# Does singing hurt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 14, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311 "2001-10-14T00:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/1 "2001-10-14T00:29:04Z")
I know that too much yelling can hurt, and singing is just controlled yelling. Right? I mean, you do have to use muscles to control your voice. I’ve heard of professionals ruining their voices, and I wonder if singing is painful while you’re doing it (singing, not _it_). Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/2 "2001-10-14T00:46:21Z")
Done properly,it does not hurt at all.Actually it is better for your larynx than speaking,or so my voice teachers always told me. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/3 "2001-10-14T00:51:32Z")
Well, I’m certainly not a professional, but I’ve certainly sung enough, loudly, that my throat has hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/4 "2001-10-14T00:57:34Z")
When _I_ sing, other people hurt. And run away. Quickly. \ I wish I could sing well. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/5 "2001-10-14T03:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*When _I_ sing, other people hurt. And run away. Quickly. \ > > I wish I could sing well. > > Fenris \*\* I share your pain, **Fenris**. 🙂 But I say “What the hell”, and sing anyway. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/6 "2001-10-14T04:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*When _I_ sing, other people hurt. And run away. Quickly. \ > > I wish I could sing well. > > Fenris \*\* I share your pain, **Fenris**. 🙂 But I say “What the hell”, and sing anyway. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/7 "2001-10-14T15:18:04Z")
Singing loudly _should_ never hurt, but that’s only if you’re singing properly, i.e. from the diaphragm and not using your throat (larynx) to project. I have had some training and I still do it wrong a lot of the time. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/8 "2001-10-16T12:03:17Z")
When I sing, people hurt me. ---
**Author:** ![aschrott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@aschrott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aschrott)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/9 "2001-10-16T13:40:07Z")
Healthy – meaning _energetic_, but not _effortful_ – singing should never hurt. Period. If it does, you are either sick and should shut up until you feel better, or you are wrenching muscles around that you shouldn’t be (usually by trying to sing higher or louder than you have the talent or skill to pull off). Singing is a physical activity. When done at high levels (opera, for instance) it is downright athletic. So, just like any other physical act, doing enough of it will leave you tired. That’s normal. After singing an operatic performance, or even a big concert, it is normal for me, and for most singers, to take a day off afterwards to let the muscles of the voice rest and recuperate. But that’s done to _avoid_ overstressing the muscles – actual hoarseness or a feeling of strain is _not_ normal, and usually indicates that you’ve already gone too far. And any sensation of pain or discomfort _during_ the act of singing is a sign that something isn’t right, in the same way that a muscle twinge during a foot race would signal a potential pull or strain. **disclaimer** Voices are highly personal, and any advice about using yours should come from someone qualified who knows you and your singing habits. I stand by my post; just know that a forum like this is only useful for generalities, not personal advice. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/10 "2001-10-16T14:24:13Z")
I once strained my voice singing. I have since been very, very careful never to do it again. At the time, I made my living with by singing, so it was a Big Bad thing to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-singing-hurt/87311/11 "2001-10-16T14:38:57Z")
It shouldn’t hurt, but it can be **exhausting**. [/Mariah Carey impression]