How to get rid of Vocal Fry
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- čas přidán 24. 04. 2021
- In this video, I answer the question: “how do I get rid of vocal fry?”
I start by defining what vocal fry is and why it tends to happen. I then talk about two tips that can help you find clear tone in your voice.
A head’s up: vocal fry is one of those hot topics that brings up a lot of judgement, especially towards women. I am not here to add to that judgment. Rather, I am here to offer choice. There is nothing wrong with speaking with vocal fry if it doesn’t bother you. But if it does and you would like other options, this video is here to help.
Let me know how it goes, share with anyone you think might find this video helpful and, if you’re finding these videos useful, subscribe to my channel.
Finally a video that doesn't judge vocal fry sufferers.
Great job! the world needs more kindness and you contributed to that.
And thank you for your kind comment!
"sufferers"
@@kazam3527what about it? It comes with a lot of baggage
I always knew there was something off about my voice, but never knew what. Your tips SAVED ME COMPLETELY
I’m glad to be of help!
I have a perspective on vocal fry that’s a little unique, I do this a lot unfortunately (and I hate it!) but I only started doing it since developing chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis. My brain and body get absolutely exhausted to the point where it’s sometimes very difficult for me to make myself food, go to the bathroom, and speak. I’ve had this condition for several years now and it’s completely debilitating, I used to be highly functioning and successful but now I’m on disability. I often feel like I don’t have enough energy to end my sentences strongly, or even to speak normally. I hate that I vocal fry but I find it very hard to control with my new medical condition. Please don’t always autocorrect judge people or assume something about their character based on how they talk/sound, you never know what a person may be going through!!
Thank you so much, Diana, for having the bravery to share this story and the important message that goes along with it. Your instincts are absolutely spot on-- the voice is created through muscular action-- in fact, sustaining the breath for speech requires muscular action from your core-- so if you have a condition like chronic fatigue that makes the muscles that exhausted-- then it will absolutely be difficult to sustain the breath in a way that allows for clear tone throughout a whole thought. The voice is a reflection of the self and what the body/psyche is going through, for sure. I'm so glad that it sounds like you are already treating yourself with a lot of compassion around this. In this case, definitely the motto is (and actually is always): easy does it. If you were to try to push muscularly to avoid fry, you would just make yourself even more tired.
I am sorry for the people who do not give you enough time to arrange your thoughts into short sentences that are more comfortable for you to vocalize.
I have lost all patience with people who are in a perpetual hurry. I can no longer tolerate even _hearing_ most peoples' voice.
I can not fault you for having the vocal fry that you have and I feel disgust at myself that, even though I consciously know there is a legitimate reason, my _subconscious_ will probably, maybe, cause me to feel displeased hearing you talk.
I wish you the best
Oh shoot, same.
I feel I have this problem as well. It only came to my attention when I speak into a recording for my friends who want to keep in contact via video chat. I hate hearing myself, and yet I know there’s not any doctor that will acknowledge this phenomenon. I’m looking at dietary changes along with exercise. But I have little hope that I can get my voice to be clear when I speak as long as I have energy issues.
OMG, I have this too and never connected it to the quality of my voice. And you’re exactly right. Everything is tiring; very little activity produces a lot of muscle fatigue. It’s like you may be just too fatigued to take a deep breath and really get everything out. That’s a heck of an observation.
I would like to see you giving a lesson to a sufferer being tutored to eliminate vocal fry. Would be interesting to see them return to normal.
Thank you, Charles! I will take that suggestion on board.
Have you done this? I agree.
I would have to posit that it would take more than just one 10 minute video unless it was a fake video. Consider in the 1940's, the actresses taking voice lessons for rounded vowels and speech patterns. This was a long process. Years, I believe. From what I understand, many of these actresses lived on set and went to a school on the set together.
thank you! at first, I was quite proud of voice frying when it comes to singing. but when I’m talking it becomes a bit of a nuisance since I technically have it 24/7 ❤
You’re very welcome!
