Yes, you can sing after crying, but it's crucial to consider the condition of your vocal cords. Crying can cause swelling and strain, making singing difficult or even harmful.
Understanding the Impact of Crying on Your Voice
Crying involves intense emotional exertion, which can lead to several vocal issues:
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Swollen vocal cords: Tears and the physical act of crying can temporarily inflame your vocal cords, resulting in swelling. Judy Rodman and other sources emphasize the importance of vocal rest after crying to allow for healing. Singing with swollen vocal cords can worsen the inflammation and lead to further damage.
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Strained muscles: The emotional and physical tension associated with crying can affect the muscles used in singing. This tension can make it harder to control your breath and produce clear tones. A Reddit post on r/singing https://www.reddit.com/r/singing/comments/18e09wp/singing_after_crying/ discusses the tension created during crying.
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Altered breathing: Crying can disrupt your breathing pattern, making it challenging to manage the airflow required for singing. Quora explains how heavier breathing during crying hinders singing.
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Depressed soft palate: Another Reddit discussion https://www.reddit.com/r/singing/comments/3kwku6/technique_question_does_anybody_have_ways_to/ notes that crying can depress the soft palate, affecting vocal resonance.
When it's Safe to Sing
You should wait until your vocal cords have recovered from the swelling before attempting strenuous singing. This recovery time varies, but generally, it's advisable to allow for some rest and observe your voice. If your voice sounds hoarse or strained, postpone singing.
Singing During Crying
While singing after crying requires caution, singing while crying presents different considerations. Some sources, like SingBetter.net, suggest that crying can enhance emotional expression in singing. However, this should be approached with care, as the strain on the vocal cords remains a factor.
Conclusion
Rest your voice after crying to avoid vocal strain and potential damage. Then, assess your vocal condition before singing.
