How I Iron Out Vocal Corruptions

I have a cold at the moment, a tough little fucker that is clinging on, and I don't have the time or energy to stop recording and take a break right now - so here's what I do at least to push the vocal exhaustion back for a little while.

WARNING: You can't do this too much, it's just pushing back the clock a little for your throat. Make sure to rest properly, hydrate!!!!!! and stay warm and soft to your lil voice box.

1. Find the notes that you're losing clarity on.  - In this example, its the note I hit at the word 'sexy' and midway through the 'ooh!'

-  It might sound like a crack, it might sound like a vibration, it might sound raspy.

2. Work forward a little bit to get an idea of the range you're missing.

- I say a few extra lines how I would like them to be performed to hear the 'buzz' so that I know the upper and lower bounds of the issue.

3. Try a few gentle initial throat clears.

- It might be a slight buildup on the glottis, it might be a little tickle, it might be a muscle tingling. Reset it with some GENTLE huh-hums.

- In this example, I have a cold, so huh-humming vibrated my chesty cough and made me wheeze a little. (It's fine, I'm used to it.)

- This can usually clear the problem for a little while!!! But excessive throat clearing will make it harder to maintain composure in the notes you're trying to let out. For example, in the second 'set yourself back', my voice wobbles to try and reset the vocal folds for the voice.

4. If it's weakening your voice, stop. Move on to a long note, and follow it up and down your throat to see where the problem is.

- Note where your voice breaks out or weakens or buzzes, and clear that range for a moment before attempting the next step.

5. Vocal fry is a fantastic tool for gently clearing and ironing out any problems in your throat.

- Using a long, neutral breath, set your voice into an elongated vocal fry and play around in it. It's a massage for the inside of your throat. 

- Make sure to put a lot of breath into your fry. I did a pretty shitty job of it here because of my cold and I was eager to get back to work. Give yourself time!

6. This probably ain't a good idea but shit whatever. 

- I am a vocalist in a punk-metal band

- I do a lot of growls and screamo for said metal band

- I found (ONCE I LEARNED HOW TO DO THEM PROPERLY FIRST!!!!!!!!!!) I can take em from where they're supposed to be at the base of the neck and roll them across my throat which just kinda itches the right spots and clears any debris. This technique probably ain't great for my voice BUT

7. Check your pitching with a scale sweep!

- Oooooooooooo! Bottom to top! Check out your nice clean vocal folds!! 

AND MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR THROAT AND VOICE AFTER YOU'RE DONE HOLY SHIT!!!! Honey and lemon tea, babey.