Want that Raspy, Gravelly Voice? Here’s How to Do It Safely

Ever wondered how to speak in a gravelly voice? Well, wonder no more, because we here at Vocal Image can help you do so safely and effectively.

Whether you’re looking at becoming an actor, a singer, a presenter, a narrator, a podcaster, or anything else for that matter, your voice is one of the most important tools to have at your disposal.

Historically speaking, in terms of attractiveness, raspy, gravelly voices are hugely popular. It’s one of the main reasons why singers, actors and actresses with deep, husky, raspy, gravelly voices have enjoyed the most success over the years. It’s also a key reason why more and more people are looking to speak with a gravelly voice.

Husky, raspy, gravelly voices may be seen as attractive, but not everybody has one. What’s worse is that some people try to force themselves to speak in this way, which can be awkward, cringey, and downright embarrassing in some cases.

So, does that mean that your dream of singing in a voice so raspy it would make Bing Crosby sound like he was on helium, is now out of reach? Absolutely not, it just means that there are some things you need to do to alter your voice naturally.

Here’s a look at how to speak with a gravelly voice naturally.

The Appeal of a Gravelly Voice?

As we touched upon previously, when it comes to attractiveness, there’s just something about a husky, raspy, gravelly voice that can’t be beaten. Both men and women alike generally find themselves physically attracted to people with husky, gravelly voices. It just sounds so darn sexy for some reason, and people seem to love it.

It isn’t just physical attraction that comes to mind when discussing gravelly voices either. People also find them fascinating to listen to. Deep and raspy voices really stand out against whiny, nasally voices and can create feelings of authority, importance, and assertiveness. On top of that, there’s a mysteriousness associated with husky voices that people also find attractive.

In men, deep and gravelly voices are seen as masculine. Looking at things from an evolutionary standpoint, deeper voices are often associated with larger frames, which some people find more attractive. Going back to Paleolithic times, a partner with a large frame would help people to feel safer as bigger men would have been able to provide more protection. Put very simply, deep and gravelly voices are often associated with strength, confidence, and masculinity, which are traits that people tend to find attractive.

That does not mean that you need to be built like linebacker to benefit from a raspy voice either. Because of their uniqueness and that mystical charm that we mentioned earlier, these unique voice pitches help create feelings of assertiveness, power, and energy, which people are subconsciously drawn to. It’s part of the reason why actors such as Al Pacino are able to command such a commanding screen presence, despite being relatively small in frame, at just 5ft 7 inches tall, and less than 200 pounds in weight for much of his career.

Celebrities with Iconic Gravelly Voices

Over the decades, we’ve seen some truly iconic celebrities best known for having raspy, gravelly, husky voices. These voices are truly iconic and have helped them forge hugely successful careers in the entertainment industry that most people can only dream of.

From singers and actors to presenters and narrators, here are just a few celebrities with iconic gravelly voices:

• Morgan Freeman

• Sam Elliot

• Miley Cyrus

• Kurt Cobain

• Vin Diesel

• Jon Bernthal

• Bonnie Tyler

• Joe Cocker

• Clint Eastwood

• Emma Stone

• Tom Waits

• Scarlett Johansson

Natural vs Forced Gravel

As we can see, gravelly voices are pretty desirable and there are plenty of people out there who would do seemingly anything to get one.

The problem with that is that not everybody has been genetically blessed with a voice like Vin Diesel’s and some therefore try to force one. This can not only come across as cringey and awkward, but it can also be dangerous in some instances.

There are a number of reasons why people have raspy, gravelly voices, though some of the most common examples include:

• Genetics

• Age

• Lifestyle choices such as smoking or heavy drinking

• Existing vocal conditions

• Strained or damaged vocal cords

• Underlying medical conditions

Then of course, there are people who try to artificially force their voices to sound husky and raspy. Some people simply put on a fake voice and do their best to maintain it, whereas others may knowingly strain or damage their vocal cords. This is never recommended as it can not only be painful, but it can lead to permanent damage to the voice box.

Vocal Anatomy 101

For those of you wondering how to speak with a gravelly voice, it’s important to understand what it is that causes people to sound this way in the first place.

Each and every single one of us has an accent and voice that’s unique to us and us only. Sure, people can mimic and imitate them, but ultimately, our voice is our own and nothing will change that. It’s the reason why some singers are renowned for their deep and raspy voices, whereas others are best-known for singing in a high pitch.

