I had a really severe cold a few weeks ago - my sinuses were completely shot and everything was just miserable.

My band had a gig right in the middle of this cold so I foolishly soldiered on, took a bunch of cough lollies and anti-histamines and sang (I do BV on all songs and lead on about 4).

By the end of the night I couldn't sing ANYTHING. The following week my voice was so much deeper than usual that I sounded like a voice-over artist for scary movies (sounds funny but it wasn't).

It's been about 2 weeks now since the cold has gone. I rested for a week and a half and yesterday I tried singing - my voice just wasn't there. It was horrible and off pitch. On top of that, my nasal passages get blocked off (yet strangely I can breathe through my nose with ease when I'm not singing, it's not blocked) - it feels like there is no resonance coming from that area at all which leaves me with only the tones that come out of my mouth. The result is a much thinner, often flat (note-wise) voice.

Seriously guys, I'm almost in tears over this. I had a really strong, powerful voice and the reason I only did 4 songs is because I just joined this band about 6 weeks ago (I fronted my last band but I love playing my guitar too much). I've spent a lot of money on vocal lessons and do proper warm ups etc, but nothing seems to allow me to shake this horrible voice that I've got now.

It's almost as though I've completely forgotten how to sing. I tried again tonight and my partner came into the room when I was singing and asked me seriously if I could hear myself because I sounded so off pitch.

I was practicing one of the 4 songs that I've done dozens of times. I usually practice them repeatedly 2-3 times per week just to make sure that at the show, I can rock them effortlessly. Now even the songs I sounded best at sound like complete garbage.

Anybody else had this? Will it go away if I just rest it for another week or two? Have I permanently damaged my voice by being an idiot and singing when I was sick?

I have a gig on Saturday which is probably Friday your time. Please guys, any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

twistedthoughts

During a cold, we sometimes have a tendancy to place the voice in the throat rather than keep it up hight. Make sure that you focus your resonances around your forehead. Warm-up with lip bubbles, relax your throat with the yawn sensation, etc... Go through all the basis. Go easy on your voice for the next few weeks. It might take a long time to recover...

To sooth your throat and open up your nasal area, you can breath a mixture of mint and eucalyptus oil in hot water. Fill up the sink with hot water and put a towel over your head to do that... Their anti-inflammatory properties might help your vocal cords heal. However, I'd recommend NOT doing it right before singing cause it might numb your vocal cords and you don't want to over sing and create more damage....

Rst for thenext two days. Sleep with a humidifier. Eat TONS of cheweable vitamin C. I mean like 20-30 a day. When doing the backing vocals, lighten up on the voice, use a mixture of falsetto and full with no breathiness. Check out www.vamacoustics.com. This product will keep your voice in check. Get my program VOICE RX.

JV

I drank a pretty awful cocktail that helped me out when I lost my voice. It was warm water,lemon,honey, cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. Go light on the pepper(a pinch) and vinegar(1 tablespoon). Jaime talks about it in RYV 1. Give it a shot.

This has happened to me before. When I had a serious cold, like feverish for a week kinda virus... My vocals didn't feel right for about a month or so. Maybe more. But I also sang during the cold, so that seems like it's a pretty shit thing to do.

I'd say be patient, rest and relax, when you're ready, start off the first few days of practicing only falsetto maybe...I'm 100% positive you didn't damage your voice with one night of singing with a cold...thats a guarantee. I'm sure your folds are just healing and they're ultra groggy.

That concoction is meant to be used as a gargle;)

JV

It's already the second time since September that I can beat a cold in two days with no nasal congestion, runny nose and barely no sore throat. Definitely no voice damage. Sorry, I can't tell you now exactly what to do but it will be in my up coming book. It worked 7 times for me last year and probably as often for my husband. Resting your voice at this point probably is the best for you right now... Also watch your diet. Eat lots of vegetables to keep your body alkaline. Hang in there