Vocal Fry: What is It, and Is it Ruining Your Voice?

Have you ever heard of someone who has vocal fry?

It’s when the edge of their voice cracks, creaks, and fries-not exactly music to your ears, right? It is quite unpleasant (many would say downright annoying) to listen to.

I want to explain what vocal fry is and how to stop it from happening to you!

Watch our video below to learn how to get rid of it:

How you say something can be just as important as what you say. Vocal fry, or a glottal fry as it’s sometimes called, has become a cultural epidemic that undermines our vocal power.

What is Vocal Fry?

It’s a vocal effect characterized by a low, staccato vibration during speech or singing.

Vocal fry happens when someone’s voice sounds raspy or creaky. It’s called “fry” because it sounds like bacon sizzling in a frying pan. Vocal fry occurs when not enough breath is being pushed through the vocal cords. Your vocal cords aren’t working smoothly, making them rub together roughly instead of producing clear sounds.

When we breathe, our vocal cords separate. Then, when we speak, those cords rub together, and the vibration creates sound. Your vocal cords cannot rub together if you speak without enough breath, creating a creaky, hollow sound. In vocal fry, it is as if you are hearing someone’s vocal cords rattling next to each other.

Here’s the problem: Vocal fry is annoying for others to listen to and undermines you and your message. A recent study^{1 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0097506&type=printable} from Duke University discovered that using vocal fry makes you seem less competent, educated, trustworthy, attractive, and employable compared to a normal speaking voice. This creaky voice can also hurt your message by reducing clarity and causing misunderstandings, especially when dropping a pitch at the end of a sentence or phrase.

Over the past five years, the throaty, growly voice has been scrutinized increasingly.

“Young women, give up the vocal fry and reclaim your strong female voice” – Naomi Wolf, CEO of DailyClout.

And heads-up: vocal fry isn’t considered a good trait for the workplace, either. This study^{2 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0097506} sums it up: “American women should avoid vocal fry to maximize labor market perceptions.”

It is incredibly hard for people to take you seriously, listen to you, and believe you when you speak with vocal fry. Why? Read on…

P.S. Are you not where you want to be in your professional life? Your voice may not be the biggest issue! Try this goodie:

Vocal Fry Sounds Just Like Anxiety

When we are nervous or anxious, we tend to take shallow breaths, tense our shoulders and jaws, and lose volume, which causes vocal fry. We do not like listening to people with low confidence because we don’t want to catch it.

Whether you are anxious or not, you must stop vocal frying in its tracks because it makes you seem anxious. The question is, how do you get rid of vocal fry? Here are a few of my favorite strategies.

6 Exercises to Get Rid of Vocal Fry

If you hear yourself speaking with vocal fry, the first thing you can do is immediately add more breath. Start by exhaling fully, like blowing out birthday candles.

We are especially prone to running out of breath at the end of sentences. Try this with me now:

• Blow out all the air in your lungs.
• Now say, “Hello, how are you?”
• Now, take a deep breath and say, “Hello, how are you?” The breath immediately pumps up your volume and power.

The second thing you can do is support the end of your sentences. I hear vocal fry the most at the end of people’s sentences—-vocal fry is not usually something you hear during an entire sentence. Nope, we tend to hear it at the end of a long sentence when someone has run out of breath.

If you are speaking in a meeting or preparing for a speech, speak in shorter, more poignant sentences or pause for a deep breath to make sure you don’t lose breath at the end of your sentences.

Pro Tip: Keep sentences short and concise to prevent vocal fry from sneaking in. Pause strategically for a breath mid-sentence to reset your vocal fold (cord).

Third, stay hydrated! This is essential for maintaining healthy vocal cords. Just like the rest of your body, they need water to work their best. So, make sure you drink water regularly to keep them flexible and protect them from strain or damage.

Remember: Hydration can directly impact the quality of your voice. When your vocal cords are hydrated, they’re more flexible and less prone to strain or damage. Adequate internal hydration^{3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26873423/} can be achieved by:

• Drinking at least 64 ounces^{4 https://www.livescience.com/61353-how-much-water-you-really-need-drink.html} of water daily
• Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
• And staying hydrated in dry environments

Fourth, do not skip the warm-up routine when it comes to your vocal cords. Just like athletes limber up before hitting the field, your vocal cords need some gentle preparation before they perform. You can use your muscles in a different way to produce the sound. You can try to:

• Start with some soft humming or lip trills to get those vocal cords warmed up and ready to go
• Once you’ve got them humming along, move on to vocal exercises like scales or sirens to really stretch out your vocal range.

For a vocal exercise visual tutorial, watch this video on YouTube:

Fifth, mind your posture. Channel your inner ballerina and straighten up. Good posture not only exudes confidence but also ensures proper airflow for your vocals:

• Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed and your spine lengthened
• Avoid slouching or hunching over, as this can restrict airflow and contribute to vocal
• Maintaining proper posture supports overall vocal health and projection

And the last strategy I have for combatting vocal fry is raising the pitch of your voice. Vocal fry tends to happen in the lowest part of our range. If you hear yourself going into vocal fry, move your pitch up to the middle of your range.

If you really want to be a superstar, you can also try speaking at your maximum resonance point.

Speaking in this range can help combat vocal fry, improve vocal power, and make your voice more engaging and impactful. Remember, finding your maximum resonance point may require practice and experimentation^{5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7591156/} to achieve the best results for your voice.

When Is Vocal Fry Appealing?

While vocal fry is often associated with negative implications, it might not be all bad. Let’s explore the contexts where vocal fry can be advantageous and how to use it appropriately.

