Merkabas Voice-Help Hotline

[himynameistweek]

Thanks for some response! :thumb:

Seems alot of people say the falsetto scream is easiest, I'll go for that for a starters. I've also read the gargle water thing somewhere on the forum before, I don't really get what feeling your after though.. but I guess it's just practice, fool around some with your voice and avoid getting hurt.
falsetto scream will probably be the easiest one to hit first, it was for me. my first screams were exactly how CDoasis described, hitting a falsetto note, then just pushing it. a kind of crappy, girly scream came out, but it was a scream nonetheless. after you get that first scream, you can start learning how to really control your throat and experiment with the techniques and find what works. as for the "gargling" thing, i never would have had any idea what people were talking about if i hadn't experienced it myself. now, after i've got a little bit more experience with screaming, lower screams are easier than falsetto screams for me. but i also don't have a particularly strong falsetto.

[PunkyMcEmo]

hey, i was just wondering if anyone ever heard of the pixies?

black francis does these raw screams in tame and gouge away
they sound really stressed and painful. does anyone know if its possible to safely recreate that sound?

[zippcraz1one]

would it be cool if i posted some clips?
and could you guys give me tips on what im doing wrong?

[himynameistweek]

would it be cool if i posted some clips?
and could you guys give me tips on what im doing wrong?
that's the best way to do it. go for it.

[Merkaba]

Hey Merk,
I agree with everything you said about Mudvayne. Chad is one of the most talented vocalists out there, especially for such a popular metal band. I've been noticing for awhile that he uses alot of raspy head voice, and switches it to a falsetto scream at times. Or singing clean and use rasp here and there, still in head voice. It's really quite interesting. At first, when I started screaming (using your advice), I had an extremely hard time transforming it into a raspy singing voice like he does. Now (like a month later or so), screaming is very easy.. I've found my "sweet spot" so I don't have to push too hard, like you said, because at first I was just pushing hard to get it out. I can do it more efficiently now. Anyway, today on the drive to work while practicing, I kind of did a guttoral scream by accident. Then I remembered Kristina's advice, about making it like a gargle, and I realized that's totally how it's done. Before I didn't understand that advice, I couldn't do it at all, but now I think I got it. My throat position feels the same as a normal scream, and it takes a decent amount of diaphragm pressure, but the rasp seems to come from, uhh, wherever the gargling sound comes from, instead of the back of the throat. You know what I mean? I don't know where exactly I would say gargling comes from.. but it feels like it's above the throat. Anyway.. I practiced it alot, and needless to say, it didn't hurt. So I'll be doing these with my regular practice routine from now on. Here's my soundclick page where you can listen to it.http://www.soundclick.com/pendingdemise
Be easy on me, it's my first day with the guttoral stuff. ;) The falsetto scream is a newer one too, the one named "scream 2" is the one you heard before, kind of a raspy head voice going into a falsetto scream.

Yea, I remember the gargle post. This area is what i've been referring to as the "back of the throat"...and I was trying to convey that with the grunt, but after Kristina posted that one about gargling i said yea, thats more accurate. I think it will help alot of people out. It still takes some isolation and if you let the larynx rise youre still looking at trouble, especially when you start running notes up or down and falsetto but the general throat position for rasping is the same as that for gargling i would have to agree.

Your gutteral, I think you could activate the cords more and give more push and support, drop your jaw if youre not, but dont squeeze it down. But it sounds pretty decent. I could picture you being able to get it more robust. Hell i dont even know really what qualifies as gutteral. Your falsetto was really good, though i think it was head, but it doesnt matter. hehe. :thumb:

Ok, got some recording done today.

http://www.forsmark.uu.se/~fs03olsa/sound/

There are 3 samples.
Scream_low.mp3 is somewhere in the middle of my range
Scream_high.mp3 is a falsetto
Scream_dark.mp3 is kinda as low as i can go

I recorded the stuff the 3rd time I've praticed screaming, so don't expect much of it guys. Anyways, Merkaba, I don't think it sound any good or cool yet, but I'm on the right track beeing able to do that without pain? I managed to get through this training session without any soar throat afterwards, as I said in my earlier post (maybe you missed it?), so I guess that's good.

If you ask me the falsetto thing sounds like crap. How do you make your falsetto sound so cool? I've been exprementing some with more or less cord activation, but the falsetto thing is just really hard. I've noticed I tend to be less relaxed in my throat when doing it aswell. On the dark sample i try to use a very small amount of cord activation, but what I'm really after is to sound like the opeth singer, any pointers there?

Sounds like you got the positioning correct, I'm sure thats why youre making it through without pain and probably without considerable fatigue. Now just practice and get stronger and gain experience and muscle memory so you can pretty much hit any note with any amount of rasp you want. hehe.

As far as the low stuff, just approach it like you would the other. I would suggest doing some slides down from a mid note to your lowest and feel how you have to relax your jaw to really get "on top" of your lowest notes. Just work on relaxing the throat still for a low one, and keep practicing youre sounding well.

All of my samples were done late at night with low volume...so if they sounded cool...thanks! :thumb:

[Krao]

When I do a gliss my larynx go up and down with the tone, is it supposed to do that? I've seen you talk about squeezing it up, is it supposed to keep still or just go up some but not too much?

Nevermind, I read the isolation thread again and that gave me the answer.

[Krao]

So many thoughts... :)
Do you use your tongue to control the air and thus helping creating your rasp?
I'm thinking like pushing the air back somewhat with the back of the tongue to hit the back of the throat?

[zippcraz1one]

ok i have some clips i didnt really warm up

so help me out here guys i think i may be doing something wrong

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/zippcrazone1music.htm

theres one of me singing and some screams and stuff

thanks to anyone who helps :thumb:

[Merkaba]

So many thoughts... :)
Do you use your tongue to control the air and thus helping creating your rasp?
I'm thinking like pushing the air back somewhat with the back of the tongue to hit the back of the throat?
You dont really want to get into the habit of using the tongue...as Kristina said...go gargle...then try to gargle the note to get the rasp. Its pretty much the same throat position. Relax everything else, make a note...then try to gargle the note as youre singing it.

[Krao]

You dont really want to get into the habit of using the tongue...as Kristina said...go gargle...then try to gargle the note to get the rasp. Its pretty much the same throat position. Relax everything else, make a note...then try to gargle the note as youre singing it.
As I practiced today i tried to concentrate on the relaxing part, and it really helped alot.

I feelt I did some real nice progress. The tongue thing dissapeared kinda narutal when my throat was more open. Thanks alot for all the tips and guiding! I'll stay tuned and post more questions as I keep going.

Nothing makes you feel as good as when you actually learn something your going for! (****, no kissy smiley.. lol) :thumb:

[MGreeny]

Hey, I posted on one of you other threads, but i think this is the place to ask. Im singing in a punk band, melodic style. Like pennywise, millencolin, lagwagon, deviates, and bands of this sort. Do you have any advice at all?

[Peg Dizzler]

Thanks for some response! :thumb:

Seems alot of people say the falsetto scream is easiest, I'll go for that for a starters. I've also read the gargle water thing somewhere on the forum before, I don't really get what feeling your after though.. but I guess it's just practice, fool around some with your voice and avoid getting hurt.

Yup. Good luck, and don't give up! It'll come with time and practice. :thumb:

[Peg Dizzler]

falsetto scream will probably be the easiest one to hit first, it was for me. my first screams were exactly how CDoasis described, hitting a falsetto note, then just pushing it. a kind of crappy, girly scream came out, but it was a scream nonetheless. after you get that first scream, you can start learning how to really control your throat and experiment with the techniques and find what works. as for the "gargling" thing, i never would have had any idea what people were talking about if i hadn't experienced it myself. now, after i've got a little bit more experience with screaming, lower screams are easier than falsetto screams for me. but i also don't have a particularly strong falsetto.

Yeah, I think falsetto screams are the easiest to get the hang of. I learned to sing with rasp first though, so maybe that should come first. My first screams sounded just like how you described them. A really weak girly scream with barely enough rasp. Haha. :thumb:

Your gutteral, I think you could activate the cords more and give more push and support, drop your jaw if youre not, but dont squeeze it down. But it sounds pretty decent. I could picture you being able to get it more robust. Hell i dont even know really what qualifies as gutteral. Your falsetto was really good, though i think it was head, but it doesnt matter. hehe. :thumb:

When you say I should activate the cords more, does mean I should have more of a "note" behind it? Because I notice that if I sing a note almost as low as I can, then use the throat position and add rasp, that it sounds better. I used to do the same thing with falsetto screams. I would sing a falsetto note first then "add" the rasp and create a scream. I still do that toward the end of warmups actually. But after awhile it was just muscle memory, and I could scream on demand. :)

Also, you said my falsetto was really good. Which one? And how is it head? The one called "scream 2" is a head voice at the beginning. The other falsetto scream on there is probably as best as I can scream. Although I could've held it out a little more.

[MGreeny]

Hey, I posted on one of you other threads, but i think this is the place to ask. Im singing in a punk band, melodic style. Like pennywise, millencolin, lagwagon, deviates, and bands of this sort. Do you have any advice at all?


I won't let you forget about me...

[Peg Dizzler]

I won't let you forget about me...

Shout. Punk bands don't sing nor scream in general...

[MGreeny]

melodic punk, not hardcore. pennywise, millencolin, deviates, lagwagon, strung out, and a lot more actually "sing"

[Peg Dizzler]

Oh my bad, MELODIC punk... :rolleyes:

Umm, yeah.. sing with rasp. Just like regular singing, but using rasp. If you need help on learning how to do that, browse the other pages to this thread... lots of info on it.

[MGreeny]

thanks MERKABA...pffft...

[Peg Dizzler]

thanks MERKABA...pffft...

Excuse me? I gave you the advice you needed. There's nothing more you really need to know other than just knowing HOW to sing clean, and HOW to sing with rasp. It's all the same. Warm up, practice scales, learn to sing with rasp if you don't know how, learn to pronounce your words when you sing so it's understandable, and learn to sing from your diaphragm and have proper breathing.
That wasn't in any particular order. But there really isn't any specific advice I could give you, just read over this and Merk's other threads with advice on singing and rasp.

[Merkaba]

yea, what he said, McGreeney ^

[ashman]

Erm...I have a question, how exactly do you sing from the Diaphragm?

[MGreeny]

Thanks CDoasis...I was just kidding bout before. No hard feelings?

[Peg Dizzler]

Thanks CDoasis...I was just kidding bout before. No hard feelings?

