JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum A Fix To Clear Your Voice

I get asked from time to time after I just get over a cold how the heck do I manage to clear my voice and sing when my range is being limited form left over crud from a cold.

Heres a secret I learned while working in Vegas for 6 years as an opening act for major name acts when the Show absolutely must go on.

Simple...HOT water, Lemon Juice < from a fresh lemon , and some honey. It will strip the crud off your vocal cords in a snap!!

It's a nice to know..I have even used it on what I call Union Voice.. /< That's a voice that only wants to sing at night and is not so good in the morning.. Anyway it works for me!!

I actually drink lemon juice straight from the bottle when I've got the crud, coupled with a bottle of water and honey straight from the jar.

I also like to take Emergen-C to keep from getting those colds or flu bugs.

I do the things listed above and also gargle with salt water.

Emily

I do the salt water thing, and drink hot water. For some reason, grapefruit juice seems to work too.

Larry you've heard my singing...the whole audience looks like they've eaten a lemon when I sing.
James
p.s.
check your e-mail

I've also hear of a product called "throat coat" that a vocal trainer I've worked with recommended.

I usually gargle with a half pint of whisky. It does not do your thrat any good but it makes you feel good.

Throat coat is a tea that is made almost entirely of licorice root. It works rather nicely. However, I prefer to mix my own tea of licorice root and peppermint. Great stuff, can't believe I forgot to post about that one. When I'm singing out at the Renaissance Festival every year, this stuff is my vocal savior.




Mmmmm, whisky.

Which Festivals you work? I work Palm Springs, Escondido, Koroneburg (Corona), San Diego and Big Bear, all in CA. I've also worked ARF in AZ.

Throat Coat is a tea put out by a company called Traditional Medicinals. It's wonderful! I also like Breathe Easy by the same company. It's good for asthma and allergy related problems.

Emily

Hi,

I am taking notes. Here in Colorado, it is soo dry. Any suggestions for that?
I tried some Gatorade and that worked very well.
I have heard about licorice tea, too. Also horehound is supposed to be good for connective tissue. I get the horehound candy sticks from Cracker Barrel and tell myself it's good for my vocal cords. (I also like them

Vondelle

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

I was up there for Labor Day weekend about 9 or 10 yeas ago. It was a pretty nice festival then. I hear it has gone down hill. Any truth to that?

Well, it depends on what exactly you mean by gone downhill. I doubt most of our patrons would think that, however if you're on cast, then you are probably aware of the rumor mill that spreads each season.

This year seems to be starting out pretty bad for our fest though, I'll send you PM as to why. Shouldn't really be making some of this public. (c:

Another one is hot ginger root tea. If you have allergies or a clogged head it will help open the sinus and clear the throat very nicely. It will also stay with you for about 4 to 5 hrs.

Best Regards,

Teddie Cochran
www.teddiecochran-music.com

Interesting thread. I tend to go more for the source of the crud and do what I can to clear my sinus cavities as much as possible. Levage (Neti) is pretty good for getting the dam broken in there. Also do a lot of Lessac "y-buzz" and low "call" work if I can. Lots of water. All the time. As much as possible.

First post here, btw.

I heard of drinking lemon juice back when I was around metal musicians.
I noticed though when I drink something right before I sing I lose my voice easier.
But when I boil soup, for example, the steam seems to help clear my voice.
Anything with steam seems to help.
Maybe since it helps with colds it would have that effect.

Matt

I'll vote with Big Jim...Jim Beam's good stuff (in Moderation) to clean ya out/coat yer throat.

There's also something I picked up at a local drug store when I had a Miserable Throat Cold that was weird, yet worked: "Buckley's Mixture"...made from Pine Needles & Capiscum (pardon my spellin') Peppers. (Liquid Roto-Rooter in a Bottle..heh!)

When all else fails, Move to Florida..heh-heh!

Good Luck Folks,
Stan