VOCALS
IS YOUR RASPY VOICE COOL ? | Sheri Gould
Long is the list of singers who have made their trademark a raspy ( or breathy ) tone . There is something about a raspy , gritty tone that speaks to us passionately . Perhaps even more passionately , at times , than a beautiful , smooth tone . That ’ s why many singers have chosen to incorporate a raspy or breathy tone into their repertoire on occasion . Others may simply sing , or speak , that way because of poor vocal cord function or some type of damage over the years . Do you , or someone close to you , have a raspy singing or speaking voice ? What does it mean for you as a singer ?
FACTS A hoarse voice is the result of the vocal folds failing to get good closure . Typically , when this happens , it ’ s because the folds are swollen or affected by some other obstruction ( nodules … polyps ) making it impossible for the folds to connect completely , thus allowing excess air to escape along with the tone . Allergies or illness can cause the vocal folds to swell . Overuse , misuse or abuse of the vocal folds can also cause damage that will keep the folds from closing properly . The causes of hoarseness are many , but it ’ s important to remember that the hoarseness itself is not an illness - it ’ s a symptom .
One thing is for certain , a hoarse voice in an indication that vocal cords are unhealthy . ANY hoarseness , in your speaking voice or singing voice , is ALWAYS an indication of unhealthy vocal folds . To find the root cause of the hoarseness , one ’ s behavior , lifestyle and overall health must be examined . Although it ’ s rare , a hoarse voice can be an indication of a more serious health threat . A hoarse voice lasting more than 2-3 weeks after the onset or after an illness is over , should be looked at by an ENT ( otolaryngologist ).
SINGING STYLE What I have described above is a chronic symptom based on unhealthy vocal cords , but what about simply rasping up your voice for purposes of style ? There are seemingly ageless singers ( Rod Stewart comes to mind ) who have continued to sing with their raspy style their entire career . What of them ? Are their vocal cords unhealthy or simply anomalies ? Without a report from a doctor , I cannot answer with complete certainty , but it ’ s safe to say that most of the singers we know who sing with a consistently raspy voice have permanent vocal damage . This damage has distinguished their voices and they have been able to take advantage of their unique sound , But make no mistake , their cords are damaged and will never ( short of taking substantial measures ) produce a smooth , clear and healthy tone . Sadly , much of this type of damage occurs when the singer is young and doesn ’ t realize the full implications .
However , occasionally singing with a raspy tone will not necessarily be an indication of or cause permanent vocal damage . This is quite risky long term . It ’ s difficult to ascertain , unless highly trained or under the careful watch of an excellent vocal coach , at what point lasting damage is being done . Therefore , this is not a style I can recommend , nor will I encourage my students to employ this technique .
WHAT ABOUT MY CHILD ’ S RASPY VOICE ? This is a great question and an issue that is often overlooked . A raspy voice is often seen as “ cute ” in a child … if it is even noticed at all .
But just as with an adult , the raspiness in a child ’ s voice is more likely than not an indication of vocal damage as a result of poor speaking technique .
Although I realize this may seem unlikely to you , it is very real and more common than you might think . Because it is not a health threat per se , it is often not treated . This is a tragic error in my opinion . By not addressing the issue when a child is young , you are setting the child up for potentially permanent vocal damage which can rob him / her of not only a beautiful speaking voice but also any opportunity for singing in the future . I don ’ t think any parent would do this on purpose , it is more from ignorance than anything else .
SOLUTION ? Anyone who has a raspy voice , child or otherwise should first be seen by a qualified ENT to determine the condition of the vocal mechanism overall and the probable cause ( s ). After the cause ( s ) has been addressed , the next best step is speech therapy . Speech therapy can be life changing for a child and can certainly enhance the life of any adult by not only beautifying the voice but helping to ensure a longer , healthier vocal life .
Sheri Gould Sheri is an internationally acclaimed vocal coach . She ’ s been helping artists and worshipers find their voice for over 40 years . For help and resources visit her site . www . SheriGould . com