Oh no it's all cool... I didn't know if you were kidding or not, but I take things lightly, so I just wrote what I felt like saying, that's how I viewed it anyway. Good luck! :thumb:

[zippcraz1one]

dudes help me out please!!!
is it suposed to be easy to hit and hold notes?
or am i ****ed ?
cuz its really easy and im scared i ****ed something up.
i do inhaled screams alot. could that be why its doing this?
i want it to be hard not easy !!! please please please help me!!
and it seems like the less i practice the easier it gets.
like one time i stoped for a few weeks. then i started back.
and it was easy to hold notes. a month after that.
i was singing for 3 to 4 hours. and it was easy to hit notes.
and somtimes it seems like my adams apple is swollen.
it just seems bigger i dont know,
and its allways been kinda big.

is any of this normal or am i just ****ed? please pleas help me!!

il give more info later i got to go

[AngusYoung413]

hey i have a big problem with my band's vocalist.....he doesnt have any problems hitting notes or any falsetto problems like that because he has taking vocal lessons for about a year. But there is a problem..Is there anyway to make his voice sound "cooler" and more pleasant to listen to? He is technically a "good" singer but his voice is slightly annoying and whiny.....Any suggestions or should we just look for a new singer?

[Peg Dizzler]

hey i have a big problem with my band's vocalist.....he doesnt have any problems hitting notes or any falsetto problems like that because he has taking vocal lessons for about a year. But there is a problem..Is there anyway to make his voice sound "cooler" and more pleasant to listen to? He is technically a "good" singer but his voice is slightly annoying and whiny.....Any suggestions or should we just look for a new singer?

Unless his voice is really really unpleasant, which it shouldn't be if he's a good technical singer, I wouldn't kick him out.
That sounds like the situation of alot of bands and vocalists these days though. Professional or semi-professional bands, anyway. The fact is that everyone is talented and all, but when it comes to vocals, you are simply stuck with the tone you have. It's like your speaking voice; you can't really make it sound different unless you force it to all the time or strain yourself.
I suppose you could work on a whiny or nasally voice though. I don't have a nasal talking voice, but my singing voice can be nasal at times. Which isn't all that pleasant to me. So I just try to work on it and improve it, I guess, and try to focus on keeping it.. not nasal. :lol:

Oh, and how old is your singer? If he's a teenager, or even younger, chances are his voice will change a little bit as he gets older.

I don't know how you practice or what equipment you use, but I suppose you could try to improve the tone by EQ'ing things up a bit too, if you haven't already.

[MattMan125a]

I'm currently forming a band of a few friends but until we have a perminant vocalist we have decided to split up the vocals just for fun... I myself am an avid nirvana fan even though my guitar skills have far surpassed that of cobain. I just really really really really wanna know how i can get my singing voice to crack like that when i'm NOT completely screaming... i don't wanna smoke but i want to practice somehow so i can get that rattle down ... please help!

[Bleeding Through]

Hey Merkaba, I don't know if you remember giving me some screaming pointers, but after a few months of experimenting I think I've finally got it. I can growl extremely low comfortably and hit high screams with relative ease as well. The end result is my scream sounds almost exactly like Limp Bizkit's "Counterfeit" and 'Nobody Loves Me'. ( I can scream to almost all of Limp's older stuff, back when Fred still screamed hardcore.)

But in order to do the higher screams I notice I tense up my throat, but I really don't feel any pain and my speaking voice is not affected hours afterwards or even the next day (I'm even able to do some screaming the day after and not have any problems either). But my singing voice gradually sounds a bit grainy after like 4 or 5 songs, but I assume that if I keep building up my scream and keep myself properly hydrated that this will eventually go away?

Thanks Merkaba, you've helped me out greatly already.

[zippcraz1one]

will some one please help me out?

[AngusYoung413]

yeah thanks for the advice cdoasis u mean your right he is only 15 and maybe i will work the EQ, thanks

[EcolliJK]

bumpydybump

[Merkaba]

Hey Merkaba, I don't know if you remember giving me some screaming pointers, but after a few months of experimenting I think I've finally got it. I can growl extremely low comfortably and hit high screams with relative ease as well. The end result is my scream sounds almost exactly like Limp Bizkit's "Counterfeit" and 'Nobody Loves Me'. ( I can scream to almost all of Limp's older stuff, back when Fred still screamed hardcore.)

But in order to do the higher screams I notice I tense up my throat, but I really don't feel any pain and my speaking voice is not affected hours afterwards or even the next day (I'm even able to do some screaming the day after and not have any problems either). But my singing voice gradually sounds a bit grainy after like 4 or 5 songs, but I assume that if I keep building up my scream and keep myself properly hydrated that this will eventually go away?

Thanks Merkaba, you've helped me out greatly already.

sounds good...play it by ear and back off when you notice negatives. But do lots of normal singing, and hard non rasp singing. It builds strength faster. And youre gonna have to pull on the cords and other muscles in your throat to hold high screams. So i cant tell you if youre even really tensing up your throat. I mean, you could be using good technique. Who knows at this point. Sounds good so far. Just pay attention to yourself, and dont be afraid to keep going hard.

[sliggdogg]

Yo Merkaba. I made an account thanks to you -_-

Anyway, first off I'd like to say beforehand I appreciate any attention you throw my way and also thanks for putting all this effort in for us vocalists.

Well here's my situation, I've been reading your screaming threads and right now I have a pretty good slipknot-esque scream that doesn't hurt (at all) and it takes a ****load out of me :/ which means I'm out of breath and I can't do it too often because.. I don't have the ''stuff'' (being oxygen or energy or whatever)

Anyway, here is a description of what it feels like. I want your opinion on whether it's good, or any tips or something (you taught me, so your approval would be good, but dont give it if something is wrong.. you know)

Ok well, before I tried screaming I could sing pretty much any linkin park / three days grace type stuff without getting tired, I was singing from my stomach and my technique is good (dads been a singer for 30 years so his tips have been very helpful indeed)

What you're post inspired me to do is this:

Well.. when I sing 'I hate everything about You' by Three Days Grace, and I'm doing the chorus, there is a certain way I alter my voice to distort it, and the distortion / pressure is somewhere around my heart. Let's call this voice altering distortion.. yummy cakes... (-_-)

What I'm doing is Yelling a Note.. the exact same Note that Corey screams, and adding yummy cakes to it.

So far.. does this sound right? What I'm trying right now to do is put less ''voice'' in there so it sounds more ''windy'' right now I'm working on that.. with a bit of success. Sometimes it hurts, but then I sing a high note to remind me what yummy cakes feels like and add it to a more falsetto-ey voice (but i open my throat as if I was gonna sing from my stomach)

Sound on track so far? (please excuse my rather strange analogies n such)

[Merkaba]

bout to go to work, I'll respond more when i get home. But a new key, thanks to Kristina is to basically practice gargling the note. You can really hit regular notes of any kind pretty well because it doesnt take as much air. This is kinda what i was getting at with my threads but I didnt really want to go into words like glottis and false vocal cords because it would be rather useless. But the area where you gargle is the general area i mean by the back of the throat. Its really just above your cords. See ya.

[tatsu]

Hey hey, I'm new to these forums(probably won't post much) but I absolutely love this thread. It's so helpful. But I've also noticed many of the same questions in the threads, so I was wondering if you could classify the screaming a lil' further(volume, rasp, ect.) I understand if it's asking a lil' much, and I see the effort you've put into this, so really, if you don't, I'm sure others, as well as I, won't mind. Anyway, thanks for all the help! I think I've really developped, and have gotten quite an interest for singing/screaming, that I may look into looking for lessons locally. You've been a great help, and have encouraged many young musicians(like myself)! Thanks!

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey Merkaba,
I'm sure you're loaded with a million other people asking questions; but I think I'm ready to move onto learning another tecnique. :)
I'll be ordering Kristina's book pretty soon, and I'm not sure if it covers these thins, I kind of doubt it. So here goes.

Do you have any advice on either inward screaming or "power falsetto"?
I don't understand inner screaming at all, so if I wanted to seriously attempt to learn that, I would need alot of help.
I somewhat understand how power falsetto works, but I don't really get how to bridge the area between head voice and falsetto, and make those high notes sound so.. full! I'm so used to using my falsetto for screaming now, so it's hard to not scream sometimes when I'm trying to work on it. Lately I've been trying the blank robot face, especially when warming up, to be able to comfortably hit high falsetto notes without tightening the throat like I used to. I can even add a little rasp to my falsetto, without pushing hard at all, but I have to concentrate on not changing it into a scream. Before I was pushing too hard to get the rasp with falsetto... so now I think I'm understanding it more, but now I'm also curious about power falsetto... :)

[zippcraz1one]

ok i stoped singing for a week. and started back to day,
i drunk water and warmed up and sung e's to warm down

and when i started my high notes, my range had gone up.
but when i tryed E2 i couldnt hit it, i could only get G2.

am i turning into a tenor or something?
im certan i was a baritone. or maybe a bass

and my falsetto is high, but when i warm up it gets lower.
and i cant scream like a girl any more.

when i warm down i can hit E2. but when warmed up it's G2
wtf is going on? really

could inward scream's be doing this?

can someone plz help me?

sorry for the bad grammar

[Merkaba]

Hey hey, I'm new to these forums(probably won't post much) but I absolutely love this thread. It's so helpful. But I've also noticed many of the same questions in the threads, so I was wondering if you could classify the screaming a lil' further(volume, rasp, ect.) I understand if it's asking a lil' much, and I see the effort you've put into this, so really, if you don't, I'm sure others, as well as I, won't mind. Anyway, thanks for all the help! I think I've really developped, and have gotten quite an interest for singing/screaming, that I may look into looking for lessons locally. You've been a great help, and have encouraged many young musicians(like myself)! Thanks!
Well if you've got a question I'll try to answer it/them. But my point is that there really is no classification of screaming, and its kinda detrimental to think of it that way. The only thing your cords can do is close up and vibrate, or come close to closing up... Thats it. you can "whistle" air through them too, but thats a different story. But all the other things occur after this simple fact. So if you learn to close up the cords alone...then you can get on with adding all of these other affects and whatnot.

[Knifeboy]

Quick question.. Alcohol hurts your vocal cords....... But how?.. Is it because the vocal cords tense up and you hurt them if you talk? So if you only drank alcohol, and didn't use your voice at all, it wouldn't hurt them?

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

Merkaba,
I know awhile back you were going to try to hit some whistle notes, and eventually did. Could you kind of explain the process or technique you tried in order to get those notes?