Being a female and having this is so annoying. At first I thought it was because of acid reflux but ig not. It's so irritating because people assume I'm doing it on purpose, they think it sounds gross like I have something in my throat or they just find it annoying. Personally I hate it because I don't like the sound and it makes it hard to sing 😭I wanted to be a singer but with this is seems impossible 😔
Hi Mel, I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling so down about your voice. There are definitely things you can do that can help you find clear tone if that's what you're seeking, starting with the tips in this video. I truly hope the tips in this video can help you on your journey to finding a voice that feels true to who you are and how you want to express yourself, and of course there is always the option of more personalized coaching. If you'd like more information about that, feel free to reach out to me at christine@voicewhatmatters.com.
Well done, Christine. Short, to-the-point and effective.
Thank you!
I speak with vocal fry sometimes and I hate it. It happens when I get lazy when speaking. I also have a higher voice which I find annoying as well so when I try to speak lower I tend to vocal fry 😫
This all makes a lot of sense, as these tend to be the two reasons that fry happens. Hopefully you’ll find the tips in this video a helpful starting place, and feel free to reach out to me at christine@voicewhatmatters.com if you would like some personalized coaching.
You have the best energy. I am so glad I found your videos. This is the model for clear, confident speech I have needed. It is hard to know how to use your voice to be taken seriously as a woman, and to have what you're saying be taken at face value: way too often I have dealt with people reading into what I'm saying with an oddly passive-aggressive interpretation, and I think it may be because of the fry in my voice, which comes from being shy and anxious because of this kind of misinterpretation, and fear of being labeled as "aggressive" as a woman who is simply communicating plainly and directly. It is a vicious cycle!
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment and your kind words. You are not alone in your experience. Many of the clients that I work with feel this way and are coming to me because their confidence has been knocked by too many people criticizing how they are saying what they're saying instead of engaging with what they're actually saying. It is a documented trend that this happens more to women than men, particularly in the public sphere and in professional contexts. This is why I have a particular passion for helping women find voices that feel authentic to them, and not just talk the way they feel they have to talk to be taken seriously (which does ironically often lead to more vocal fry!).
I think I occasionally have vocal fry. I find it kind of annoying the hate that it gets because at the end of the day we all have unique voices and that should be okay. I would like to not as it sometimes feels like its hurting my throat when I have been doing it for a long time. I have ADHD and anxiety , I think I use vocal fry in situations where I am trying my hardest to "mask" or pay attention in formal discussion as it requires so much of my energy. I also notice some fry in my voice as I can speak in a lower tone. I think when I am truly enjoying the conversation , focused , not anxious and not feeling the need to mask my "true" voice comes out and it feels "healthier". I feel like my masking as well as being an introvert has kind of gotten in the way of finding my true voice as I feel I have had to wear "many hats" to keep a job and function in normal society to the point where I don't know how to "reset". I do appreciate this video as you didn't stigmatize the hell out of it. Most videos have such a misogonystic undertone , using the word 'valley girl" and expressing that vocal fry is an "epidemic". I almost feel that these people think that woman intentionally /have adapted to a "raspy/sexy baby voice" to seem sexy or cool. It's annoying. I am not American and I have vocal fry sometimes. Some people speak differently. That should be ok. Thanks for keeping this informative and neutral.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I am appreciating your level of differentiated awareness around your voice and how you’re using it. I am a big proponent of awareness because with awareness comes choice. If there are times when vocal fry and having a “mask” on the voice feels like the safer option, then that is available. And if there are times that it hurts or you’d rather not feel like wearing a mask, it’s helpful to know how to take the mask off, so to speak. Hopefully this video can help and of course with that resetting question, private coaching is always an option. And I appreciate you naming the importance of no judgement. I couldn’t agree more! Thanks again.
This was really instructive, thank you.
You’re very welcome!
I didn't notice that vocal fry was a thing until recently. Having viewed some videos on the topic, I'm reminded of this author whose subject matter is AI and its adverse impacts. Her name is Whitney Webb. As I have seen several of her videos, I wondered if anyone would bother to listen to her and say whether she speaks in vocal fry. There's something pronounced about how she expresses in this regard.
This instructor is so professional and amusing at the same time.
