Is it true that ibuprofen helps you reach notes when performing?

Ibuprofen relaxes muscles and thins the blood. Singing on Ibuprofen may temporarily give you the feeling of more relaxed singing but it will actually hinder your singing with prolonged use and increase your chances of damaging your vocal cords. If you want to be a more relaxed singer, focus on your breathing technique and supporting your tone properly. Lemon in water helps cut extra phlegm and is a healthy way to help clear your throat.

I’ve used Ibuprofen in the past. I used to sing in a rock band that played 3 full sets, and I was the only singer. By the end of the night, my throat & lungs would be pretty tired, and when you get tired, you can slack on technique. At the end of the first set, I’d take 2 Ibuprofen to counter act the irritation/swelling my throat would feel by set 3.

Don’t count on it to help you reach high notes. It’s not a miracle cure. Hitting high notes is all about proper breath control and support from your diaphragm. One way to help that along is to make sure you do at least 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week; your lungs will be stronger and will enable you to support the notes. Hydrate hydrate hydrate! Water is the best, and not too cold. You’ll find with time that there may be things that will help you, but what works for one person may not work for another. Some people swear by Throat Coat Herbal Tea, some use lemon in their water, some honey in their tea. Experiment and see what makes your vocal cords feel happy. For me it’s just water. Oh, and NO alcohol! Dries you out too fast.

The best thing you can do is practice. The more you do it (properly) the easier it will come. Your range will grow if you work it accordingly. It takes a lot of effort, don’t look for easy ways out. There are a number of books with cds or tapes that have vocal range exercises on them. You can work on your upper range in the privacy of your own home. Look for the books at big book stores (Borders, etc.) or online (Amazon) Good luck!