Why is your voice cracking while singing?

Perhaps the most embarrassing thing that can happen to a singer is their voice cracking mid-song like the sound of a door creaking at its hinges. The silver lining is that it can be totally eliminated with practice. Joining online singing classes or studying singing under a professional will set you on the right track. 

Your vocal cords are responsible for making your voice sound good. You set them into motion by the rush of air when you breathe. Vibrations of these membranous folds in your larynx will decide the pitch and tone of your voice. Your voice will crack if there is sudden stretching, shortening, or tightening of your vocal cords. 

Here are a few common reasons why your voice could be cracking while you sing and outlined at the end are a few tricks to help prevent it. 

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Exceeding your vocal range: It is advisable to stay within your vocal range. Every singer has a vocal range that they are most comfortable with, where their voice feels at rest. The vocal range can widely vary among singers. It is possible to gradually train your voice in order to expand your range. It is possible that you are going to be disappointed if you hope to magically sing all sorts of songs with minimal practice. That is why determining your vocal range at the start of your singing career is of utmost importance. 

Lack of control: Another reason why your voice could be cracking is that your training has been inadequate in teaching you how to control a note. A phenomenon called belting in singing depends largely on your ability to hold a high note without your voice shaking or cracking. 

Pre-show jitters: When you are waiting backstage and your show is about to come up, you are full of nerves. All this stress in your body makes its way to your voice box as well. This may cause undue tension in your vocal cords and your voice will not be as smooth as when you sing without the anxiety of pleasing an audience. 

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Trying too hard: This one is a no-brainer. When you put too much unnecessary strain on your vocal cords, they are going to buckle under the pressure. This will not only cause immediate ill effects like cracking of voice but also worsen the health of your cords in the long run. Do not force yourself into singing outside of your comfort lest it should cause permanent damage to your cords. 

Dehydration: Much like how an engine needs frequent oiling, your vocal cords need frequent hydration to be in optimal health. If they are not moist, they will produce an undesirable sound. In addition to adequate hydration, a singer ought to stay at an arm’s length from caffeine and alcohol, both of which have a diuretic effect. Consume them in moderation, if at all.

Inflammation: All your laryngeal muscles are at work, the end product of which is the smooth silky voice that flows out of your mouth. Inflammation of your vocal cords can result in a hoarse voice. This inflammation can be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation may be due to agents like viruses. It is chronic inflammation that you have to watch out for because once that sets in, it is quite hard to regress the changes even with the help of powerful medication. 

Triggers like air pollution, smoking, chronic acidity can set the inflammation into motion and it will only go downhill from there with your vocal cords progressively deteriorating.  

Vocal cord flexibility: Screaming, speaking, or singing for too long will irritate your vocal cords as they are continually at work with no rest period. This may result in injuries, and their healing occurs by the formation of nodules on your cords. These nodules negatively affect the flexibility of your vocal cords. It is no surprise then that your voice cracks after the build-up of these lesions. 

Ways to prevent your voice from cracking

  • Learning how to breathe the correct way is the first and foremost step in the right direction. The vocal cords vibrate as a result of your inhales and exhales, so getting this right would ease your voice. 
  • We probably can not stress enough the power of a good vocal warm-up. Just like every muscle needs a decent warm-up before it can function at its maximum capacity, vocal cords also deserve a warm-up before their potential can be realised.
  • Practising facial exercises that shape and tone the muscles around your mouth and jaw is another tip. Since the mouth is the outlet of your voice and supports the end product of your cords’ movement, you need to pay attention to its health as well. 
  • Giving rest to your cords at timely intervals will prevent exhaustion and overwork. Just like the body needs sleep, the vocal cords need some periods of silence so they can rejuvenate adequately. 
  • Joining a singing class will help in the sense that a seasoned trainer can help you access your potential. They can assist you in skilfully navigating the ups and downs. They know how to start off the training and how to gradually build up to reach an end goal that is realistic. 

If you are on the hunt for a good music teacher around you to hone your talent and have not found one yet, try online singing classes. Learning to sing from the industry greats is no more a dream as Unluclass is now at your doorstep with its amazing courses. You can learn singing online from the award-winning singer Monali Thakur. She will guide you through your musical journey as you discover and reach your greatest potential. Check out our website for more information on this specially designed online singing course.