Okay, this is probably a really dumb question....?

Question

I always wondered if the vocal chords of a singer look any different than a person who has no singing ability what so ever?

The answer is probably no, but I was just being curious.

Answer 1

No, some people just have better sound that comes from theirs then others. They say those babies that cry all the time grow up to be good singers because their exercising their lungs making them more powerful. I was a quiet baby and my voice says it all. No question is a dumb question unless it is a racist question!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Nope! It's simply how the air flows through the vocal chords making the voice smoother than just speaking. Not a dumb question by the way!

I will say that the vocal chords do look different when people are singing and speaking, but only under a strobe light. They both use vibration to produce sound, but watching vocal chords singing are not as choppy as when speaking. Under a strobe light, when singing the vocal chords have a wave effect and come together a lot gentler.

Answer 3

Not a dumb question at all! In fact, the vocal chords of someone who sings a lot, either as a career or recreationally like in a church choir, are going to be thicker and more developed than those of people who don't sing. This is because many vocal exercises that singers learn and practice are designed to strengthen vocal chords. Like any muscle on your body, vocal chords get stronger and more developed in time if they are used often and properly.

Answer 4

It's not a dumb question, but the answer is no.
The famous singer Enrico Caruso was admired for his talents when he was alive, and when he died, his widow allowed an autopsy to see if there had been anything extra ordinary about him. His vocal cords ( please note spelling folks!) were no different than anyone else's. His abdominal muscles, however, were amazingly robust and well-trained, re-inforcing the idea that good singing is mostly breath support.
Modern vocal cord research has also shown, though, that the mucous membrane sheathing the actual vocalis muscle will get an itty bitty bit thicker for singers ( we're talking microns here, less than millimeters), but certainly less than the build up that smokers obtain as a defense mechanism against the poisons and other chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Answer 5

Actually that's a really good question. I would think, because they have vocal training (well some do) and because they sing every day, their vocal chords are probably stronger. Kinda like muscles on an athlete.

Answer 6

Actually that's a really good question. I would think, because they have vocal training (well some do) and because they sing every day, their vocal chords are probably stronger. Kinda like muscles on an athlete.

Answer 7

it's not a dumb question the answer is no though it might be different in a way but not really

Answer 8

I don't think there is a difference, but don't know for sure. What a great profile pic!