I'm a Filipino working for a call center that serves American customers, and I think for all those years I kind of developed a vocal fry, it's not my intention but I think it's a combination of years of bad sitting posture and not knowing how to resonate my voice properly.
May I have some tips on how to sustain and improve my voice in this daily job of speaking with people (8hrs a day/5x a week) ?
My voice is literally my bread and butter 😅
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! And I love the question and can definitely make a video in the future about how to keep your voice healthy when you're talking on the phone. You're right-- posture makes a huge difference. In the mean time, please check out my channel for other videos that will be helpful for you, like:
How to make your voice more resonant: czcams.com/video/173Jdo57_qo/video.html&ab_channel=VoicewhatMatters
How to stay in control of your voice when you're tired: czcams.com/video/pzaOu5Q4NlI/video.html
And so many more that you might useful! I have series on how different parts of the body affect vocal production, how to find the sweet spot of your voice, and how to find vocal consistency. Good luck!
These are very helpful techniques! I don’t have serious fry, but am doing a lot of recording and do sometimes have a creak at the end. Very nice video!
Thank you-- I'm so glad you found it helpful!
How's it going? Hope it's gone for good!
I am a 13 year old male with a range of B1-C4 chest voice (Tessitura is F2 - F3). I am trying to ensure that I do not fry when reaching C2 and B1. This video was very helpful.
I’m so glad! Thank you for sharing
Wow, you have a beautiful mind and heart! You are infinitely appreciated
Thank you for your kind words!
Excellent! Thank you!! I have subscribed!
Thank you!
thanks for the video ☺️
You're very welcome!
Thank you! This video was great! I have vocal fry and as a professional I think it diminishes my message. I’ll start using that visualization!
You're very welcome and I hope you find it helpful!
Tips start at 4:17 !
I have realized i try to lower my voice coz people don't listen to me because I have a high voice . Then I speak lower which gives me vocal fry , which people don't take seriously . I CANT WIN
This is a very common issue. You might find one of my more recent videos helpful- “How to Lower your Speaking Voice Pitch Effectively.” Here is the link: czcams.com/video/EPbc1vQDTPk/video.html
Hi Christine I really would like to Say Thank you for Making these videos to Help And I actually came across your channel and videos pretty accidentally in all honesty!And when I the Title What to do if your voice is too loud ?It might sound crazy but this issue is Always my entire life been a source of Struggle and Annoyance and It has brought me to the point of When someone brings it to my attention and we know there are different ways to do that Like could you lower you voice just a bit “All the way too OMG your so loud ,Stop yelling ,Why are you yelling ,Etc etc And It’s now to the point where it’s a button for me it just Zaps me I mean obviously It’s something I don’t know how to control it’s like it’s hooked to my personality I’m a passionate speaker in any facet and when I get excited or adamant or any variation of emotion my Volume Follows and it only goes up !lol And I’m watching your video you said if someone ask you to lower your voice then i basically start almost whispering Lol and that doesn’t last And after that I noticed this video and this I feel can also be hooked to my volume And the fact that I obviously have been pushing my vocal folds by talking to loud and now I do have this vocal fry !Im working on it and I am watching and listening more than once I just really wanted to say thank you And if you have other thoughts or resources I would greatly appreciate it
Hi Kathrina, thank you so much for your comment and I am so glad you are finding the videos helpful. It’s great to hear you feel you are developing more awareness. Awareness really is key because from awareness you have choice. In terms of resources, I have a ton of other free videos on CZcams and I also have a podcast where I have tons of free voice warm ups/exercises. You can find that on my website, voicewhatmatters.com. You can also find there digital courses, like “Demystifying Deep Breathing in 30 Minutes.” That course is super helpful for developing a habit of more relaxed breathing, which is a crucial condition for not overdoing it (or under doing it, which can lead to vocal fry) volume-wise when you talk. You can also read about my private coaching offering there. Thanks again!
Here I am trying to get it
@communicate17, you do you! Your voice is an expression of who you are, so no judgement here!