Vocal fry can be appealing in certain contexts, such as:

• Stylistic Choice: In some forms of singing or performance, vocal fry adds texture and depth to the voice, creating a unique sound or mood. For example, artists like Billie Eilish incorporate vocal fry into their music to create a distinctive style. You can hear her discussing her use of vocal fry in this interview^{6 https://www.bethroars.com/singing-blog-tips/what-makes-billie-eilish-great} .
• Informal Communication: In casual conversation, using vocal fry can convey a relaxed or laid-back demeanor, which may be appropriate depending on the social context. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian^{7 https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/vocal-fry-upspeak-celebrities-kardashian/} are known for using vocal fry in their speech, contributing to their casual and conversational tone. Certain stereotypes, like Californians having vocal fry, hint at their relaxed personalities as well.
• Emphasis or Intimacy: In certain situations, employing vocal fry can draw attention to specific words or convey a sense of intimacy or closeness in communication. Actors or actresses like Scarlett Johansson^{8 https://www.avosjourney.com/blog/vocal-fry-celebrities} often use vocal fry to add depth and intensity to their performances, especially in intense scenes.

Vocal fry is a technique that can enhance the emotional impact of dialogue delivery by adding a unique texture^{9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436459/} to the voice.

• Cultural or Generational Norms: In some cultures or among specific age groups, vocal fry may be considered a normal or even desirable aspect of speech patterns, reflecting identity or belonging. Young people, influenced by social media and pop culture, may use vocal fry as a way to connect with peers and express themselves authentically.

Even celebrities like Katy Perry have been noted for using vocal fry in their speech. 

Reminder: It’s essential to use vocal fry sparingly, as excessive or inappropriate use can make you seem unprofessional.

Which Celebrities Use Vocal Fry?

Pop culture is full of celebrities who are known for speaking in this voice: Kim Kardashian^{8 https://www.avosjourney.com/blog/vocal-fry-celebrities} , Zooey Deschanel^{10 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/24/vocal-fry-strong-female-voice} , and Katy Perry,^{11 https://www.avosjourney.com/blog/vocal-fry-celebrities} to name a few.

Hollywood’s A-listers use it to add allure and charisma to their voices. It’s become a cool trend, like a secret code among insiders, but instead of a handshake, it’s a throaty hum.

Here are some notable figures who’ve been caught frying^{12 https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/vocal-fry-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-still-polarise-listeners} up a storm:

• Kardashian Clan: Yup, those reality TV queens are no strangers to vocal fry. Just listen to Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney dish out the latest gossip, and you’ll hear that signature sizzle.
• Britney Spears: Even pop princesses aren’t immune to vocal fry. Britney’s been known to fry up her vocals during interviews, but hey, she’s still a superstar!
• Zooey Deschanel: With her quirky charm and indie vibes, Zooey’s got vocal fry down to a science. It’s like music to hipster ears!
• Demi Lovato: This powerhouse singer has been spotted using vocal fry in casual conversations, adding a touch of edge to her already bold personality.
• Ryan Gosling: Known for his smooth on-screen presence, Ryan Gosling occasionally dips into vocal fry, giving his voice an intriguing depth that fans find irresistible.
• Emma Stone: America’s sweetheart isn’t afraid to embrace vocal fry, effortlessly blending it into her charismatic speeches and interviews.

Check out this compilation of celebrities with vocal fry for some auditory inspiration:

How Can You Stop Someone Else’s Vocal Fry?

Now, here’s a touchy subject. Maybe vocal fry isn’t a problem for you, but rather, someone in your life is driving you absolutely crazy with their constant vocal fry! You have two options.

1. You can send them this article.

If you received this video or article from someone else, you are loved and wonderful. All you need is a little more breath.

2. If it feels too direct to send the article, the other option you have is asking them to speak up.

Sometimes when someone needs volume, they clear their throat, sit up and take in a breath. This often can give them enough breath to eliminate their vocal fry.

If you notice your colleague goes into vocal fry in a pitch meeting, remind them that their points are important; they just need to add a bit more volume. It’s a secret solution for vocal fry.

Want More Vocal Power?

I have some amazing videos for you on vocal power. Please check them out right here!

• 10 Steps to Conquering Your Phone Anxiety
• Make Your Voice Sound Better by Using the Science of Vocal Power
• How to Sound Confident on the Phone with 5 Simple Steps

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Vocal Fry

Key Takeaways on Vocal Fry

Remember, vocal fry can harm how people see you and your message. Fight it by breathing deeply, caring for your vocal cords, and watching your posture. Get assistance if necessary, and only use vocal fry when it fits, but don’t overdo it to avoid problems.

Here’s a summary of the article:

• Vocal fry, characterized by a low, staccato vibration during speech or singing, occurs when there is not enough breath being pushed through the vocal cords, resulting in a raspy or creaky sound.
• Vocal fry isn’t just unpleasant to listen to; it can undermine your message, authority, and professionalism. It may even affect perceptions of competence, trustworthiness, and attractiveness.
• Vocal fry often occurs due to shallow breathing, tension in the body, or dehydration, which can result from anxiety or nervousness.
• While vocal fry can have negative implications, it can also be appealing and appropriate in certain contexts, such as stylistic choice, informal communication, emphasis, or cultural norms.
• Strategies to Combat Vocal Fry:
  • Focus on deep breathing to support your voice.
  • Use shorter sentences or strategic pauses to prevent running out of breath at the end of sentences.
  • Stay hydrated and maintain good vocal cord health.
  • Warm up your vocal cords before speaking.
  • Pay attention to posture to ensure proper airflow.
  • Raise the pitch of your voice if you find yourself slipping into vocal fry.

For a more interesting article on voice enhancement, try this: Monotone Voice: How to Improve Your Vocal Tone