Vocal Fry - What is it and Usage

Updated 10/8/2024

By Camille van Niekerk

Have you heard of vocal fry?

Even if you’re not familiar with that term, you’ve most certainly heard people speak and sing using vocal fry.

So what is it, and when should you use it?

What is vocal fry?

Vocal fry is more than a vocal effect or technique.

It’s actually a distinct register of the voice - the lowest vocal register - sometimes referred to as the pulse register, laryngealization, glottal fry, glottal scrape or Strohbass.

It can even be referred to as the "vocal-fry register."

It is lower in pitch than the chest voice register (or the “modal” voice register).

Vocal fry is produced when the vocal folds are very loose and relaxed.

It's also produced by air unevenly, or weak air, passing through the vocal folds.

The folds are short and thick (similar to chest voice), but the amount of compression (cord closure) is greatly reduced.

The resulting vibration of the folds is uneven, which results in the popping, creaky voice sound.

Vocal fry has a creaking, rattling, popping sound.

It can sound deep and/or unpitched.

Can Vocal Fry Effect Your Health?

Speaking or singing with vocal fry will not harm your voice.

The vocal anatomy won’t be damaged by speaking in vocal fry.

So if you find yourself speaking or singing with vocal fry frequently, there’s nothing to be concerned about.

Like any vocal technique, it can be overdone.

Make sure you’re not forcing the sound.

Remember that vocal fry should be totally relaxed, not pressed or squeezed.

And finally, be intentional about your use of vocal fry.

It should be a choice, not a habit. 

Activate Your Vocal-Fry Register

If you’ve ever tried to produce the sound effect of a door slowly creaking open, you may have already found your vocal fry!

If you haven’t, try the following:

1. Say the word “umm” as if you’re trying to think of an answer. 

2. Now say “umm” in as low of a pitch as you can. If you start to produce a gravelly, growling sound, you’re dropping into fry. 

3. Hold the “uh” sound and relax your throat so that air is still passing through, but you’re not sustaining a pitch.

4. Once you’ve found that creaky fry sound, experiment with different vowels!

Learn how to utilize vocal fry and activate your vocal-fry register in the 30 Day Singer vocal fry tutorial.

When should I use vocal fry? 

Vocal fry can be used in vocal exercises to help you:

1. Extend your low vocal range: use vocal fry to approximate pitches below your comfortable chest voice range

2. Maintain cord connection in mixed voice or head voice: slide from vocal fry into a higher pitch in mix or head voice to increase strength and volume in those vocal ranges.

3. Relax the vocal folds, if you tend to sing with too much compression

You can always use a vocal range chart to help you identify where using vocal fry will help you.

Vocal fry is also used widely in contemporary pop, indie, alternative rock, and folk music.

It’s often used to evoke emotion, soften onset of words, and add a unique sound.

Try adding some vocal fry at the beginning or end of a phrase. 

One of the most iconic vocal fry examples is the first line in “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears.

Ask anyone to do a Britney impression singing the phrase “oh baby, baby”, and it won’t be complete without heavy use of vocal fry. 

Of course, fry isn’t always that noticeable. Many singers use subtle fry to great effect.

Fun fact: some styles of overtone singing (like Mongolian throat singing) use vocal fry to simultaneously produce more than one pitch.

What about vocal fry in speech?

Overusing vocal fry has received quite a bad rap over the last decade or so.

Although actors, journalists, and other public personalities preceded them with vocal fry use, many people blame the Kardashians for popularizing vocal fry.

The overly-relaxed sound can come across as lazy, annoying, and insecure.

In fact, a 2014 study found that “voices exhibiting vocal fry are perceived as less competent, less educated, less trustworthy, less attractive, and less hirable.” - Vocal Fry May Undermine the Success of Young Women in the Labor Market - Yikes!

“Having a little vocal fry in the voice can sometimes give off the impression of the person being relaxed. It’s become more common for radio personalities to use vocal fry in an attempt to sound more natural and accessible to their audience.”

- Speech language pathologist Kristine Pietsch, M.A. – Johns Hopkins

How can I reduce my vocal fry?

If you find that vocal fry has become a persistent habit in your speech or singing, try the following:

1. Use breath control. Support your speech and singing with low, full breaths.

2. Speak in a slightly higher register (and/or choose higher keys for your songs). Because the fry register is just below chest register, you more easily slip into fry when you’re singing or speaking at the bottom of your range.

3. Pay attention to the ends of your phrases.

We tend to run out of air and energy at the ends of phrases, and many of us also drop in pitch at the end of a sentence.

Be aware of this tendency and try to release your phrases without dropping down in pitch.

Conclusion

The use of vocal fry has become much more popular in the past few decades.

The style of speaking is regularly considered hesitant, nonaggressive, and informal but also educated, urban-oriented, and upwardly mobile.

It’s a stylistic choice more than anything.

This sounds can be utilized in singing and voice acting as well.

It all depends on what you are going for.

If you want to produce that Britney Spears pop sound, then you have the ability.

Vocal fry is easy to do, doesn’t harm your voice, and is a fun topic of conversation.

FAQ

What is the hardest vocal register?

The hardest vocal register for many people is often the "whistle register" because it’s super high and requires a lot of control. It’s where singers like Mariah Carey hit those insanely high notes!

How to activate vocal fry?

To activate vocal fry, try speaking or singing in a really low, relaxed voice, like you’re running out of breath. It creates a kind of crackling sound as your vocal cords vibrate slowly.

What is the vocal register fry?

The vocal fry register is the lowest register of the voice, where your vocal cords vibrate slowly, producing a creaky or popping sound. It's used in both speech and singing, often at the ends of sentences.

What does vocal fry indicate?

Vocal fry can indicate a relaxed state of the vocal cords, but it can also be a stylistic choice in speech or singing. In speech, some people use it unconsciously to add emphasis or signal the end of a statement.

Why do millennials have vocal fry?

Millennials are often associated with vocal fry because it became trendy in casual speech during the 2000s. It's been popularized by influencers, celebrities, and media figures as part of their communication style.

Why do so many Americans have vocal fry?

Vocal fry is common among Americans because it's been widely picked up through pop culture and the media. It’s become part of the conversational style for a lot of people, especially in informal settings.

Is vocal fry unhealthy?

Vocal fry isn’t necessarily unhealthy if used sparingly, but if someone uses it all the time, it can lead to vocal fatigue or strain. It’s better to mix it up with other vocal registers for long-term vocal health.

What is the stereotype of vocal fry?

The stereotype of vocal fry is that it’s often associated with younger people, particularly women, and can be perceived as lazy or uninterested speech. It’s gotten a bit of a bad rap because of this.

Is vocal fry a good thing?

Vocal fry can be a good thing if used intentionally in singing to add texture or in speech to create emphasis. However, overdoing it can make your voice sound tired or less engaging.

Is vocal fry attractive?

Some people find vocal fry attractive because it can add a kind of relaxed, laid-back vibe to speech. However, opinions vary—some find it grating, while others don’t mind or even like it.