[zippcraz1one]

ok i stoped singing for a week. and started back to day,
i drunk water and warmed up and sung e's to warm down

and when i started my high notes, my range had gone up.
but when i tryed E2 i couldnt hit it, i could only get G2.

am i turning into a tenor or something?
im certan i was a baritone. or maybe a bass

and my falsetto is high, but when i warm up it gets lower.
and i cant scream like a girl any more.

when i warm down i can hit E2. but when warmed up it's G2
wtf is going on? really

could inward scream's be doing this?

can someone plz help me?

sorry for the bad grammar


some one please help me :upset:

[Merkaba]

Quick question.. Alcohol hurts your vocal cords....... But how?.. Is it because the vocal cords tense up and you hurt them if you talk? So if you only drank alcohol, and didn't use your voice at all, it wouldn't hurt them?
Take any kind of alcohol and put in on your skin... It will render you dry. Thats the nature of alcohol. So as it is moving through your body and bumping into braincells and killing them, it circulates through the cord vessels as well and drys your cords out...to some extent. So then you go and try to sing and you have to press them together harder for a true seal, and dry cords dont work well in falsetto either. To some extent...again...you might not be able to tell the difference...maybe not for years. But anything that takes moisture away from the cords, including caffeine...typically isnt in your best interest. But I've been consuming alot of it lately...due to work. Its not like if you get drunk and sing, youre gonna do permanent damage...no. But just be aware of whats going on internally.

[Helmet]

Just a quick question, has anyone here ever gotten laryngitis from yelling? I seem to have gotten it the other day after yelling a bit...

[Knifeboy]

Take any kind of alcohol and put in on your skin... It will render you dry. Thats the nature of alcohol. So as it is moving through your body and bumping into braincells and killing them, it circulates through the cord vessels as well and drys your cords out...to some extent. So then you go and try to sing and you have to press them together harder for a true seal, and dry cords dont work well in falsetto either. To some extent...again...you might not be able to tell the difference...maybe not for years. But anything that takes moisture away from the cords, including caffeine...typically isnt in your best interest. But I've been consuming alot of it lately...due to work. Its not like if you get drunk and sing, youre gonna do permanent damage...no. But just be aware of whats going on internally.

Yeah, that's how I thought it worked...
So this means, in theory, if you drank alcohol, and didn't use your voice untill it had cleared your system, it wouldn't hurt your vocal cords?

[Merkaba]

Yeah, that's how I thought it worked...
So this means, in theory, if you drank alcohol, and didn't use your voice untill it had cleared your system, it wouldn't hurt your vocal cords?
Theoretically...and by "dont use your voice" you also mean things not neccesarily about music...such as talking loudly in a bar, ball game, etc.

Just a quick question, has anyone here ever gotten laryngitis from yelling? I seem to have gotten it the other day after yelling a bit...
Never had laryngitis or loss my voice ever. Lucky me...even as a child. Now i have blown out my singing voice and been pretty hoarse for two days before.

If its laryngitis this you means you have some infection of the vocal coards. Its hard to tell if its laryngitis or just blown voice unless you go to the doctor. Either way, dont sing or whisper much. And limit talking actually.

Hey Merkaba,
I'm sure you're loaded with a million other people asking questions; but I think I'm ready to move onto learning another tecnique. :)
I'll be ordering Kristina's book pretty soon, and I'm not sure if it covers these thins, I kind of doubt it. So here goes.

Do you have any advice on either inward screaming or "power falsetto"?
I don't understand inner screaming at all, so if I wanted to seriously attempt to learn that, I would need alot of help.
I somewhat understand how power falsetto works, but I don't really get how to bridge the area between head voice and falsetto, and make those high notes sound so.. full! I'm so used to using my falsetto for screaming now, so it's hard to not scream sometimes when I'm trying to work on it. Lately I've been trying the blank robot face, especially when warming up, to be able to comfortably hit high falsetto notes without tightening the throat like I used to. I can even add a little rasp to my falsetto, without pushing hard at all, but I have to concentrate on not changing it into a scream. Before I was pushing too hard to get the rasp with falsetto... so now I think I'm understanding it more, but now I'm also curious about power falsetto... :)

I know absolutely nothing about inward screaming. Some people can do it alot and make it sound good..some cant. So be careful with that...

You just have to be sure youre keeping a relaxed throat when you go through your bridge. It just takes time and practice til you realize when to quit trying to hit full voice. I dont know alot of tecniques for getting the feel of powerfalsetto...other than try to sing the note full voice first...or go for that feel..but then let it flip over into falsetto, and continue to feel both as you sing the note. It will take some muslce coordinations that you might not be aware of...though you've probably yelled at someone before with it, or mimmicked a band with it and didnt know.

ok i stoped singing for a week. and started back to day,
i drunk water and warmed up and sung e's to warm down

and when i started my high notes, my range had gone up.
but when i tryed E2 i couldnt hit it, i could only get G2.

am i turning into a tenor or something?
im certan i was a baritone. or maybe a bass

and my falsetto is high, but when i warm up it gets lower.
and i cant scream like a girl any more.

when i warm down i can hit E2. but when warmed up it's G2
wtf is going on? really

could inward scream's be doing this?

can someone plz help me?

sorry for the bad grammar
I dont get it.

Ok, I'm guessing youre counting middle C as C1, and not C4? So You can sing a G2 which is higher than an E2...right? Is this in true voice? But when you warm down you cant hit the E? Is this during your warm down or after it? Please repost and clarify your situation.
Merkaba,
I know awhile back you were going to try to hit some whistle notes, and eventually did. Could you kind of explain the process or technique you tried in order to get those notes?
Yea...its comming along rather slowly...but way more than back when i posted that. As far as how to do it...its pretty hard to describe...but i pull my cords up like im gonna hit a head voice note....but clamp them together and dont let them vibrate....then push air through them. I'm gonna post a sample when i get one up for that "Range" thread. My cords arent in the best shape these past couple of days due to too much coffee and not enough rest....with work. I was gonna quit the caffeine today for a week or so...but had to get up with only 2 hours sleep...so i gave in.

[zippcraz1one]

yes im kind of confused by notes one say's that C3 is middle C

and 5 other thing's say's it's not any way i use a tool called pitch practice

witch says C4 is middle C,so im going by that. lol

when im not warmed up i can hit E2 when i am warmed up
the lowest i can go is G2 true voice

the highest i can go true voice is G4 when im warmed up
the highest i can go when im not warmed up is C4 to D4

so i think i use C4 as middle C.

the highest falsetto i can when not warmed up is C6.
the highest falsetto i can get when im warmed up is about G5.

and the less i practice, the higher my range seems to get. wtf?

im dont even know if im pushing from the gut or not.

so basicaly i can hit higher falsetto notes when not warmed up.
and lower falsetto notes when warmed up.

is that good or bad?

i think im loseing my falsetto, its just not as high as it was when i was 15.

and i think that inhaled screams are what's doing this.

and is it supposed to be easy to hit and hold notes

cuz i can hold my tone when im talking and stuff

and im just feeling thats it's way too easy i dont know whats happening

i hope im not turning into a tenor or somthing "if thats even possible"
cuz i like being a baritone.

[panthersfan16]

I really hate hearing my voice on recordings...it seems to lack power, and when I start to sing high notes, I can hear problems with the pitch, and I can hear an annoying kind of buzz in my voice...is this bad technique or just bad pipes?

[Merkaba]

yes im kind of confused by notes one say's that C3 is middle C

and 5 other thing's say's it's not any way i use a tool called pitch practice

witch says C4 is middle C,so im going by that. lol

when im not warmed up i can hit E2 when i am warmed up
the lowest i can go is G2 true voice

the highest i can go true voice is G4 when im warmed up
the highest i can go when im not warmed up is C4 to D4

so i think i use C4 as middle C.

the highest falsetto i can when not warmed up is C6.
the highest falsetto i can get when im warmed up is about G5.

and the less i practice, the higher my range seems to get. wtf?

im dont even know if im pushing from the gut or not.

so basicaly i can hit higher falsetto notes when not warmed up.
and lower falsetto notes when warmed up.

is that good or bad?

i think im loseing my falsetto, its just not as high as it was when i was 15.

and i think that inhaled screams are what's doing this.

and is it supposed to be easy to hit and hold notes

cuz i can hold my tone when im talking and stuff

and im just feeling thats it's way too easy i dont know whats happening

i hope im not turning into a tenor or somthing "if thats even possible"
cuz i like being a baritone.
How old are you now? Your larynx will get bigger as you go through puberty and whatnot, and it can really make your voice act up a bit. I dont really know what to tell you other than keep singing and see how it goes. If youre still pretty young, there's no telling where you might end up...as far as the fach system goes.

[Merkaba]

yes im kind of confused by notes one say's that C3 is middle C

and 5 other thing's say's it's not any way i use a tool called pitch practice

witch says C4 is middle C,so im going by that. lol

when im not warmed up i can hit E2 when i am warmed up
the lowest i can go is G2 true voice

the highest i can go true voice is G4 when im warmed up
the highest i can go when im not warmed up is C4 to D4

so i think i use C4 as middle C.

the highest falsetto i can when not warmed up is C6.
the highest falsetto i can get when im warmed up is about G5.

and the less i practice, the higher my range seems to get. wtf?

im dont even know if im pushing from the gut or not.

so basicaly i can hit higher falsetto notes when not warmed up.
and lower falsetto notes when warmed up.

is that good or bad?

i think im loseing my falsetto, its just not as high as it was when i was 15.

and i think that inhaled screams are what's doing this.

and is it supposed to be easy to hit and hold notes

cuz i can hold my tone when im talking and stuff

and im just feeling thats it's way too easy i dont know whats happening

i hope im not turning into a tenor or somthing "if thats even possible"
cuz i like being a baritone.
How old are you now? Your larynx will get bigger as you go through puberty and whatnot, and it can really make your voice act up a bit. I dont really know what to tell you other than keep singing and see how it goes. If youre still pretty young, there's no telling where you might end up...as far as the fach system goes. You should post a sample

[zippcraz1one]

How old are you now? Your larynx will get bigger as you go through puberty and whatnot, and it can really make your voice act up a bit. I dont really know what to tell you other than keep singing and see how it goes. If youre still pretty young, there's no telling where you might end up...as far as the fach system goes. You should post a sample

im 16 now.
if i post a sound clip could you tell me if im singing from my gut?

i forgot to ask this in my first post sorry but how can i tell
if i have a node

[Rats]

yeah stop doing the inward screams, they do the same thing to me

[Knifeboy]

Theoretically...and by "dont use your voice" you also mean things not neccesarily about music...such as talking loudly in a bar, ball game, etc.

Yeah exactly..
Good good, thanks for the answers :).. Just needed to know if I had the right idea about how it hurts your voice

[zippcraz1one]

i hate to keep bothering you...

but is there any thing i can do to make my range stop growing?
i have tried to stop singing...
but thats too hard...

i just dont want to wake up one day and have 5 octaves...

here's what happend... most of what i remember anyway

ok 4 or 3 months ago i had trouble hiting and holding an A3...
so one nite i didnt stop... till i got E4, after that i couldn't talk...
my voice hurt.. and i didn't stop there.. i would do it every day..
no matter how hard it was, my range started growing after that...

i dont want it to get any higher than G4...
but with my luck.. by next month, ill prolly be able to hit and hold a C5...
maybe i was just born with it i dont know.....

the most scary thing about it is i held a note for 19 sec's today.
i could have held it longer but it scared me..

thank you for all the help merkaba..
i will try to get a sample up...

