Vocal fry can sneak into our speech, making us tired or uninterested. Many face this common issue, especially in professional settings where clear communication is key.

But don’t worry – there are ways to overcome this vocal habit and improve your speaking voice.

In this article, we’ll explore nine effective tricks to help you eliminate vocal fry and speak more clearly and confidently.

From breathing techniques to vocal exercises, we’ll cover practical strategies you can use immediately.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a toolbox of methods for enhancing your vocal quality and making a stronger impression when you speak.

What is Vocal Fry?

Vocal fry is a low, creaky sound produced when the vocal cords vibrate irregularly at a low frequency.

This happens when the vocal folds shorten and close completely before opening back up, creating a raspy and guttural sound that resembles a “frying” noise. It’s common in speech and singing, especially in lower vocal registers.

You might also hear vocal fry called glottal fry, laryngealization, glottal scrape, pulse, or vibrational mode 0.

It’s used in casual conversation and sometimes by singers for stylistic effect.

Common Misconceptions Related to Vocal Fry

Contrary to popular belief, vocal fry is not inherently harmful or a medical disorder.

Many people mistakenly think it indicates a voice disorder, but it’s a normal vocal register and not a sign of vocal damage. Another myth is that vocal fry harms your vocal cords.

While it can be unpleasant to some listeners, using it occasionally doesn’t cause damage.

Despite being socially stigmatized, particularly for women, vocal fry is a natural way of speaking. Research shows that both men and women use vocal fry, though societal attitudes can differ.

How to Get Rid of Vocal Fry- 9 Handy Tricks

1. Raise Your Pitch

Vocal fry typically occurs in the lower registers of your voice. By consciously raising your pitch slightly, you can reduce its occurrence.

Here’s how to practice:

• Start by reading a passage from a book or article.
• Record yourself reading it in your normal voice.
• Try reading the same passage again, but imagine speaking to a child or pet. This naturally raises your pitch without straining.
• Record this version and compare the two. Notice the difference in the presence of vocal fry.
• Practice this exercise for 5-10 minutes daily to train your voice to speak at a slightly higher pitch naturally.

2. Use Deep Breathing

Proper breath support is crucial for eliminating vocal fry. Diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, can significantly improve your vocal quality.

Try this exercise:

• Lie on your back with one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
• Inhale deeply through your nose, focusing on expanding your abdomen rather than your chest.
• Exhale slowly through your mouth, making a steady “ah” sound.
• Repeat this ten times, ensuring your abdomen rises and falls with each breath.

As you become comfortable with this, practice the same breathing technique while standing and speaking.

3. Speak in Shorter Sentences

Long sentences can weaken breath support, leading to vocal fry at the end of phrases.

To combat this:

• When preparing for a presentation or important conversation, write your key points.
• Break down long sentences into shorter, more manageable chunks.
• Practice inserting brief pauses between these shorter sentences.
• Use these pauses as opportunities to take quick, deep breaths.

This approach reduces vocal fry and makes your speech more engaging and easier for listeners to follow.

4. Vocal Warm-Ups

Like athletes warm up before a game, your voice needs preparation before extended use.

Try these exercises:

• Lip trills: Make a “brrr” sound, like you’re imitating a motor. Start low and gradually increase in pitch.
• Sirening: Make an “ng” sound, slide from your lowest comfortable note to your highest, then back down. Repeat 5 times.
• Humming scales: Hum up and down a musical scale, focusing on making a clear, resonant sound.

Spend 5-10 minutes on these warm-ups before any situation where you’ll be speaking a lot.

5. Proper Hydration

Dehydration can exacerbate vocal fry by reducing the lubrication of your vocal folds.

To maintain good hydration:

• Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
• Keep a water bottle with you and sip regularly throughout the day.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol intake, as these can be dehydrating.
• Consider using a humidifier in your bedroom or office to moisten the air.

Remember, it takes time for hydration to affect your vocal folds, so consistent hydration is key.

6. Maintain Good Posture

Your posture directly affects your breathing and vocal production. Poor posture can restrict your breath and increase tension, leading to vocal fry.

Try these techniques:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.
• Imagine a string pulling you up from the crown of your head, lengthening your spine.
• Relax your shoulders down and back.
• Tuck your chin slightly to align your neck with your spine.

Practice holding this posture while speaking. You can also incorporate yoga or Pilates into your routine to improve overall posture and body awareness.

