Avoid voice cracking

April 28, 2009 12:31 AM

My voice cracks occasionally when I'm out having a few beers and I shout to be heard. How to avoid this?

I'm not sure using my "head voice" all the time is practical, but I'm open to suggestions, as well as explanations of why this is happening (as in, is the alcohol exacerbating the situation?). (As implied by the beers, I'm a male in my mid-twenties, and I'm in general good health.)

posted by dicetumbler to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

You're straining your voice in a totally normal way. This is the natural result of congregating in a noisy place, getting a little blasted and shouting at length. There's really no medical mystery here.

Voice lessons would teach you to do it better. You can probably find some lessons on YouTube. Or you can find a voice coach and pay him or her to teach you to party better.
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:34 AM on April 28, 2009

This happens to me. I am pretty sure it is the alcohol futzing with your judgment of the appropriate voice volume level. I find that if I relax and talk at what to me seems too quiet, people hear me just fine.
posted by norabarnacl3 at 5:34 AM on April 28, 2009

Is it the beer or the loud sports bar? If the latter, avoid loud bars.
posted by JJ86 at 6:01 AM on April 28, 2009

I don't understand why it would bother you enough to want to avoid it, but if it does, then find quieter places to drink and socialize.
posted by hermitosis at 6:49 AM on April 28, 2009

I think it's just vocal fatigue. I'd suggest training your voice to maintain the volume... singing lessons might help.

This happens to me at really loud karaoke bars. The music volume is up so high that you almost have to scream into the mic to hear yourself. After about 3 songs any effort I put into hitting higher notes is crack-tastic.
posted by simplethings at 7:36 AM on April 28, 2009

This happens to Mr. Tigerbelly on occasion -- I attribute it to not using the diaphragm, and relying instead on force to produce volume from the "head voice." Like trying to shout by simply pushing your speaking voice really hard. Instead, use your lungs, and expand your chest. Think of an actor trying to project. Your shout will be deeper, and you'll have to beware bellowing, but this leaves you less prone to cracking.
posted by tigerbelly at 2:25 PM on April 28, 2009

This happens to me too. You might find some of the comments in in one of my questions relevant. I think it comes down to either taking yourself out of the environment or training your voice.
posted by Bunglegirl at 6:19 PM on April 28, 2009