[panthersfan16]

bump

[Merkaba]

i hate to keep bothering you...

but is there any thing i can do to make my range stop growing?
i have tried to stop singing...
but thats too hard...

i just dont want to wake up one day and have 5 octaves...

here's what happend... most of what i remember anyway

ok 4 or 3 months ago i had trouble hiting and holding an A3...
so one nite i didnt stop... till i got E4, after that i couldn't talk...
my voice hurt.. and i didn't stop there.. i would do it every day..
no matter how hard it was, my range started growing after that...

i dont want it to get any higher than G4...
but with my luck.. by next month, ill prolly be able to hit and hold a C5...
maybe i was just born with it i dont know.....

the most scary thing about it is i held a note for 19 sec's today.
i could have held it longer but it scared me..

thank you for all the help merkaba..
i will try to get a sample up...

Well you were trying to reach a note ...or make your range grow in the first place right? so what if you have a big range as long as its not affecting your quality...right? I'd love to hear a sample though.

[zippcraz1one]

Well you were trying to reach a note ...or make your range grow in the first place right? so what if you have a big range as long as its not affecting your quality...right? I'd love to hear a sample though.

yes i tried to make my range grow and it worked i wouldnt recomend
doing what i did cuz i blew my voice out a few time's!!!
as far quality goes, im working on that...
i wish i had found this site when i started singing...

my friend and i will be recording today.. so i will have some up today...

i'll do some scream's too see if you can help me with that if you have time.. :thumb:
i don't know if your ear's will like my voice tho lol

[zippcraz1one]

ok.. i recorded some sample i wasn't warmed up but one is falsetto...
and one is true voice i think.....

here's my voice. i didn't have time to warm up. so i couldn't get my whole
range, but. next time if you truly want to hear it all i can record it friday
cuz, il have more time then..

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/zippcrazone1_music.htm

hope this work's

[Kosta]

Hey Merkaba..

How do I raspen my voice more? I know I should use my soft pallet, which I do, but, does it get more raspy if I push more from the gut?

Also, I've been practicing some breathing techniques for this past month now. And I noticed how I feel the air in my sides when I breathe it in, and how of course, my stomache swells. But I don't feel like I can hold more breath than before, help?

[Phototropic]

Hey, to someone who can help

I ****ing love John Garcia's voice....and would like to pull off a similar style

Any advice?!

Or am I just being daft :)

(I'm referring to his Kyuss times e.g Flip The Phrase, Freedom Run etc)

[Kosta]

Hey, to someone who can help

I ****ing love John Garcia's voice....and would like to pull off a similar style

Any advice?!

Or am I just being daft :)

(I'm referring to his Kyuss times e.g Flip The Phrase, Freedom Run etc)


Pay attention to his reply to my question, I guess. The dude raspens his voice a lot, something you need your soft pallet for. Let air pass through the back of your throat.

I love Kyuss.

[Phototropic]

Jeez dude I missed your post

Hooray :)

I'll look out

Do you think it has something to with his accent as well?!

I love Fatso Forgetso and Flip The Phrase, he sounds immense on those songs :thumb:

[Kosta]

Jeez dude I missed your post

Hooray :)

I'll look out

Do you think it has something to with his accent as well?!

I love Fatso Forgetso and Flip The Phrase, he sounds immense on those songs :thumb:


I have no idea, as I'm not a great vocalist - my vocal ability is just limited to extreme vocals (screams, grunts). I just posted what I know. But it could very well be his accent.

Garcia's amazing in "I'm Not", though. How he does the chorus, over Josh's guitar kicks ***.

[Phototropic]

Yeah it might be :)

He sounds a bit of a hick...although when you hear him live talking to the crowd , he has a normal voice, although really really deep

Gah :( I'm jealous

[Kosta]

Yeah it might be :)

He sounds a bit of a hick...although when you hear him live talking to the crowd , he has a normal voice, although really really deep

Gah :( I'm jealous


Actually, he doesn't have a strong accent in Demon Cleaner, he sounds very clean on that song, so I don't know.. I guess you should just wait for Merkaba to post.

[Phototropic]

Right oh, nice talking to ya :thumb:

Kyuss > everyone

[Merkaba]

Hey, to someone who can help

I ****ing love John Garcia's voice....and would like to pull off a similar style

Any advice?!

Or am I just being daft :)

(I'm referring to his Kyuss times e.g Flip The Phrase, Freedom Run etc)

Can you post a sample? Dont make this stuff harder than it is. There's not much you can do with the cords. Now trying to match another mans tone exactly can often lead to tension in the throat area....thus damage to some degree...or just shltty sounding vocals.

Hey Merkaba..

How do I raspen my voice more? I know I should use my soft pallet, which I do, but, does it get more raspy if I push more from the gut?

Also, I've been practicing some breathing techniques for this past month now. And I noticed how I feel the air in my sides when I breathe it in, and how of course, my stomache swells. But I don't feel like I can hold more breath than before, help?
Yea, eventually you need to go ahead and learn to push a lot. To sound "competitive"...Lots of guys are killing the soundwaves and not killing their voices...many are. Just try to follow proper technique..and turn it up a little at a time. And dont equate it with extra throat squeezing. This is the key. Just be sure to reamain relaxed up top. And be sure to go for singing the note first. Be careful...but yes...eventually you have to push harder for more rasp.

[zippcraz1one]

i just hit a chest voice note with falsetto..
is that good or bad?
could my cord's get so long that they fall out of my throat? :lol:
and. what is a node and how can i tell if i have one?

my adam's apple, dosnt move as much when i talk as it used..
is that good or bad?

i had posted some sample's i don't know if you saw them or not..

just some stuff, i wanted to ask to see if i should continue the same
or change some thing's....

[Kosta]

Can you post a sample? Dont make this stuff harder than it is. There's not much you can do with the cords. Now trying to match another mans tone exactly can often lead to tension in the throat area....thus damage to some degree...or just shltty sounding vocals.


Yea, eventually you need to go ahead and learn to push a lot. To sound "competitive"...Lots of guys are killing the soundwaves and not killing their voices...many are. Just try to follow proper technique..and turn it up a little at a time. And dont equate it with extra throat squeezing. This is the key. Just be sure to reamain relaxed up top. And be sure to go for singing the note first. Be careful...but yes...eventually you have to push harder for more rasp.


So how do I push?

And why doesn't it feel like I can hold more breath with my gut? 'cause I can't. I can only hold as much breath with my gut, as I do when I use my upper lungs. And I know I do it properly.

[Peg Dizzler]

Zippcrazone1, I listened to your recordings. The falsetto was pretty sweet, I think you went pretty high. Not bad at all!
The other one titled "me singing", I don't think you were hitting the right notes. Because, you sung "do re me fa so la ti do" but the notes you were hitting, it definitely wasn't a full octave. Maybe if you have a guitar or keyboard, you could figure out your range and try singing along with it.
I thought you had a pretty good tone though, it was interesting. Cool stuff.

[zippcraz1one]

Zippcrazone1, I listened to your recordings. The falsetto was pretty sweet, I think you went pretty high. Not bad at all!
The other one titled "me singing", I don't think you were hitting the right notes. Because, you sung "do re me fa so la ti do" but the notes you were hitting, it definitely wasn't a full octave. Maybe if you have a guitar or keyboard, you could figure out your range and try singing along with it.
I thought you had a pretty good tone though, it was interesting. Cool stuff.

thank's dude i can go higher than that with falsetto...
i just didnt have time and the note's i was singing i think where from
D3 maybe E3 to C4 so yeah it wasn't an octave...
i just started singing, but sunday i will record some more and...
it will be all my range....

[Peg Dizzler]

Yeah, you might have a range of 2 or 3 octaves, I'd have to wait and hear it.

[Merkaba]

So how do I push?

And why doesn't it feel like I can hold more breath with my gut? 'cause I can't. I can only hold as much breath with my gut, as I do when I use my upper lungs. And I know I do it properly.
Youre only using your lungs for the air. The diaphragm is what pushes the lungs and makes them release the air. The thing is that if you dont use it, you will more than likely squeeze your stomach, and then your throat off in an attempt to get the adequate pressure felt behind the cords...which is a no no. Practice taking a quick deep breath and doing long ZZ's

[Kosta]

Youre only using your lungs for the air. The diaphragm is what pushes the lungs and makes them release the air. The thing is that if you dont use it, you will more than likely squeeze your stomach, and then your throat off in an attempt to get the adequate pressure felt behind the cords...which is a no no. Practice taking a quick deep breath and doing long ZZ's


Pfft, of course. I forgot the diaphragm is just for the regulation of the air.

Makes practicing ZZ's teach me how to push using my diaphragm? 'cause that's the main problem, I can't push.


So basically....how do I learn how to push? Doing those ZZs? Or...?

[zippcraz1one]

ok the falsetto is up to G5/A5

but the other one is help i dont know what the **** it was cuz..
it suck's but at the end, i think i hit that falsetto note full voice.
please tell me i didnt.. it get's bad i know but please wait for...
the high note's at the end cuz i dont know if there falsetto or what...
maybe you can tell me....

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/zippcrazone1_music.htm

[Krao]

Hey again.

When I scream I tend to tense my neck and hold my head, not upright but a little bit leaning forward. My guess is it's helping me hold my larynx down a little, aswell as it feels easier to get more rasp. Do you think this is bad? I know you talk alot about relaxing your throat and keeping it open, but I don't think I'm have much tension in my throat.. just the neck. If a do my screams with a upright head I can make it sound almost the same, but I fall out of it more and it's harder to get a good rasp on higher notes.

[AcidQueen]

When I sing, my adam's apple moves up as my pitch goes up. Appearantly this is a no-no. What can I do to fix this? I think I am breathing right; my stomach moves out as I breathe in, yet it still feels as if all of my power is coming from my throat muscles.

[Merkaba]

ok the falsetto is up to G5/A5

but the other one is help i dont know what the **** it was cuz..
it suck's but at the end, i think i hit that falsetto note full voice.
please tell me i didnt.. it get's bad i know but please wait for...
the high note's at the end cuz i dont know if there falsetto or what...
maybe you can tell me....

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/5/zippcrazone1_music.htm
Definitely falsetto. Plus...If it was full voice that would make you a soprano. hehe.

If you could learn to support your falsetto you could probably add more notes. I can hear that. How to do this is hard to teach though. Other than trying to sing both head and falsetto at the same time...I dont know of any other way to describe it.

When I sing, my adam's apple moves up as my pitch goes up. Appearantly this is a no-no. What can I do to fix this? I think I am breathing right; my stomach moves out as I breathe in, yet it still feels as if all of my power is coming from my throat muscles.
It will move a bit. But compare it to when you swallow. You dont want it mimmicking this type of rise or squeeze. We cant really tell on here..you might be doing it properly and just feeling the intense vocal muscles. A good gauge is how long can you hold your non rasped notes? should be a while

[zippcraz1one]

what is head voice?

thank's merkaba. by any chance if you heard the other one called me singing.
am i singing from my gut?

btw.. i have been trying to get one of my whole
range but i never get it done i will some time soon tho....

