belfast_harper
226 posts
Mar 05, 2011
12:24 PM
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I think playing too much harmonica the other week has given me laryngitis,is this common?
My voice has been coming and going for over a week, the fact that my job involves a lot of talking and I can't go through a full day with out lifting the harmonica seems to be prolonging things.
Last Edited by on Mar 05, 2011 12:36 PM
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boris_plotnikov
459 posts
Mar 05, 2011
12:32 PM
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When I started play harmonica I stop getting flu for 2-3 years.
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Gig74
54 posts
Mar 05, 2011
12:41 PM
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Hey Belfast Harper, I know the feeling I too use my voice a lot at work and quite often get a rough throat. Playing the harmonica I find does tire my throat out a bit, I usually practice with a glass of water close at hand and take little breaks.
I just put it down to probably trying to hard I've been learning almost a year so I'm probably getting carried away and not controlling my air well enough, I'll have to work on the whole diaphram breathing thing.
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Living the dream and learning the blues one little trouble at a time.
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nacoran
3861 posts
Mar 05, 2011
2:41 PM
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I've had a couple colds that seemed to linger when I played the harp during the duration, but I think it was because I'd play too hard and trigger a coughing spell and the coughing spell was what really did the damage. Your throat and mouth can get out of shape just like any other muscle group and if you start using them differently I'm sure it's possible to aggravate them, but in general, harp seems to help most breathing issues. I've used it to treat my asthma and a throat problem I had to pretty good effect, but it's possible to overdo anything.
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harmonicanick
1113 posts
Mar 05, 2011
2:49 PM
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Hey mate, when I gig I play non-stop for two hours, and I do that every week, and that tires every muscle in the throat and mouth.
You will get used to it, but it means half an hour at least hard practice every day!! If you follow that regime the muscle fatigue will be neglible.
Remember - Don't breath too hard and feel the rythym..
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Miles Dewar
751 posts
Mar 05, 2011
3:08 PM
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....and don't worry about playing harmonica while you have a cold or flu. You cannot contract the cold or flu that you have already had (You can spread it though). But mucus is also nasty. So...
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lumpy wafflesquirt
326 posts
Mar 06, 2011
3:40 AM
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I knew someone who had a lot of voice problems that I think were eventually put down to playing tenor horn.
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Diggsblues
735 posts
Mar 06, 2011
5:23 AM
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I've never had that problem. I work as a telephone
operator. Usually it's cold or allergies that
effect me more or the work load. Try some zinc lozenges. You do need to keep your throat
hydrated. Try playing soft for a week.
Your playing may be just irritating an already
existing condition.
Dr. Diggs
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marcos
14 posts
Mar 06, 2011
11:17 AM
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If you use a lot of throat tremolo/vibrato - and especially if you're playing too hard - you can get hoarse.
It isn't true laryngitis, but rather fatigue of the actual muscles that control the tension on the vocal cords.
Try playing a tune with a lot of hard throat vibrato, then immediately try talking...you can see the immediate effect. If you play like that all day you can be hoarse for hours or even days.
Last Edited by on Mar 06, 2011 11:25 AM
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belfast_harper
227 posts
Mar 06, 2011
12:20 PM
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I have been playing for a couple of years and used to play lot when I started and have never had problems with my throat before.
I rarely blow out harps so I don't think I am a particularly hard player.
I just had a recent wave renewed enthusiasm for the harmonica and I was playing 2 to 3 hours a day,
There are a few things that I might have contributed to the throat problems.
I was using a lot of throat vibrato for one song that I was working on.
I usually have a default closed grip with a tight cup, but I had switched to practicing with an open grip the week the problems started.
We had people staying in the house so I had to practice in the shed with out any heat.
I stopped smoking a few months ago and I have developed a nasty cough.
Anyway, I think it will be another couple of days before I will be able to play again.
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HarpNinja
1168 posts
Mar 06, 2011
8:18 PM
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I would imagine playing harp can really dry out your throat. I've had a long history of throat/stomach related issues and have played harp when being unable to otherwise make any vocal noise. It was not problem, but my throat was for sure dry...staying hydrate will help. If the issue comes from being too tense when playing, that's bad.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 2/24/11
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mr_so&so
414 posts
Mar 07, 2011
2:15 PM
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I remember "hurting" myself when I was learning to bend the 2d down a full step. I got it eventually, but paid for it for about a week with harpngitis. Almost did the same when learning to overblow, but had more sense by then.
