A loss of vocal range and vocal fatigue can have many causes. Here are 5 frequent suspects – says Leontine Hass.
I’m going to describe a common vocal challenge and then give you 5 different causes that are common among my students.
You might recognize an issue that you have been facing and find some relevant facts that you can address.
Of course, if you are experiencing vocal issues, you will want to get insights from your vocal coach as well as the medical community – I talk about what a laryngologist can do for you at the end of today’s article.
A Common Problem
You can only sing loudly. If you try to sing in your head voice your voice is weak and breathy.
You can make a loud powerful belt sound but there is nothing in between. You are losing vocal range and your voice seems to be getting lower.
Your speaking voice is raspy and/or breathy. After gigs you are vocally tired. You often worry whether you might loose your voice in a long session.
You can only sing every second day otherwise your voice is too tired.
5 Possible Causes
It is impossible to pinpoint the exact problem –especially in an article. If this is an ongoing situation, book an appointment with a laryngologist and have a scope done in order to assess this accurately.
However, the likely cause is swollen, thickened vocal folds which are not adducting (or, meeting) properly. This can happen for a variety of reasons:
Consider a “Scope”
All of the above are the most common causes of voice problems which I encounter in the studio.
If you do have recurring voice problems it is vital to get this checked out by a specialist as the underlying causes can be difficult to diagnose and there are many possibilities which are not mentioned here.
To diagnose the problem 100% you will need to be scoped.
This is a very simple procedure where a laryngologist puts a camera down into your larynx in order to have a look.
It takes about 5 minutes and is more than worth it. It is also very helpful for your vocal coach as they will know the specific answer to helping you fix the problem.
I work with two laryngologists on a regular basis who always look at my students if I suspect a problem.
You can either arrange this privately or you can ask for a referral by your Doctor.
My Reaction to This Week's Singing Competition Entry
Rachel Bearinger - Rolling Stone (Cover)
You have a lovely voice and play guitar very well. This is a good video and you are proficient. You use your voice in the same way throughout the song. It would make it more interesting to put more vocal color into it. One way of doing this is to find more depth in your voice. Technically, this means lowering your larynx a notch now and then to make it sound a bit more soulful. There is also room for more vocal connection. You have a tendency to get a bit breathy. There should be a section in the song where you ‘take off’ vocally. This section should require you to work much harder vocally and to connect more at the vocal fold level. This, in turn, would heighten the emotion. A repetition of emotion always becomes boring. Figure out how you can add the sense of going on a journey to this song. On the whole you are very good, so it would be exciting to see you take more risk and take this further.

Leontine Hass BA, Melb. Uni, BMus. Kings College London, Dip. RAM is a singer, actress, vocal coach and Director of The Associated Studios and WAM.Co (The Word and Music Company). As a vocal coach, Leontine has a busy private practice comprising professional singers and recording artistss
www.leontinehass.com
www.associatedstudios.co.uk