[AcidQueen]

t will move a bit. But compare it to when you swallow. You dont want it mimmicking this type of rise or squeeze. We cant really tell on here..you might be doing it properly and just feeling the intense vocal muscles. A good gauge is how long can you hold your non rasped notes? should be a while
It actually does move up as much as when I swallow. I can only hold out a note for maybe ten seconds. My throat gets very tired after singing one or two songs. Is this from lack of practice or wrong technique?

[Merkaba]

It actually does move up as much as when I swallow. I can only hold out a note for maybe ten seconds. My throat gets very tired after singing one or two songs. Is this from lack of practice or wrong technique?

Wrong technique...check out my voicehelp hotline if you havent and work on the isolation thread. It seems impossible but over time you should be able to go up without your apple moving much at all...you might have to find the muscles that it takes to hold it in place...which most people cant isolate from the vocal cords muscles because of emotional tendencies...and also by seeing other people scream and moving their mouths...facial expressions and things like that get copied since birth and some of the tendencies that go along with those expressions get buried deep in your muscle memory.
what is head voice?

thank's merkaba. by any chance if you heard the other one called me singing.
am i singing from my gut?

btw.. i have been trying to get one of my whole
range but i never get it done i will some time soon tho....

Head voice is called head because of the fact that when you sing a note the vibrations resonate in your head...and if you go from chest to head you can feel the point of resonation moving up into your head...and when you go on up to falsetto you will lose that feeling of vibration. You should try it and see if you can feel it. If you do a chest note(lower note) you can feel your chest kinda vibrating a bit and as you slide up to a head note(or the top of your true voice range, really) you can feel your head vibrate more and your chest will not. As far as singing from your gut in that sample I would say that it seemed that you were holding back a bit ...so I couldnt really tell. I mean singing from the gut is what youre gonna have to do to sing any note, but when you start driving the voice harder and pushing its good to keep your throat open and the pressure coming from your diaphragm. Its just a term thrown around to make sure youre not clamping off the throat. But you cant really produce a decent note without using the diaphragm. Practice holding the zzz sound and working to get your time up. You should take a deep breath first like youre surprised(thanks Kristina), this increases your chance of taking a proper breath.

[XemoXmoshXpitX]

I want to have an Underoath type scream, or something like the beginning of the song "Walls" by Emery. My voice is just a little on the deep side. I can whisper-scream this way, and I keep trying to get louder daily. So far I've almost reached the normal talking volume, but not quite. Any pointers?

[Rats]

I want to have an Underoath type scream, or something like the beginning of the song "Walls" by Emery. My voice is just a little on the deep side. I can whisper-scream this way, and I keep trying to get louder daily. So far I've almost reached the normal talking volume, but not quite. Any pointers?

practice and use good technique

[Merkaba]

I just cant keep repeating the same answer to "How can I sound like underoath"....
Jams session stickie, Merkaba's voicehelp hotline.

[lloydapalooza]

hey merkaba, not to be a nuisance but, when are you gonna post those samples? :)

[Merkaba]

hey merkaba, not to be a nuisance but, when are you gonna post those samples? :)
Man...I had to download audacity again...from dialup..so I havent gotten to it yet. I told the Tool thread guys I would have some up today...sunday...because they are doing some tool covers and I wanted to get on one. Maybe monday I can get something up.

oh yea...again...anything in particular you want?

[redrumsixsix6]

merkaba, i wanna thank u for recording ur singing lessons on soundclick. IT has hel;ped me alot. i just started screamign and i think im getin teh heang of it bys ingign sim[ple scream like ohio is for lovers by hawthorne hights (band is ok, just an easys ong to scream) and my voice feels a little scartcht after screaming and i wann amek sure im not hirting my vocal chords.......this could just be cause im just starting to scream idk mayeb uc oudl tell me.....it doesnt hurt just kidna scratchy

[XemoXmoshXpitX]

I just cant keep repeating the same answer to "How can I sound like underoath"....
Jams session stickie, Merkaba's voicehelp hotline.

Sorry. Guess I was just too lazy to look. I think what we're gonna do is get a lead singer and I will be backing vocals and bass.

[Rats]

Man...I had to download audacity again...from dialup..so I havent gotten to it yet. I told the Tool thread guys I would have some up today...sunday...because they are doing some tool covers and I wanted to get on one. Maybe monday I can get something up.

oh yea...again...anything in particular you want?


Dialup?? Come on man... isn't DSL just as cheap, if not cheaper, than dialup?

[Merkaba]

Yep dialup...I havent really looked into dsl because I dont do much downloading and uploading...but in times like these I wish I had it. I might look into it though. Nothing like faster ****! hehe

Anyways...its gonna be another day now because i just found out I have to go in to work Tuesday early....which means at noon....four hours early for overtime. I get off at twelve at night. twelve hours...I wanted to record some tonight because my voice seemed really on after work but I had a friend come back with me and we're about to go sexercise so....hey, can you blame it. Plus I didnt really want to be singing LOUD at 1230 am....So looks like wednesday might work. Who knows...

[Kosta]

Was my last post deleted or something? Heh, I don't get it. Anyway.

How do you learn how to push and what does pushing feel like? If it's been posted before, just..link it I guess. But I haven't read anything about the pushing itself.

[GermanGuy4]

Hold ur hand over your mouth, and try to have as little air as possible come out. If very little air is coming out, you know you are pushing with your gut

[Merkaba]

Was my last post deleted or something? Heh, I don't get it. Anyway.

How do you learn how to push and what does pushing feel like? If it's been posted before, just..link it I guess. But I haven't read anything about the pushing itself.
The best way i can explain it is take your proper breath....then push as if you were going to grunt, or try to hold a cough.....but activate the cords intstead.... Now this is for the diaphragm only. You dont want to manipulate your mouth like youre coughing or grunting...you want to keep that all relaxed...but the pressure comes from the gut. As i said..to do any singing youre gonna use your diaphragm to push the air out....the thing is that if you tense your throat up youre gonna not be getting good cord pressure so you'll push harder to try to achieve this and this leads to quick fatigue an injury. But youre really always coming from the gut. But if you can clamp down on the cords while keeping the larynx relaxed you'll get a better balance. Now doing harder stuff like tool or mudvayne...youre gonna be pushing like if you were just hollering...but with proper technique vocal wise. And yes...for more proper notes and singing...you want to release only the amount of air you need.

[Kosta]

Hold ur hand over your mouth, and try to have as little air as possible come out. If very little air is coming out, you know you are pushing with your gut

The best way i can explain it is take your proper breath....then push as if you were going to grunt, or try to hold a cough.....but activate the cords intstead.... Now this is for the diaphragm only. You dont want to manipulate your mouth like youre coughing or grunting...you want to keep that all relaxed...but the pressure comes from the gut. As i said..to do any singing youre gonna use your diaphragm to push the air out....the thing is that if you tense your throat up youre gonna not be getting good cord pressure so you'll push harder to try to achieve this and this leads to quick fatigue an injury. But youre really always coming from the gut. But if you can clamp down on the cords while keeping the larynx relaxed you'll get a better balance. Now doing harder stuff like tool or mudvayne...youre gonna be pushing like if you were just hollering...but with proper technique vocal wise. And yes...for more proper notes and singing...you want to release only the amount of air you need.


Thanks. A. ****ing. Lot.

This'll improve my vocals a lot. Thank you.

[RayTuRd]

Hi merkaba, I know this is a stupid question but, when I hear myself singing , it sounds somewhat monotone you know. I have been following all excersises like I warm up with keyboard, I do breathing excersises. I also when I sing push from the stomach, I have practiced HA's and everything else. When I record, I also add a little whisper to my voice to make it sound a little better, yet it doesn't have that great sound that like a lot of artists do. What should I do to get my voice to sound more soft and great and less monotonelike?

[lloydapalooza]

hmm maybe you can post some of the warmups you do(the vowel scale warmups and HA!s), some glisses. i'd definately like to hear you do a heavily rasped head voice scream as well as a normal falsetto voice into a falsetto scream. sing a tool song too! thanks merkaba, we apperciate your help alot.

[Merkaba]

Ray...I dont really understand what you mean by monotone if youre changing notes. Unless youre just being too mechanical and robotic...not fluid maybe. I think that comes with finding your own voice and feel over time...But when all else fails practice acapella and normal singing without that whisper. I used to sing alot with something that I would describe as similar to that whisper....just because of hearing songs my whole life and trying to imitate that soft and/or raspy sound and it still plagues me at times because I have a habit of not driving through many notes the way I should because of years of letting up to get a certain whispy ness, airy emotional kind of thing. Now i have to think more and concentrate to close up tight....Anyways....

to loyd....I just finished Stinkfist today, for that Tool thread mix....just right before work. It was kinda rushed but not bad, but I still have this irking feeling about recording in my apt. bedroom...I just cant let go....If i had my own house I would feel more at ease cause It just gets so dam loud. But I have to convert it and upload it in the morning. I should have a link up soon. At least I have something recorded! So ok...I'll try to cover your requests as well.
--------------
Edit...
with my schedule I dont even know why I fool myself into the plans i make sometimes. Probably gonna be Saturday. Oh well

[moaner]

merk...

I've never considered myself a singer. In fact, i've always considered my singing to be terrible.

but, i thought i'd give it a go, so other than the 1 timing slip, could you tell me what i'm doing right/wrong here?

Excuse the quality, i just used a pc mic to be quick :D

http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0YPTGOSC3CS43VS06QURIKZ8V

[Merkaba]

The link doesnt work^

[allthegoodnamesweregone]

why do people voices sound worse on tape than in real life...

[Rats]

The link doesnt work^

it works here

[Merkaba]

why do people voices sound worse on tape than in real life...
peoples...or yours? Well tape can be a pretty crappy media...if youre actually talking about tape. If you mean just recording in general...well... if youre talking about yourself then remember that your whole life you hear yourself with basically your whole body...like an antenna. And your height and weight and density play a part in how much and what vibrates and it also affects the overall vibration of the hammer,anvil and stirrup of the ear. But for the most part its just your chest and head...all of that open air and sinuses and fluid and whatnot really affects how you pickup the vibrations in the ear. Now when it comes out of your mouth into the air it is a whole different quality because theres not as much between the cords and the air youre projecting out.

:wave:

[Merkaba]

merk...

I've never considered myself a singer. In fact, i've always considered my singing to be terrible.

but, i thought i'd give it a go, so other than the 1 timing slip, could you tell me what i'm doing right/wrong here?

