Why Does My Speaking Voice Sound Hoarse After Singing?

So you just CRUSHED your solo in choir practice.

And by “crushed,” I mean:

You nailed that one impossible section, made someone’s grandma cry, and for a moment... you genuinely considered quitting your day job.

The only hiccup? 

Now every time you open your mouth to say “thank you,” it comes out sounding like a haunted harmonica.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why is my voice hoarse after singing, and why can’t I hit low notes when it is?”

This one’s for you… 

First, What’s Actually Happening?

When you sing, your vocal folds come together and vibrate as air passes through.

This is how your sound is created. 

But when your voice gets hoarse, it can mean your vocal folds are swollen or irritated. 

That swelling makes it harder for them to close completely and efficiently. 

So your voice gets breathy, inconsistent, or just plain tired.

When your folds are even slightly puffy or irritated, thosehigh notes tend to disappear first. 

Why? 

Because higher pitches require more stretch and faster movement, which is really hard for stiff, puffy vocal folds to accomplish! 

It does not work, and it does not feel good.

What If It’s More Than Just Hoarseness?

Nodules. 

The word alone is enough to send a singer into a spiral. 

While I cannot diagnose anything without hearing your voice or working alongside your doctor, here’s the thing: many nodules can be significantly improved and even fully healed with the right vocal rehabilitation.

Straw phonation and other SOVT (semi occluded vocal tract) exercises can play a huge role here, helping reduce vocal fold strain and retrain coordination gently. 

That said, it is important to work with a trained medical professional, ideally a laryngologist and speech language pathologist who understand singers, along with a trusted vocal coach.

Do not give up. 

Progress is possible, and your voice is absolutely worth the work.

Enter: the Singing / Straw™

Now this is where things get interesting. Straw phonation is a type of vocal exercise where you literally sing through a narrow straw. 

And no, not just any straw. I’m talking about a straw that fits YOUR VOICE and creates the kind of back pressure in your vocal tract: what voice nerds call “semi occluded vocal tract exercises” or SOVTs.

That back pressure does three magical things:

1. It reduces the collision force between your vocal folds, meaning less impact and less swelling.

2. It helps your vocal folds line up and vibrate more efficiently.

3. It gives your voice a reset like a vocal deep breath.

In plain speak: it helps you sound better, feel better, and recover faster.

So, Can It Help With Hoarseness After Singing?

Yes. 

Not only can it help prevent the kind of overuse that leads to hoarseness, but using a Singing Straw after intense voice use can actually help reset your instrument.

Whether you're belting on stage or corralling small children all day, just a few gentle slides through the straw can reduce tension, encourage healthy fold closure, and bring back those elusive low notes.

Even better? 

You do not need an hour. 

A few minutes a day can make a measurable difference in how your voice feels and functions.

Ready To Sound (And Feel) Just As Good AFTER You Sing?

Then it is officially straw time.

Use code NEWYEAR25 at checkout to get 25% off any Singing / Straw set. 

Whether you're brand new to straw singing or just finally ready to see what the hype is about.

Because your voice should not tap out before you do.