1 Topic by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2013-07-06 11:54:42)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Topic: Aging Vocal Chords

Another post sparked this one, about how most musicians "change" with age. It's hard to watch a favorite artist succumb to time, but it's happening to all of us.

In particular, most male vocalists seem to lose a lot of their higher range with age. Watching tubes of singers like Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Tom Cochrane (Red Rider), Bruce Cockburn, Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) and many more ... the top register is either strained or just plain gone. The only real exception I've seen is Jon Anderson (Yes) who has a naturally high voice anyway ... like an elf. His vocals in the past 10 years are better than before, with the range still intact and some older-guy raspiness now there. Here's an example of a beautiful ballad of their's, with a nod to some nice slide guitar work by Howe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGq9Mbjl … re=related

Who are some other favorite musicians / vocalists who you feel have improved with age? What do you like better about them now than what they did in the past?

  • dino48
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: los banos,california
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 6,801

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

Eric Clapton has got better over the years.

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman
  • Registered: 2011-07-20
  • Posts: 2

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes come to mind.......they've both aged like fine wines.........

  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

That's because most of them have crap vocal technique and blow their vocal folds out.  equivalent to carpal tunnel. 

Proper technique is really important.

Ps geddy still rockin.

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

I saw John Fogerty on Letterman with Daws and his voice is as good or better then ever another is Neal Young he sounds the same smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,707

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

mccartney can still cook a good one, though he does seem to be rasping a bit after a tour.

back in the day i used to like Focus, saw them a couple of years back and all that falsetto had gone, in fact he was having trouble hitting low notes. that's overkill i suppose?

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: Osceola, Indiana
  • Registered: 2013-05-03
  • Posts: 51

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

As artists age voices may dwindle. As I age my hearing is going so all my old favorites still sound good.

jackde's Website

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

It would seem that vocalists who stay within their natural range don't seem as affected by age, such as Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies) and others already mentioned. BGD mentioned the importance of technique, witnessed to by some of the great operatic tenors who have kept their range throughout their entire lives (Ben Hepner, Luciano Pavarotti, etc.) Opera ranks very low on my "fave scale", but a person can't help but admire the skill.

  • Grah1
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: Cold and rainy Settle UK
  • Registered: 2011-05-12
  • Posts: 1,626

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

my aging  vocal  chords  took a  hell  of  a  battering last  night .We did  a  1hr unplugged  on Planet  radio  Crete  then a  3hr  electric  set  in the  island  bar   Irapetra  and  tonight    we  have  another    unplugged  in Sitia . I  must  be    a  masochist .On a more  serious  note .Vocal  zone  pastilles are  a  god  send   they  really  help     when you  struggle  to  hit  pitch .I  believe  Tom Jones  is  a great advocate  of  these    as  well .

Grah1's Website

  • Grah1
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: Cold and rainy Settle UK
  • Registered: 2011-05-12
  • Posts: 1,626

Re: Aging Vocal Chords

Further to the  previous  post  as  our   mini  tour  rolls  on  we  have played  another  3  gigs  in  the  past  5  days ,one  of  which    went  on  till   4  in the  morning  .we had  to  play  the  whole  set  twice .Which  really  strained  my  voice   ,so  I went  to  the  local  E N T  specialist  yesterday   who  shoved  a  camera  down my  throat  .results  were    good  and  there  is  no  actual  damage only  a  little  irritation.which  is  treatable  with  rest  and  cortizone  .What  Im  getting  at  is  the  cause  of  degeneration in a  singers  voice  can be  down to  enviroment  ie  most  of  us  sing  in  smoky  bars (or  have done  prior  to  legislation ),Those of  us  who  play  a lot  of  out  door  gigs (like  us)  are  subject  to  wind  blowing  sand  ,pollen etc at  us  which  we  breath in .All  these  factors are  relevant  not  only  the  age  thing ,Also  taking  care  to  warm  up  your  voice   correctly and  not  just  go  on stage  and  scream your  head  off must  help  if  your  a  serious  performer ,I  get  so much  greif  off  two  of    our  girl  singers  here in Sitia  about  warming  up    (or  not usualy  in  my case )  after  this  I'm gonna  take  notice  and do  the  exercises   .
Next  gig  thursday  and  its  a biggy

Grah1's Website