Why does my stomach "gargle" when I sing?

Question

Basically, I'll usually drink a bit of warm water just before practising singing, and I'll sip during short breaks as well (since I practise with mild air-con as the weather outside is usually too hot). Most of the time it's fine and I can sing and breathe as per normal (diaphragmmatic breathing and singing), but sometimes (not too often, but often enough) when I take deep breaths (quick or slower...again I'm breathing properly), my stomach or abdomen makes this really loud gargling noise, like water being gargled around inside it. It doesn't really affect my breathing per se, but it does get annoying. Sometimes it goes on for the whole practice session, sometimes just occasionally now and then. Why does this happen? Am I doing something wrong? Anyone else has had similar experiences? My stomach usually doesn't gurgle so loudly even when I'm hungry, and it only happens when I sing.

(and yes I do take private vocal lessons)

I don't stuff myself with water before I sing - it's usually just a mouthful, and it's warm water because cold water 'freezes' my throat up (considering that it's below my body temperature) and my voice isn't as free as it can be. And yes it's because my throat tends to be dry just before I start singing (I don't usually drink anything right after I get up, and I wait until my voice is 'awake' before I start on practising - that's usu 2.5h after I get out of bed. In that time, I do other stuff.). I tried not drinking anything before singing, my voice came out scratchy and airy cos there isn't any lubricant inside there. And I felt the extra strain on my vocal cords.

Answer 1

There is no reason why u should not drink warm water before singing. Its better than cold water, because cold water results in the vocal cords contracting.

The reason why ur stomach gargles when u sing is because u are swallowing some of the air when breathing. When u sing, u generally swallow more. Ur mouth gets dry and so ur body overcompensates by producing saliva resulting in u swallowing more. The air in ur stomach results in gurgling noises.

Try to avoid singing in dry areas. Drinking plenty of water a few hours before u perform will mean ur vocal chords will be more hydrated once u start singing.

Answer 2

Singing causes pressure in your abdomen as the diaphragm pushes upward, so a stomach filled with water might become a little turbulent.

Why do you drink water before you sing? It is generally not a good idea to fill your stomach with anything other than a small amount of cold water before singning. Proper breathing requires that you fill your stomach with air and if that space is taken by food or liquid there will not be much room to spare.

Before singing, drink a small amount of water and only if your voice needs hydrating (dry scratchy throat), avoid it altogether if you can. Absolutely no food or sodas either.

Answer 3

Actually, I believe the term you refer to is "gurgle"--I occasionally have that problem myself due to an unusually gassy digestive tract, usually some hours after eating (from the info presented thus far, I cannot assess how much of a factor this is in your case). The gas generated is actually a by-product of the digestion process.

Perhaps an M. D. with significant gastrointestinal training could explain the process to which I refer this Answer? I could use the background info myself.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

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