Excuse the quality, i just used a pc mic to be quick :D

http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0YPTGOSC3CS43VS06QURIKZ8V
ok...works now...might have been my craputer. Anyways...doesnt sound bad. I know it was probably the mood of the song...but do you usually sing as airy as that? Its not too airy...and fits the music...but I'm just wondering because I did that so much over the first years that I found out later that I was in the habit of not closing up the cords and it took me a while to gain strength because I wasnt used to holding that tension. Its just something to think about...I mean I like singing that way and if the music calls for it then it should be done...Just something to be mindful of. And if you used a little more support you could probably get a little better tone ...since there is more air needed for those slow airy vocals. Those are the two things that popped up in my mind. Give em a thought or three.

[moaner]

ok, thanks very much

[Merkaba]

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/moredemos_music.htm
THis is me doing stinkfist for the Tool thread compilation thingy we got going on over there. If you listen carefully in the "how could this mean anything to me" part..I did like three other tracks in the background...with like some harmony...with a high falsetto as one of them...gives it a little apc'ish vibe...but i kept it pretty low so it wouldnt turn away from the original...

And I included a "previously released" song..hehe...called Burn. I wrote the song in my car over like two nights after work. Its overall about religoin and spirituality The end is my favorite...very dreamy to me...with a little smidgeon of audition's reverb on like tree harmony tracks. I'm very proud of that part...its not out of this world but it sounds exactly how I felt, and what the song was getting at for me. That part is actually about how people say that if youre falling during a dream and you hit the ground then you die....but after I hit the ground in a dream one time, i became lucid for the first time in a dream...and realized I was dreaming and looked around. I was in like the grand canyon or something looking like that. After that.. All of my dreams changed...and I never had any nightmare type dreams since then..even the ones that are scarey are like jokes and i never get really scared...even when I'm not lucid. Anyways....but it got clipped when I was downloading it so its all cut off abruptly...but i say "why'd ya have to go away for" at the end...cause I loved it so much. hehe. Anyways...

And then there is one gliss...audacity of course ate the other gliss I had done...It just disappeared. So i put in some whistle notes. I'll try to get some other stuff up soon. I know loydapalooza wanted a falsetto to rasp, and head to rasp. I'll try to get that in the next few days.

Oh yea..and i just noticed yesterday...That i had my old effects processor on the floor at my feet, under my computer table...for the past like....five months or more. I had forgotten all about it because it used to add considerable hiss when i plugged it in. But now I'm kinda anxious to just plug it back up. I might give it a mess around here before bed. Nothing like reverb. Man i think anyone can sound decent with some reverb. Since I dont have audition any more...and since audacity's reverb sucks major arse...Its been a while since I've used any good vocal effects. Ahh...reverb.

[Peg Dizzler]

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/pendingdemise.htm

Alright... I added some more recordings to my soundclick page. I basically tried to do a variety of different things. I think I can do alot of things with my voice, but the only thing that I'm truly dissatisfied with, at times, is the tone of my voice. The dual scream thing I was doing wasn't picked up very well, so ignore that I guess, I'll try recording it again sometime. But the tone of my singing voice, and the tone of my raspy singing voice, I would to improve, especially the latter.
I love the sound of my scream though, since I love european metal... and my guttoral is mediocre, but I really don't care since I don't do much of that in my material anyway.

So.. tell me what you think, and give me some hints on improving my rasp-singing tone!

[Merkaba]

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/pendingdemise.htm

Alright... I added some more recordings to my soundclick page. I basically tried to do a variety of different things. I think I can do alot of things with my voice, but the only thing that I'm truly dissatisfied with, at times, is the tone of my voice. The dual scream thing I was doing wasn't picked up very well, so ignore that I guess, I'll try recording it again sometime. But the tone of my singing voice, and the tone of my raspy singing voice, I would to improve, especially the latter.
I love the sound of my scream though, since I love european metal... and my guttoral is mediocre, but I really don't care since I don't do much of that in my material anyway.

So.. tell me what you think, and give me some hints on improving my rasp-singing tone!

I'll have to check it out after work. Yea...I'm kinda moving away from the desire to do alot of screaming...and more singing but still do a scream here and there when called for...and to keep the cords honest. Of course I'm thinking about like an hour or more long show worth of songs...in dreams of being on tour....as a relative perspective

[Merkaba]

****...Am i like a half step sharp through the whole friggin stinkfist? jesus christ...Gonna have to do that one over.

I hate recording in my apt...especially without headphones...And i had the same problem with another recording..I swear my audacity plays and records at different pitches....thats my excuse/explanation. :lol:

Definitely been singing too much Mars Volta lately...:lol:

sux arse

[zippcraz1one]

is my adam's apple supposed to change sizes?

like when i lay down it get's really small.
when i stand it's big, and when i sit it seem's
like it change's it's size too.

when i sing i think it may change it size
but im not sure.
can singing effect my adam's apple in any way?

[Peg Dizzler]

Haha. Yeah I like making excuses too, Merk. :)
I've always leaned towards more singing/less screaming. I like songs with 80% singing and 20% screaming, or less screaming. That's for songs on the heavier side of course. But after I learned how to do screams I do them a little bit more.. but not much more in my material of course, I just practice them mostly for fun, actually.

[Merkaba]

^....yep...I'm a victim of my own cause. Probably had a tense larynx and maybe oversqueezing some. Who knows. Oh well. I've seen maynard, chris cornell and the like miss notes...so I'll miss some too. hehe. No excuses.

Zipp dont panic bro. Its gonna change relative to your neck and chin and everything...its just a box of cartilage connected to all the muscles in and around your neck.

[Rats]

good **** Merkaba. now i finally understand what whistle notes are. i was driving last nite and trying to emulate your sound and figured out how to do em.. they're pretty fun to do!

[Peg Dizzler]

Wait wait wait, I wanna learn whistle notes!

[Tim_guitar_playa69]

hey im 13 and my voice is probably still breaking when i talk i get the occasional squeak but i really want to scream sing high my friends think i have just about got singing deep but i want to learn how to scream high for bands like the used story of the year ect can some 1 good at scream singing add my msn its Timmy_shag@hotmail.com
Thanks :wave:

[Merkaba]

^ read this thread and practice. And dont be lazy thinking that anyone is actually gonna IM you to repeat the same things we've already said here.

[Tim_guitar_playa69]

^ read this thread and practice. And dont be lazy thinking that anyone is actually gonna IM you to repeat the same things we've already said here.
Yeh i have read it and stuff and i sometimes do warming up exercises b4 i sing its just that my mates reckon i could get it cause i can sort of scream take take take take take take it away (take it away-the used) but thats low screaming but i just dont know how 2 get my voice to be louder screaming
but other then that ur infomation is really good merkabas just out of curioisty how long have u been scream singing for
TiM :wave:

[AA-12]

I need help on getting the sound of Alexi Laiho's type of vocals. The higher pitched raspy like vocals. I'm not exactly sure on what you'd call them.

[Po0sH]

I need help on getting the sound of Alexi Laiho's type of vocals. The higher pitched raspy like vocals. I'm not exactly sure on what you'd call them.
post a clip of him singing some part that you want.

[AA-12]

Basically, I want the style that he uses in this song: http://www.musicianalliance.net/Songs/Trashed,%20Lost%20&%20Strung%20Out/01%20Trashed,%20Lost%20&%20Strung%20Out.m4a

[Po0sH]

Basically, I want the style that he uses in this song: http://www.musicianalliance.net/Songs/Trashed,%20Lost%20&%20Strung%20Out/01%20Trashed,%20Lost%20&%20Strung%20Out.m4a

Basically sounds like the technique used in a lot of vocalists, and then basically altered to sound differently. I too wanted to sound like that so I checked out merkaba's soundclick where he has something that helps you get this sound out of your voice. I donno how to explain creating it, but once you figure out how, you have to push with your gut to increase the gain of it, and that is basically what it sounds like that he is doing.

[AA-12]

Got a link?

[Po0sH]

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/merkabastarmusic.htm

[brainproof]

okay, i haven;t been screaming very long. probally onlya couple of weeks. but everytime i scream, the only way i can get any rasp is to use a lot of push, and its really loud. how do i use less push but still get good rasp? do i just keep practicing and eventually i will figure it out or is there a trick? and is it normal for my scream to sound really girly and high when just beginning?

[Merkaba]

okay, i haven;t been screaming very long. probally onlya couple of weeks. but everytime i scream, the only way i can get any rasp is to use a lot of push, and its really loud. how do i use less push but still get good rasp? do i just keep practicing and eventually i will figure it out or is there a trick? and is it normal for my scream to sound really girly and high when just beginning?
The key is learning to sing without moving your throat up and down with the notes. You leave more room for the cords to be flexible with the added pressures instead of just a "breather valve". Practice true voice singing, and forceful singing that works your true voice. I dont really know what you mean by alot of push...It will take diaphragm pressure...almost like a sustained grunt type of pressure in the gut region...it takes considerable push to get a good rasp and tone, but not like ninety or a hundred percent like I think most people like to think they need.

[Merkaba]

Yeh i have read it and stuff and i sometimes do warming up exercises b4 i sing its just that my mates reckon i could get it cause i can sort of scream take take take take take take it away (take it away-the used) but thats low screaming but i just dont know how 2 get my voice to be louder screaming
but other then that ur infomation is really good merkabas just out of curioisty how long have u been scream singing for
TiM :wave:
It will take time. If you have a car use it as your practice studio. Thats What i have done over the years. There is no judgement and you can miss notes all day as you grow into them. Lets face it though....if youre trying to get some new stuff down it will take lots of time and patience, but dont rush it, you only get one pair of cords.

I dont really do much scream singing...I just know how its done...because its all really the same it just depends on your strength and flexibility as far as dynamics and effects go. You shouldnt be hoarse or in any pain after a session...otherwise...I say...if you into hard vocals...go after it. If you warm up adequately the cords can take a pretty good killing. You will need that to get them to respond with growth later. Just remember that technique is the key...and you should warm up and warm down..warming down is very important.

[AA-12]

Your falsetto lesson 1 helped me a lot man. It was pretty close to the sound I want.

[AcidQueen]

No matter what I do, I can't get the right technique down. My larynx moves a lot when I change pitch, meaning I am using my throat to change pitch instead of my vocal cords (which you probably know.) I've read all of your posts but I still don't know how to do it right. I plan on taking vocal lessons SOMETIME, but for now is there anything I can try?

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

Merkaba- This is not voice related or anything, but I've not seen you in the Tool thread lately, so I figured I could track you down here- Have you been working on Stinkfist lately? I know you said you had it finished, but you never uploaded it. :-/

Again, sorry for the thread hi-jacking, but I needed to ask you. :)

[lloydapalooza]

Merkaba- This is not voice related or anything, but I've not seen you in the Tool thread lately, so I figured I could track you down here- Have you been working on Stinkfist lately? I know you said you had it finished, but you never uploaded it. :-/

Again, sorry for the thread hi-jacking, but I needed to ask you. :)


he has it uploaded

[Shadow18]

I have a question , When I sing , there is somthing in the back of my throat that sounds like it is vibrating and it gives my singing voice a little crackleing sound. WTF is that? ? and how can i rid of it?

