# Is there a name for the "Frogman" vocal technique?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 25, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995 "2010-09-25T13:32:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995/1 "2010-09-25T13:32:40Z")

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It’s what Clarence “Frogman” Henry does in the “I’m a lonely frog” verse of “Ain’t Got No Home.” One description I read called it a “croak,” but I’m wondering if that particular mode of vocal production, where the sound is produced as the breath is drawn in, has a name?

Bonus points for an explanation of how this differs physiologically from normal vocal production.

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**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995/2 "2010-09-26T04:14:01Z")

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example at 1:28

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/atCwKBeq76w/hqdefault.jpg "clarence ´´ frogman´´ henry aint got no home") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atCwKBeq76w)

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995/3 "2010-09-27T04:45:58Z")

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“Vocal fry”, perhaps?

> **[anti-falseto](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578869)**
>
> What is the term for singing in a false low register?

> **[Vocal fry register](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_fry)**
>
> The vocal fry register (also known as pulse register, laryngealization, pulse phonation, creaky voice, creak, croak, popcorning, glottal fry, glottal rattle, glottal scrape) is the lowest vocal register and is produced through a loose glottal closure that permits air to bubble through slowly with a popping or rattling sound of a very low frequency. During this phonation, the arytenoid cartilages in the larynx are drawn together, which causes the vocal folds to compress rather tightly and becom Vo...

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**Author:** ![Figaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995/4 "2010-09-27T20:13:35Z")

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AFAIK, phonating on inhalation is usually called ::drumroll:: “Inhalation Phonation” or “Phonation on Inhalation.” There might be a sexier term, but I haven’t encountered it in my travels as a singer & voice teacher.

**mbh** ’s suggestion of “Vocal Fry” is the closest thing I can think of to a common term that describes it.

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-frogman-vocal-technique/554995/5 "2010-09-30T18:20:42Z")

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The Wiki article about the vocal fry was very interesting. Thanks, all!