How to Clear Your Voice for Singing

Co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA

The voice is the instrument of the singer. There is nothing more important when creating music than making sure that your instrument is in good order and ready to perform. If you’re a singer, clearing your voice is like tuning your instrument. It’s the most important thing you can do to help your voice sound amazing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Finding Alternatives to Clearing Your Throat

1
Do a dry swallow instead of clearing your throat. You may feel like you have a frog in your throat, but frogs aren’t what you want to hear when you sing! To perform a dry swallow, close your lips and swallow the saliva that is in your mouth. Dry swallowing moves the vocal cords around and can help dislodge the mucus that is likely causing the problem.^{[1]
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- This strategy is quick and can be done shortly before you sing.
- If dry swallowing doesn’t work for you, then you can try lightly panting, then closing your mouth and swallowing to get the same result.
2
Drink and sip water throughout the day and before you sing. Water will help to lubricate your throat. Drinking water also helps you from having to clear your throat in the first place.^{[2]
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- The more you clear your throat, the more you feel like you need to clear it again. That’s a cycle you don’t want to get stuck in!
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3
Talk through the urge to clear your throat. Sound is made when your vocal cords vibrate. If you keep talking when you want to clear your throat, the vibrations that the sound of your voice makes will shake the mucus off naturally. The feeling should go away within a few minutes.^{[3]
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- If the need to clear your throat continues for a long period of time or worsens, you should go to a doctor. If there is an underlying cause, the problem can become chronic and damage your voice permanently.^{[4]
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Amy Chapman, MA
Voice & Speech Coach
Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.

Amy Chapman, MA
Voice & Speech Coach

Did You Know? When your voice is clear, your vocal cords are touching, or adducting. When your voice is breathy, your vocal cords are a little bit more apart. To make your voice more clear, you want to almost restrict the amount of air you're blowing out, which can help brings your cord together. Your posture, the position of your mouth, and your vocal track can all affect the clarity of your voice, as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Sure You’re Hydrated

1
Drink only water for 2 hours prior to singing. To clear your voice, drinking water for the 2 hours before you sing can help hydrate and lubricate your vocal cords. The lubrication from the water will help prevent irritation so that your voice is performance ready.
2
Drink only room temperature water before you sing. If you drink water that is too cold, the parts of the throat, nose, and mouth involved in singing will tighten. If the water is too hot, it may cause extra mucus build up.
- The cavities in your sinuses affect the quality and sound of your voice. If they constrict or get clogged with mucus, your singing won’t sound as good.
3
Sip and don’t gulp the water you drink. To get the most benefit from drinking your refreshing, room temperature water, sipping is best. The act of swallowing tips your voice box back. The movement of your throat clears off mucus that may be on the voice box. This will help your voice sound clearer.
- You can feel the motion of your voice box by placing your fingers on the middle of your throat and then taking a sip of water.
- By sipping water, you’ll get the benefits of a clean voice box and hydration at the same time!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Away from Harmful Foods and Drinks

1
Avoid caffeine before you sing. Caffeine causes irritation to the throat and vocal cords. Your voice will sound much clearer if you don’t drink caffeine.^{[5]
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2
Limit your consumption of alcohol to avoid dryness. Like caffeine, alcohol irritates and dries out your larynx and vocal cords. You want to keep your voice clear and hydrated, so avoiding alcohol is best.
- Because alcohol is an irritant, drinking it may also cause excess mucus production, making clearing the voice more difficult.
- It is recommended that you drink one extra glass of water for every alcoholic or caffeinated beverage that you do consume.^{[6]
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3
Avoid eating a lot of spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause excess acid in the stomach, which can lead to acid reflux. When the acid goes back up into your esophagus, it can irritate the muscles you use to sing. Eating some spicy food is probably alright if you don’t have acid reflux already. Just make sure to avoid it for a few days before you need to sing.^{[7]
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Community Q&A
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Question

What do singers drink before they sing?

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Good old water is your best option for hydrating and soothing your throat. For extra soothing power, drink it room-temperature or slightly warm. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, add a hint of lemon juice or drink a warm, gentle herbal tea.
Question

Why does my voice crack when I sing?

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If the muscles in your throat aren’t warmed up before you sing, it can cause your voice to crack, especially if you’re pushing your vocal limits. You can prevent this by doing vocal warmups and spending a lot of time practicing particular notes or pitch changes.
Question

What food can make your voice beautiful?

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There’s no one food that can dramatically change or improve your singing voice. However, you can get yourself into the best condition before singing by staying hydrated and eating a balanced, energizing meal. Drink plenty of water before singing, and eat healthy foods like lean proteins (such as tofu or chicken breast), fresh fruits and vegetables, and complex carbs like whole grain bread or brown rice. Avoid junk food, which could make you feel unwell, or spicy foods that might irritate your throat.