[Merkaba]

Merkaba- This is not voice related or anything, but I've not seen you in the Tool thread lately, so I figured I could track you down here- Have you been working on Stinkfist lately? I know you said you had it finished, but you never uploaded it. :-/

Again, sorry for the thread hi-jacking, but I needed to ask you. :)
Yea i uploaded it...But I'm gonna rerecord it I think. I havent been over there in the tool thread in a few days.

[Merkaba]

Your falsetto lesson 1 helped me a lot man. It was pretty close to the sound I want.
:thumb:

[Merkaba]

I have a question , When I sing , there is somthing in the back of my throat that sounds like it is vibrating and it gives my singing voice a little crackleing sound. WTF is that? ? and how can i rid of it?
I have no clue as to what you've got going on in there. The only thing i could think of is that youre kinda rasping the sound by accident in the back of the throat area, maybe from squeezing the throat down a bit. You should practice making a single note at normal force, and then rising up in pitch and down to see if it still does it.Does this happen on all notes lower through higher , or just higher notes? Is it uncomfortable, or start to sting or irritate quickly? If so...how long does it normally take for it to get to that point? I cant really help ya much over the internet. You might want to see a doctor if its irritating. Maybe post a sample.

[Shadow18]

its when i start to get higher , it doesnt itch or irritate , it just sounds wierd to me.
I may post a recording or somthng.. im not that good at all , and im not used to my voice yet. If i do tho , it will be a recording of a part of a song i know

[Shadow18]

btw if it helps at all :P im only 14 , so it may be the cause of it...

and another question... how the **** does Davey Havok(AFI) go that high!!??
If you dont know what im talking bout , download these 2 songs.
AFI - Girls not grey
and
AFI - This Time Imperfect

On girls not grey , its the outro part. he sings " What follows" and just makes it really really high.

And on the other one , its the whole **** song.. goes from low to REALLY ****ING HIGH

[Rats]

it's not that high

[FinalAwakening]

Hey, I'm looking to be able to scream like Tim Lambesis the vocalist from the band As I Lay Dying. I have a pretty good natural singing voice despite reaching certain notes, but for the most part I can sing just about anything. But what I really need help with is screaming. I have a band called Final Awakening and I am the vocalist and lead guitarist so I have a pretty big role to play within the band itself. Now I can naturally scream somewhat, but I know for a fact that I must be doin it incorrectly because after recording vocals for 2 days straight I could barely talk without my throat hurting. Now with my throat finally not hurting anymore I am looking for help on screaming properly. I've read up on a lot of the follwing threads on how to scream properly but some of it just doesn't come to me or make sense, so I need more information and help. I have posted a link to a website where clips of my bands music is located. I would really appreciate any help anyone can possibly offer.

www.cafepress.com/finalawakening

If you're clicking on this link to listen to the sound clips go to the audio cd and listen to Latticework, that is the best example of the way I am currently screaming, thank you.

[Merkaba]

btw if it helps at all :P im only 14 , so it may be the cause of it...

and another question... how the **** does Davey Havok(AFI) go that high!!??
If you dont know what im talking bout , download these 2 songs.
AFI - Girls not grey
and
AFI - This Time Imperfect

On girls not grey , its the outro part. he sings " What follows" and just makes it really really high.

And on the other one , its the whole **** song.. goes from low to REALLY ****ING HIGH
Yea if youre 14 who the hell knows. Age transition will sometimes make you crack more because the larynx usually gets bigger and the cords have to balance out this change as theyre growing as well...generally its not really that big of a deal but can confuse some when they go for certain notes that they used to could close up in natural voice but now are becoming harder to. Young males are usually tenor and alto...some soprano. I was in the store this other day and this little two year old was sitting up front in the grocery cart, chanting incoherently about nothing but then he saw me coming and he looked at me and started to direct it at me, and then started this shrill. It was just incredible. He smiled and I smile back and went on about my day. Its like whenever anything like that occurs or when people are just playing around, I pay more attention to it, being that I'm all caught up in the vocal cords thing.
/tangent

but I'm not sure still what you could be doing if its not related to you rasping the note a bit by accident.

I'm not sure about Davey's vocals. I havent heard alot of them but i like the AFI that I have heard. But hey its like anything else....if you cant do it "naturally" it takes practice, technique, and strength.

[Merkaba]

Hey, I'm looking to be able to scream like Tim Lambesis the vocalist from the band As I Lay Dying. I have a pretty good natural singing voice despite reaching certain notes, but for the most part I can sing just about anything. But what I really need help with is screaming. I have a band called Final Awakening and I am the vocalist and lead guitarist so I have a pretty big role to play within the band itself. Now I can naturally scream somewhat, but I know for a fact that I must be doin it incorrectly because after recording vocals for 2 days straight I could barely talk without my throat hurting. Now with my throat finally not hurting anymore I am looking for help on screaming properly. I've read up on a lot of the follwing threads on how to scream properly but some of it just doesn't come to me or make sense, so I need more information and help. I have posted a link to a website where clips of my bands music is located. I would really appreciate any help anyone can possibly offer.

www.cafepress.com/finalawakening

If you're clicking on this link to listen to the sound clips go to the audio cd and listen to Latticework, that is the best example of the way I am currently screaming, thank you.

Well that scream sounds awesome. I clicked a few more links to hear anything else but didnt. As far as As I lay dying...I'm not familiar with them that well but i've heard them and them and everyone else are doing the same things just about . Some use more tone than others but as I always say...there's really not much you can do with the cords. But if youre experiencing pain youre using incorrect technique and probably pushing too much as well if I had to guess. If you havent read the isolation thread at the begining of the this thread then I suggest you do.

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey Merk, did you ever listen to my recordings?

And about singing/screaming like Alexi, I think it would be hard to alter your tone to sound like him. He basically does the same thing as Chad from Mudvayne though, he jumps from raspy singing to screaming and makes the two sound very similar and smooth in transition. I think my screaming sounds alot like Alexi's actually, very overrasped and uhh, European-metal-like, but I'm still working on trying to get my raspy singing to sound "similar" and not so nasal, I guess.

[moaner]

hey merk and friends...

My quest to imporve my singing is getting osmehwere, and a sing song with my acoustic has made it onto my general practise schedule. I don't tend to sing loudly (family around, you know how it is :D ) so i'm wondering...

Is this kind of practice going to make me any better? I'm not especially intrested in becoming a technichally great singer, and much more in ebing able to sing in tune enough that I can do a bit of vocal work on my own stuff and maybe a band.

[brainproof]

well, i have my falsetto scream down fairly well now, but the only problem is i have no air. Like my scream will start out good, then i run out of air and my scream dies. are there any excercises that will help me get more "wind"? like the book on your stomache exercise? and will singing full voice help my falsetto screams? i dont really have much desire to do anything vocally beside backup and scream(i play lead guitar).

thanks a ton for all the help and adive you have given me and everyone else. I greatly aprecciate all the help, without you merk, i would have no idea how to scream properly. thanks.

[Rats]

i think you should sing loud regardless of what the family thinks

[FinalAwakening]

Well that scream sounds awesome. I clicked a few more links to hear anything else but didnt. As far as As I lay dying...I'm not familiar with them that well but i've heard them and them and everyone else are doing the same things just about . Some use more tone than others but as I always say...there's really not much you can do with the cords. But if youre experiencing pain youre using incorrect technique and probably pushing too much as well if I had to guess. If you havent read the isolation thread at the begining of the this thread then I suggest you do.

Alright thanks for the info, Merk, I'll read up on that thread. Also do you know if what exactly types of screaming as i lay dying does because I know he must use a lot of falsettos but my friend informed me that it's an all natural scream. The problem I have is that I can reach those high notes when I scream but not when I sing. What I need is to be able to reach those lower tones when I scream so I can sound more like As I Lay Dying;s vocalist. I'm guessing he pushes a lot of air from his gut but I'm not sure. If you can, could you help me with being able to reach lower notes/tones in screaming, because I know I have the higher notes pretty much down pat.

[Merkaba]

No matter what I do, I can't get the right technique down. My larynx moves a lot when I change pitch, meaning I am using my throat to change pitch instead of my vocal cords (which you probably know.) I've read all of your posts but I still don't know how to do it right. I plan on taking vocal lessons SOMETIME, but for now is there anything I can try?
Well for now...remember these two keys.No pain. Ever. And No effect to your speaking voice. If you wake up the next morning and youre hoarse you need to reevaluate and make sure youre warming down good. If you ever get one of the two...remember what you were doing so you can analyze it later to remove the incorrectness. I did this on my own for a while learning the hard way before I got some coaching. I meditate everyday so maybe its just me, but i pay attention when I'm singing. It doesnt take away from the enjoyment...but I know that when I'm reaching for something new, I have to watch out and pay attention when I'm trying to drive a note, especially head. I've actually been doing that a bit lately and I do make some mistakes and have to practice what I preach. I did really well tonight though.

Remember to practice with minimal push and dont equate push with pitch. (I still do this ALOT! But I know my limits even when i do, and I usually catch myself before It gets the best of me.) This will help you keep good technique because youre not trying to over do anything. With time you add a bit more and bit more, all the while keeping the same position you instilled by not overdoing anything and memorizing bad techniques. Start off simple if you dont know if you have good technique. Do some simple notes, just hold them, try to sound like youre singing opera without moving your mouth much.

Stay smart. NO pain, no affect to your speaking voice. And warm down.

Alright thanks for the info, Merk, I'll read up on that thread. Also do you know if what exactly types of screaming as i lay dying does because I know he must use a lot of falsettos but my friend informed me that it's an all natural scream. The problem I have is that I can reach those high notes when I scream but not when I sing. What I need is to be able to reach those lower tones when I scream so I can sound more like As I Lay Dying;s vocalist. I'm guessing he pushes a lot of air from his gut but I'm not sure. If you can, could you help me with being able to reach lower notes/tones in screaming, because I know I have the higher notes pretty much down pat.
Youre welcome. But As I always say. There isnt really any types of screams. What exactly is a scream anyways? A loud note with some extra push behind it and some rasp. That rasp comes from the back of the throat, not the cords. Then theres whatever register youre in. Chest and low notes are usually "guttoral"...mid range is just...well...a yell...or a hard raspy note...upper range head notes are usually what most people call falsetto screams. I dont bother differentiating the two because I know what people mean when they say falsetto scream. Usually a "falsetto" scream is really a head voice note or a low power falsetto note. You just rasp it all to hell so it doesnt matter. Dont think about different types of screams but think about the cords. Is a matter of how much tone you can get with your cords which lends its hand to your level of strength and flexibility. The more you have the more versatile you can be, and over time you can just dial up whatever type of sound you want. But if you pay attention theres really not much going on. Different people have different voices, and of course different natural ranges. But all in all youre just gonna be hitting a note and then letting the air hit against the inside back of the throat. (technically the false vocal cord region, but does that mean anything to anyone). Maybe I should start re-recommending everyone listen to "Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. Rasping while crooning a ballad. its all bout being able to isolate your cords from your throat so that you can have the cords at one tension and the degree of throat involved at another.
And I promise you you can get any type of scream sound without pushing alot of air. Yes it will come from the diaphragm, but it doesnt have to be alot, and you'll help yourself if you remember that even if you cant do it yet.