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bluemoose
480 posts
Mar 07, 2011
2:53 PM
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Apply Guinness. Repeat as required.
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Miles Dewar
758 posts
Mar 07, 2011
7:07 PM
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What is the "Cuddle Bone" looking thing in Guiness Bottles? Strange, but tasty.
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Greyowlphotoart
534 posts
Mar 08, 2011
8:14 AM
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I have been praticing an awful lot this week on my new MB in C and it is a bit harder to play than my other harps. It takes a bit more puff and the bends take a bit more work. As a result my throat's got a bit sore. I mean it could be unrelated as it could be the start of a cold.
Anyway you've put my hypochondriac nature on red alert darn it, now I've got something else to worry about!
Maybe this condition is the reason why I cant TB and execute very fast phrases :-)
Grey Owl YouTube
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toxic_tone
16 posts
Mar 08, 2011
7:55 PM
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i used to play 10-12 hours a day i developed a virus in my mouth it was a bunch of canker sores all in my mouth i started bleeding from my mouth a lady ended up telling that i should quit because i had blood all on my hands runing down my forarm. at that point i went to the docters. i was busking. i now play about 5-8hrs a day i dont play on sunday. the reason why is its my day to build up my want to play again. i lose intrest from practicing so much. clean ur harps because a virus can come back. i have never had problems with my throat tho and i virbrato alot.
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Matzen
66 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:27 PM
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I was getting a sore throat when I'd practice a lot. I got myself a humidifier and now things are better. Lately, I've been working on bending while tongue blocking, and sometimes while doing this for a little while I'll get a pain in my throat?
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Miles Dewar
775 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:49 PM
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Marcos,
Now I see what you are saying. Because the Inflamation is caused by the immune system as a reaction to the trauma.... And has not neccasarrily even become inflamed. It could be just minor strain on the muscles.
..... But... Did he have inflamation?
Belfast, do us a favor and start Yelling as loud as you can.... Now keep yelling until we write back.
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LittleJoeSamson
515 posts
Mar 13, 2011
9:56 PM
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I played with a Punk/Ska and I did alot of heavy chording. that was fine until they started up with the phony smoke machines. It puts a fine powder in the air.
I couldn't talk for a month.
I was going to quit, but the bass player beat me to it by OD'ing.
End of band.
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DirtyDeck
258 posts
Nov 19, 2016
1:51 PM
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I've started countless threads on this topic! It's a bastard. I rarely play at all now. I find tb beding definitely fucks me up, and I'm a singer mainly so i gave it up. Now I've began pickin' it back up again, lping and some tbing, gonna practice very soft half hour a day till i build mysel up a little. I'm forever losing my voice singing through shitty PAs over loudass bluesbands. No more! The ability to sing is too precious to me!
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Reever Sorio
13 posts
Nov 19, 2016
5:16 PM
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@DirtyDeck
A "loudass bluesband" is a rock band under an alias.
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jbone
2216 posts
Nov 20, 2016
6:27 AM
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I have not had harp related dryness or other symptoms in many years. Early on I played outdoors and around campfires and the cold and smoke did hurt my throat.
I used to put a lot of air over the reeds and hence through my throat, and this no doubt did dry it out badly. A dry mucus membrane is vulnerable to infection and irritation.
I smoked for 35 years and let it go 5 years ago. This helped improve my vocals immensely. I also stopped playing with loudass bands and my frequency of voice loss and harp reed blowout has gone way way down. Some 3 years ago I was in a band that refused to turn my vocal mic up to a normal range and as a result I developed a polyp on a vocal cord. A specialist told me the only cure was to eliminate irritation, which meant no singing for 3 months, also taking a decongestant and a acid reducer. It was a hard 3 months although I still played harp.
These days my duo partner and I choose our gigs more carefully and while my throat does occasionally get tired and a bit sore, it is usually better in a day. We also use a small p.a. to get the vocals out along with our 12 watt amps for instruments.
Bottom line Belfast, to me it looks like a break from playing is in order. Vitamins and tea are good ideas as well. A week off may also give you new insights into the art as well.
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CarlA
877 posts
Nov 20, 2016
9:17 AM
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@toxic tone.
Cleaning your harps is important. But viruses are very short lived outside the body. In addition, whatever virus strain you may have previously cant reinfect you. Thank God for antibodies ;)
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