@@voicewhatmatters yeah
I keep hearing almost everyone speak with it and I had to practice a lot to be able to it at all
It can be annoying to hear from some people in conversation in my opinion but has it's place in certain parts of certain songs
Of course
Unfortunately, vocal fry is something all extremely deep voices suffer from... if we want it or not. It takes a lot to get our vocal folds moving, and often times, on articulation points, they like to open up just a hair and let everyone hear us creak. My average vocal frequency is 77Hz, but no matter how hard I try, if I say "Uh" or "Um", I shoot down to as low as musical note A0 (27.5Hz) in vocal fry... I am still in modal voice at 40Hz, though, I should add.
Now there's nasal fry to contend with. It's what it's name suggests. I coined it for popular political writer/video talker Whitney Webb. I appreciate your video for improving my understanding of the underpinnings of VF. I noticed the lack of upward oomph that results in the constricted, forced creakiness. That seems to be exacerbated in speakers with the habit of talking far too quickly. The super-fast thing is big in the segment of vlogosphere denizens that competes for the title of "smartest." Fast speech means running out of breath too often. They say cursive is a dying skill. Mellifluous speech is going away too. It can all be restored.
Thank you for such really professional explanation for vocal fry! I have a question, as a non-native English speaker, CZcams videos told you if you want to sound like an American, you need to place your voice in your chest and your voice placement should not be in mouth. First, vocal cords are not in the chest; second, when I try to put my voice down "in" my chest, I found I got vocal fry... (in your video, the reason seemed that I pushed my "pitch" or voice down). I think the voice in your chest is not really meaningful, from your professional view, what does "voice in chest" mean and how do you do that?
And I attached a video link below, at 1:39 when the third boy started to speak, I can tell immediately he has American accent and I think he is the only one in interview who acquires native speaker level accent. It's nothing about how he pronounces a specific word, but overall, he sounds like American, but I can't tell what tricks makes him different from other kids. If you know, please let me know. Thank you!
czcams.com/video/9L0GO0Fgu4g/video.html&ab_channel=TeacherMike%E9%BA%A6%E5%85%8B%E8%80%81%E5%B8%88
I'm not sure if you are interested in making videos about how to reduce foreign accent in speaking English, but that might be a thought.
These are all great questions! Terms like "chest voice" can be very confusing because, indeed, you don't have vocal cords in your chest! When people say "chest voice" they are referring to where you're placing the resonance of your voice, which, as I explain in this video, is different than trying to lower pitch by forcing your larynx down. If you have a sense of what "chest voice" feels like, it can be very helpful for helping you feel that resonance. If you're getting vocal fry when you try to find your chest voice, you're likely pushing your vocal pitch down to try and find that resonance-- and you won't find it that way! Check out my most recent video about how to make your voice more resonant for some suggestions.
Thank you also for your video suggestions. I will definitely have a think about that!
@@voicewhatmatters Thank you for your explanation! I'll definitely check out your videos, I prefer your scientific way of explaining voice.
Interestingly the same people who criticize vocal fry, criticize your uptalk tone as well.
Indeed! These are two vocal trends that get a lot of flack.
Ik this comment is abit late but
I'm a person who has a really deep voice ( 58 Hz / C - 1 Bass ) but the problem is that I believe the deepness of my voice is dueto medium vocal fry, I'm not saying it's smth good, it's really really annoying cause I speak with people online all the time and no one get to understand what I'm saying because of that issue, so I wanna know any exercises that can get rid of my vocal fry but at the same time keep how deep my voice is cause I really wanna become a VA one day and that's like my biggest dream since I was a kid
Bass voices suffer from vocal fry on the articulation points of our voices, unfortunately. My voice tends to average around 77Hz, but fries all the way down to an A0 (27.5Hz) on certain vowels and articulation points (I have a stupid deep voice). Don't count the absolute lowest frequency; you need an app to calculate your average vocal frequency. 58Hz would be an A1, which is unlikely to be your average vocal frequency. With a fry down to A1, this says your average is probably around 100Hz, or just into being classified as a bass.