But why exactly do we sound the way we do, and what causes some people’s voices to sound so gravelly, deep, and husky? Primarily, it all comes down to the vocal cords. If you want to achieve a gravelly voice, you must understand how our vocal cords work.

Your vocal cords are essentially two folds of muscle in the throat which vibrate when air passes through them. It is these vibrations that allow us to speak. The more relaxed the vocal cords are, the deeper your voice will be.

It is also important to know the difference between a gravelly voice, and a breathless, hoarse voice. Hoarse voices are typically caused by overuse of the vocal cords, straining them, and not looking after them correctly. Unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, heavy drinking, and consuming overly acidic foods can also lead to a hoarse voice, as can illnesses like cold and flu viruses, tonsilitis, acid reflux, indigestion, laryngitis, sinus infections, and other similar conditions.

Safe Techniques for a Gravelly Voice

If you are wondering how to speak with a gravelly voice, the good news is that there are a number of exercises and techniques you can try that can, and will, help.

While we can’t guarantee you’ll wind up with a voice like Louis Armstrong, Emma Stone, Vin Diesel, or the late, great, James Earl Jones, if you follow the techniques laid out below, you should notice a distinct raspiness and gravelliness to your voice that never used to be there.

Here are a few safe techniques for a gravelly voice.

Use Vocal Fry as a Base

One of the most effective ways of achieving a deep and gravelly voice is to use vocal fry as a base.

Vocal fry is a technique in which you speak in a low pitch and create a rattling sound as you speak. This can give your voice a raspy, gravelly sound to it.

Add Resonance from the Chest

Another useful tip for anybody trying to speak in a husky tone is to add resonance from the chest.

Simply place your hand on your chest and then make “Ah” sounds. Feel for the vibrations and then transition over to vowel sounds, using the letter ‘M’ to do so. For example, you could say/sing ‘M-Ah’ and really feel for those vibrations resonating from deep within your chest.

Repeat this process multiple times with different words and letters as you go.

Gently speak in a Whisper

Gently speaking in a whisper is also a surprisingly effective way of making your voice sound raspier and more gravelly. The main reason for this is because whispering causes the vocal cords to become tighter and squeeze together, which in turn puts more strain on the voice.

Just be aware to too much whispering can actually have the opposite effect and can damage the vocal cords in some instances.

Gentle Exercises to Safely “Roughen” Your Tone

Finally, if you really want to achieve a deep and raspy voice, there are several gentle exercises which you can do to achieve exactly that, without straining your voice box or vocal cords.

Lip trills work very well, as does deep and gentle humming. You can also make deep ‘Uh’ sounds in the throat, making sure to hold the ‘Uh’ sound for several seconds at a time.

What Not to Do

Those of you who are of a certain age, may remember a little-known show called Friends. In one of the episodes, a character called Phoebe, who is a singer, gets sick before performing one of her shows. She performs anyway and to her delight, because of her illness, her voice sounds amazing as it becomes husky, raspy, and sexy.

As she gets better, to her dismay her voice returns back to normal, and she tries her best to get sick again. Needless to say, she manages to catch another illness and becomes extremely unwell.

Why the recap of a popular show that ended over a decade ago? Because that’s a perfect example of what not to do when trying to make your voice sound gravelly and raspy.

There are, however, plenty of other things you shouldn’t do when trying to speak in a husky, raspy voice. These include the following:

Don’t try to make your voice gravelly by eating spicy food

Don’t scream and shout until you get a sore throat

Definitely do not try to make yourself sick. EVER!

Don’t speak in a whisper for too long

Never use cigarettes, alcohol, or any other harmful substances to change your voice

Never dehydrate yourself to make your throat dry

When to Seek a Voice Therapist

If you are looking at how to speak with a gravelly voice, it’s always best to seek professional help rather than simply trying to force it yourself.

Some of you may be having the complete opposite problem, in that your voice has become hoarse, gravelly, and raspy for no obvious reasons. If you are experiencing vocal fatigue, discomfort, or any other issues, you may have a vocal disorder that will need resolving. Speaking to a voice therapist could help you to safely do precisely that.

Conclusion

So, with that, we’ll bring this look at how to speak with a gravelly voice to a close.

While genetics do play a fairly substantial role in determining how gravelly a person’s voice may be, that certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t make a few changes here and there.

After trying the strategies and techniques laid out above, why not head on over to Vocal Image, sign up for our free 7-day trial, and try our Vocal Image Voice Test to see how you did?