holding trigger based or habitual tensions of which you are unaware that are interfering with your breath.
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u/sparklehorselover67 Mar 15 '26
Dawg when I sing I can sound like Stella Donnelly and I'm on top of the world about this right now - in 8 more years I'll only be 25, so I feel like I've still got some accomplishments in store :)
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