@@johndeeregreen4592 that 58 was the average btw, but I managed to fix the vocal fry problem by some breathing trainings, and now the average is 70hz and 63hz normal
And the mode is 66hz
@@ahmedsoliman3517, not possible... no human on earth has a vocal "average" of 58Hz. Even oktavist Mikhail Zlatopolsky didn't average that deep, and he had one of the deepest voices mankind has ever heard. czcams.com/video/2LCDl5LxQVI/video.html
@@johndeeregreen4592 if you have discord I can send you the test, I don't mind
I have a theory vocal fry is associated with not stepping into our own power and authentic selves/being vulnerable these days there’s more of that. Older generations seem to have clearer voices naturally . Femininity isn’t as celebrated either . I don’t think we feel comfortable being in the feminine anymore . I think it’s an energetic subconscious thing
A super interesting theory! I love how deeply you're thinking about this.
In terms of what you're noticing about older generations, vocal fry is a pretty modern trend and as such is a vocal behavior that does tend to be found more in young people of all genders. We have vocal trends in the same way we have fashion trends.
And you might absolutely be on to something there about femininity. It is a well-documented phenomenon that women get criticized more for how they sound than men do, so no wonder if it can feel harder for women to own their full vocal power, whether that be choosing to embrace clear tone or making empowered choices around using vocal fry if it's a trend they prefer.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I've been self conscious about how high pitched my voice is so definitely have tried to press it down.
Crazy theory based in complete nonsense.
Yep yep yep, this is what I feel too. True for my experience at least.
@@sfglim5341u tryna tell me vocal fry isn’t an energetic subconscious thing attributable to society’s failure to celebrate femininity, and the solution for us to step into our own power? did u see the data (older generations, clear voices etc)? pretty robust imo. this is an existential threat calling us to urgent action.
i find myself speaking with vocal fry and i feel like i lose my voice often because of it. if i talk long enough, my throat gets sore and my voice starts to give out. im thinking it might be connected
Your instinct is spot on! It is highly possible that these two things are connected.
Popular? I've been told so many times by so many people that my voice gets on their nerves!
I am sorry to hear that! Hope the tips in this video can help
I always hear this in young American women. I can only put up with it if it only a little at the ends of some words, but all of the time it grates on me 😬
It’s true that vocal fry as a trend is generational, and is in fact common in both young men and women. I really feel for young women who get criticized for vocal fry. Society tells them they have to look thin so they suck in their bellies- and this is the exact action that robs them of their vocal power because it inhibits their breathing, one of the big causes of vocal fry. Women often also get criticized for having voices that are too high, so they try to lower them without coaching, and end up in vocal fry land, and then get criticized for that. It’s hard for a girl to win!
@@voicewhatmatters true, I’m now noticing this in men too. That’s the first time I have heard as to the reason that it may be due to sucking in their bellies, even after watching a ‘vocal pathologist’ who never mentioned this, never knew they existed either 😳
I don't mind "judging" at all. Vocal Fry Bad!
I have abused my voice over the years, having spent nearly 30 years as a teacher speaking (screeching?) to crowds of unruly teens in a high school art room. So, yeah, when I strain my voice I also get a bit of vocal fry at the end of the day. It's no big deal.
On the other hand, I do HATE the deliberate affectation of vocal fry and up-speak just as I hate that some kids still wear their pants cinched down under their butts. But hey, if they can tolerate me still teaching at 98 years of age, I guess I can endure their youthful idiosyncrasies.
It's true, we tend to notice when people are putting any kind of deliberate affectation on the voice and we tend not to like it because we can tell it doesn't feel authentic. Sometimes, especially when you are talking about teenagers or kids, they are trying things out with their voices to figure out who they are in the same way that they try different fashions and different hobbies. This exploration is very much affected by peer groups and trends-- vocal fry and upspeak are too such trends. However, one can have vocal fry for all sorts of reasons, including strain, as you mention.
I suffer from the creak of others' voices!
Why don't they call it 'vocal creak'. That's what it sounds like.
They do! That is another term for it.
This has surpassed being a trend. Local news reporters across the country speak as though they grew up in Southern California. Almost all commercials, radio & television, reflect this as well. The same is true for modern movies & shows. It sounds as though permanent damage is being done. If this continues, and the majority of the populace sounds this way when they speak, we will be living in an even more homogenized culture. Ultimately, it makes the speaker sound robotic and lifeless, unable to convey emotion.