7. Vocal Cord Strengthening Exercises

Stronger vocal cords are more resistant to vocal fry, allowing for clearer and more controlled speech.

To strengthen your vocal cords, try this pitch control exercise:

• Use a piano or keyboard app on your phone.
• Play a note in your comfortable speaking range.
• Mix the pitch with your voice, holding it for 5-10 seconds.
• Slowly move up the scale, matching each note.
• When you reach your highest comfortable note, work your way back down.
• Repeat this exercise daily for 5-10 minutes.

This exercise improves pitch accuracy and vocal cord strength, reducing the likelihood of vocal fry. You can use online tone generators or smartphone pitch pipe apps if you don’t have access to a piano or keyboard.

8. Resonance Training

Improving vocal resonance helps achieve a clear and vibrant voice, reducing vocal fry.

Try these exercises:

Humming

• Start with a comfortable “mmm” sound.
• Focus on feeling the vibrations in your facial bones and sinuses.
• Experiment with different pitches, noting where you feel the strongest vibrations.

Straw Phonation

• Take a regular drinking straw.
• Inhale deeply, exhale through the straw while making an “oo” sound.
• Try to sustain the sound for as long as you can.
• Vary the pitch up and down while maintaining the sound through the straw.

These exercises help balance your vocal resonance and airflow, making a more vibrant voice less prone to vocal fry.

9. Mindful Speaking Practices

Being aware of your speaking habits is crucial in reducing vocal fry.

Here’s how to practice mindful speaking:

Record and Analyze

• Record yourself during a normal conversation or while reading aloud.
• Listen carefully to identify instances of vocal fry.
• Note when it occurs most often (e.g., at the end of sentences, when tired).

Slow and Intentional Speech

• Practice speaking more slowly, giving yourself time to breathe properly.
• Focus on each word, ensuring clear pronunciation.
• Imagine projecting your voice to the back of a room, which naturally engages more vocal support.

Regular Check-ins

• Set reminders throughout the day to check your speaking pattern.
• Take a deep breath and reset your voice if you notice vocal fry creeping in.

Feedback Loop

• Ask trusted friends or family members to point out when they hear vocal fry in your speech.
• Use this feedback to become more aware of your speaking patterns in real time.

Vocal Fry Singing Examples

Is Avoiding Vocal Fry Important?

In certain professional and social contexts, avoiding vocal fry can be quite important:

1. Professional Settings

• In job interviews or presentations, vocal fry might be perceived as a sign of lack of confidence or authority.
• Some studies suggest that people with vocal fry are seen as less competent or less hireable, especially in leadership roles.
• Clear, confident speech without vocal fry can help you make a stronger first impression in professional settings.

2. Public Speaking

• When addressing large groups, vocal fry can make it harder for your audience to understand you, especially those at the back of the room.
• It may also make you sound less energetic or engaged with your topic.

3. Customer Service

• In roles that involve a lot of speaking, like customer service or sales, vocal fry might be interpreted as boredom or disinterest.
• Clear speech without vocal fry can help you sound more approachable and engaged.

4. Media and Broadcasting

For those in radio, podcasting, or video content creation, vocal fry can distract listeners and may impact the quality of your content.

There are also personal reasons why someone might want to eliminate vocal fry:

5. Self-Perception

• You might feel that vocal fry doesn’t accurately represent your personality or energy level.
• Eliminating it could boost your confidence in your speaking voice.

6. Vocal Health

• While occasional vocal fry isn’t harmful, constant use might lead to vocal fatigue.
• Reducing vocal fry can be part of overall vocal care.

7. Clear Communication

• You might find that eliminating vocal fry helps you express yourself more clearly and effectively.
• This can lead to a better understanding of personal relationships and interactions.

The Final Word

We’ve explored 9 effective ways to reduce vocal fry and improve your speaking voice. These techniques, from breathing exercises to mindful speaking practices, can help you communicate more clearly and confidently.

Remember, eliminating vocal fry isn’t about changing who you are but enhancing your ability to express yourself effectively in various settings.

Whether preparing for a job interview, giving a presentation, or simply wanting to improve your day-to-day interactions, these tricks can make a significant difference.

Start by incorporating one or two techniques into your daily routine and gradually build from there. With consistent practice and patience, you’ll likely notice positive changes in your vocal quality.

Why not try recording yourself now and again in a few weeks to track your progress?