Omg I hate that I talk like this 🥲
hopefully this video can help!
I'll judge, if the situation allows it. I think some people think vocal fry makes them sound more sophisticated, or maybe more authoritative, but it really just sounds annoying, at least to a good number of people. So I try to tactfully let people know what I think of it. It is annoying and grating, so it can be a charitable act to let people know. It's like letting your buddy know that he smells and should take a shower, especially if you're going somewhere to socialize. He might just thank you for letting him know.
I agree
I would agree in that it can be annoying. Especially for me as I believe I have misophonia. It can be triggered by the "beeeeeps" used on reality shows to censor profanity, or someone chewing gum (or crunching on something....even with their mouth closed), and finally....yes, people who use voice fry in their speech.
This is so sad to read when having natural vocal fry since forever. I recently knew this has a term 😞
@@mitsuki23otakuyeah, I naturally have vocal fry too; it’s not an affectation. If someone like the commenter above told me I need to stop it, I’d ask him to pay for all my vocal training and then pay me extra as compensation for time wasted on fixing a vocal quality that barely matters.
I hear vocal fry in both men and women but it seems more women use it. But I do agree with Christine, your voice, your choice. But it's my choice not to listen to you or hire you. Beware of trends like face tattoos and vocal fry. Thanks for this video.
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, there is a perception that women fry more than men, but in truth it’s more of a generational trend than a gender trend- it’s just that women are more picked on about it and their voices generally than men are, so you hear about women frying more. There is a great “This American Life” podcast episode documenting this phenomenon in 2014.
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Vocal fry is SOOOOOOO irritating. Trend? I wish oh I wish it would GO AWAY!! It sounds HIDEOUS!
It's so annoying! So is up-speak. Prevalent on tv and commercials now.
It’s a social fad and women are falling into it. When their voice starts creaking at the end of sentences, I can’t understand what they are saying. Also it sounds really bad when they do this . I don’t think it is proper speech and that it should be corrected
You are right it’s a social fad, and has more to do with age than gender. Both young men and young women participate in this fad, but trends show that women get more criticized for it. As I have mentioned in other comments on this thread, I really feel for young women when they get criticized for this. Firstly, society tells them they have to be thin so they suck in their stomachs, which limits their breath control (one cause of vocal fry) and society also often criticizes women for sounding too young so they try to lower their voices and, without coaching, this can also result in vocal fry. Women can’t win!
It's not a fad, watch any only movie and the male villain almost always has a vocal fry.
I love that you are pointing this out@@sky19804 !
sounds like a belch to me.
An interesting observation! There is a link for many people between acid reflux and vocal fry, so your associations are not unfounded.
Lack of control. People have not learned how to _speak_ . They start a sentence all loud and clear and nice and as they reach the end they start this vocal fry, mumble, lose their breath, lower the volume or all of these together.
This does not bode well with how _impatient_ people are as listeners.
People do not leave room for _any_ pause, they do not give the speake time to complete their response comfortably. Even now, you, as you read this text, you've _already_ formed an opinion on this comment, not only without thinking about its contents but _even before you've read it in its entirety_ .
This leads to people attempting to respond both quickly (ie with no delay) and at a quick pace (ie sayeverythingallatoncewithoutanyconcernforclarityoremphasis).
No thinking, no evaluation, just "it's my turn to yell/shout".
You raise many good points. It's true that most people don't have any training around their speaking voice, and if you can learn how to modulate your airflow, you go a long way towards reducing vocal fry. And indeed, environmental context matters. If you're in an environment where you feel uncomfortable because you don't feel like you're going to be heard, you are much more likely to speed up, which can indeed affect your breathing and therefore your vocal power. We can't always control environmental contexts, but we can learn how to ground ourselves within the environments we're in.
Just stop it. Simple.
Simple in theory if that's what you want to do, but not always easy in practice.
@@voicewhatmattersI came here because I wasn’t sure how to stop it! These tips were helpful
@@cgxoxo1 I’m so glad!