Hey Merk, did you ever listen to my recordings?

And about singing/screaming like Alexi, I think it would be hard to alter your tone to sound like him. He basically does the same thing as Chad from Mudvayne though, he jumps from raspy singing to screaming and makes the two sound very similar and smooth in transition. I think my screaming sounds alot like Alexi's actually, very overrasped and uhh, European-metal-like, but I'm still working on trying to get my raspy singing to sound "similar" and not so nasal, I guess.
Yea, just did today. Sounds like youre heading in the right direction. I would suggest you get some more cord activation in your guttoral. Meaning sing it a bit more. And your falsetto sounds pretty good. Keep working it man! :thumb:

[FinalAwakening]

Youre welcome. But As I always say. There isnt really any types of screams. What exactly is a scream anyways? A loud note with some extra push behind it and some rasp. That rasp comes from the back of the throat, not the cords. Then theres whatever register youre in. Chest and low notes are usually "guttoral"...mid range is just...well...a yell...or a hard raspy note...upper range head notes are usually what most people call falsetto screams. I dont bother differentiating the two because I know what people mean when they say falsetto scream. Usually a "falsetto" scream is really a head voice note or a low power falsetto note. You just rasp it all to hell so it doesnt matter. Dont think about different types of screams but think about the cords. Is a matter of how much tone you can get with your cords which lends its hand to your level of strength and flexibility. The more you have the more versatile you can be, and over time you can just dial up whatever type of sound you want. But if you pay attention theres really not much going on. Different people have different voices, and of course different natural ranges. But all in all youre just gonna be hitting a note and then letting the air hit against the inside back of the throat. (technically the false vocal cord region, but does that mean anything to anyone). Maybe I should start re-recommending everyone listen to "Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. Rasping while crooning a ballad. its all bout being able to isolate your cords from your throat so that you can have the cords at one tension and the degree of throat involved at another.

And I promise you you can get any type of scream sound without pushing alot of air. Yes it will come from the diaphragm, but it doesnt have to be alot, and you'll help yourself if you remember that even if you cant do it yet.
:thumb:

Hey thanks merk, I'll go practice my screaming for now and I'll see what happens. Also I need to learn how to sing those higher pitch notes and tones so if you could help me with any singing techniques that would be great. thanks. I'm kind of wanting to be able to scream like Tim Lambesis(As I Lay Dying lead vocalist) and sing like Pete Loeffler (Chevelle's lead vocalist). I would really appreciate any information on being able to sing like Pete from Chevelle and what styles of singing he uses. thanks

[Peg Dizzler]

Awesome, thanks so much Merk! :D It's awesome to hear complements from vocalists who actually.. know their stuff!

I'll keep working on it. Hopefully sometime this year I'll get a decent soundcard and vocal mic and record some more original material.

[Merkaba]

Hey thanks merk, I'll go practice my screaming for now and I'll see what happens. Also I need to learn how to sing those higher pitch notes and tones so if you could help me with any singing techniques that would be great. thanks. I'm kind of wanting to be able to scream like Tim Lambesis(As I Lay Dying lead vocalist) and sing like Pete Loeffler (Chevelle's lead vocalist). I would really appreciate any information on being able to sing like Pete from Chevelle and what styles of singing he uses. thanks
chevelle plays alot of songs in c tuning If i hear correctly, or at least the ones I've heard seem to be. Its definitely dropped, which makes it easier to hit the higher ends. Pete does the typical "falsetto" type of raspy notes. He just has pretty good strength and can close up the higher stuff tight enough to push harder and get plenty of rasp. Its the same as Deftones, Mudvayne...etc. But you will have to be able to isolate. As far as building upper range...thats in my voicehelp hotline too...but it takes time.

Awesome, thanks so much Merk! :D It's awesome to hear complements from vocalists who actually.. know their stuff!

I'll keep working on it. Hopefully sometime this year I'll get a decent soundcard and vocal mic and record some more original material.
Sure thing...I hope to get some more samples up in a few days.

[luciano]

hi merkaba

thanks to you my screams have improved significantly and i truly thank you for that.
however in my normal singing voice i feel something is lacking, perhaps tone.... if you or anyone could give me some advice i would really appreciate it.

i recorded helloween's dr. stein and you can find it here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

thanx in advance. any help/criticism appreciated.

[Ibanex0110]

ok, i have kind of asked this question in various manners before, but haven't really gotten that good of a response. I would like to learn how to sing higher, like James from Metallica on the early albums. I can get into the range that James sings in, but it's quite hard. I know my voice isn't too deep, cause James voice is way deeper then mine. Will it get easier to hit the high notes if I practice more, or is it just a matter of me not being able to hit those notes?

[StormX]

Ah, I pretty much totally forgot about this forum, I've been too busy in D&P.

anyway, merkaba, i'm not sure if you ever remember talking to me, but I was trying to scream, and I still can't really. It always ends up being a whisper scream, no matter how hard I try not to. If it's not, it's not really a good scream and it hurts. I've tried doing it from the gut and all that, but its just the whisper stuff. Also, if I try to do it not whisper, it sounds bad.

Basically, how do I get past this annoying whisper barrier?

[Kosta]

I scream from the gut, and I'm a really good screamer now, I'll try to get some samples up, soon. I now can mostly be compared to grindcore "singers" or Jake Bannon from Converge (but lower).

Anyway, since a couple of days ago, I feel like I have to throw up. How come? What am I doing wrong and what can I do to prevent this?

[MikeyEss]

First i'd like to thank merkaba, your tips have got me on my way to becoming a screamer. I've got a few questions tho...
1. I know I read about other people having an irritated throat when they first started trying to scream, and i've had the same thing happening. My throat has felt very scratchy for the last day, and I was wondering if i'm doing something wrong, and/or how to fix it?
2. When I scream, it feels like something is vibrating in the back of my throat/vocal cord area. Is this the right feeling?
3. When I try to push the scream harder to make it more intense, or if i try to hit a higher note or scream words (rather than just noise), I often end up in a coughing fit. How can I fix this?

Thanks everyone

And here is my first ever scream i tried to record. The link is http://www.soundclick.com/?station=1698410 (give it 24 hrs to clear)

Would you mind checking this out and letting me know how it is merk? Thanks much. Oh and everyone else, you can cut it up if you feel like lol.

Cheers

[MikeyEss]

My bad, wrong URL
Here's the real one:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm

[Merkaba]

THe back of your throat will get irritated more than likely due to the excessive air. Hopefully you will get used to this and that area will toughen up. That can be done if you have correct enough technique so that you can work out long enough to do that.

I cant really describe what it feels like, but of course its gonna be a degree of vibration...in the back of the throat in the same area youre feeling...?? i cant tell over the net. Pretty much the same area as if you grunted or mimicked a lion roar.

If you need to cough..you did something wrong. Couldve been your extra push with a squeezed up tense throat that didnt let the cords vibrate properly. The harder you push, the more you relax....everything but the cords. So if you cant isolate the cords from the throat then there's problems. And if you dont normally hit higher notes then you have to work up to it slowly because there is no muscle memory yet...so youre more likely to botch it up. If its not natural..then you will have to notice a difference in the feel of holding the throat open while squeezing the cords closed. You have to kinda work two sets of muscles in opposite...

[luciano]

THe back of your throat will get irritated more than likely due to the excessive air. Hopefully you will get used to this and that area will toughen up. That can be done if you have correct enough technique so that you can work out long enough to do that.

I cant really describe what it feels like, but of course its gonna be a degree of vibration...in the back of the throat in the same area youre feeling...?? i cant tell over the net. Pretty much the same area as if you grunted or mimicked a lion roar.

If you need to cough..you did something wrong. Couldve been your extra push with a squeezed up tense throat that didnt let the cords vibrate properly. The harder you push, the more you relax....everything but the cords. So if you cant isolate the cords from the throat then there's problems. And if you dont normally hit higher notes then you have to work up to it slowly because there is no muscle memory yet...so youre more likely to botch it up. If its not natural..then you will have to notice a difference in the feel of holding the throat open while squeezing the cords closed. You have to kinda work two sets of muscles in opposite...

hey merka what about me!!

use the rapidshare link:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

you scroll down, put "free" and then scroll down again and wait a couple of seconds and then download.

[Ibanex0110]

ok, i have kind of asked this question in various manners before, but haven't really gotten that good of a response. I would like to learn how to sing higher, like James from Metallica on the early albums. I can get into the range that James sings in, but it's quite hard. I know my voice isn't too deep, cause James voice is way deeper then mine. Will it get easier to hit the high notes if I practice more, or is it just a matter of me not being able to hit those notes?

can anyone help me with this?

[MikeyEss]

Thanks for the reply merk
One more thing though, i can only seem to scream a certain note. If i try to go higher, it comes out more like a ... gurgling... or something lol. Is it because my throat it tensing up or something?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm <- this should be cleared by now, lemme know how it sounds, thx

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

Merkaba,
so your supposed to feel irritation if your doing the rasping right from the back of the throat?

[Merkaba]

Merkaba,
so your supposed to feel irritation if your doing the rasping right from the back of the throat?
I didnt say that! hehe. But its more likely. I get it alot if if Dont do alot of raspy vocals and I suddenly do like one or two hours of it or something. My cords would be relatively fine, but the throat itself will be all scratchy and whatnot. Kinda pay attention to what youre feeling. Do lots of buzzing and glisses and ee's if you cant figure out whether or not your cords are irritated as well. You'll know because your notes will be affected or harder to get.

can anyone help me with this?
Thought I replied to this...dang..I dont have much time. Basically if you cant get into his range its probably a combination of two things. One its just out of your range for now...and youre using and have been using improper techniques that make it harder to get there "naturally" . Or....it just could be permanently out of your reach. I dont like to say that much because with time and practice you can surprise yourself but i dont know how your larynx and cords are set up, so you are the only one who can with proper technique and practice.

[Merkaba]

hey merka what about me!!

use the rapidshare link:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

you scroll down, put "free" and then scroll down again and wait a couple of seconds and then download.
I'll try to get to it after work...gotta go!

[loki_cmr]

hey merkaba, i used to come on here alot, but i gave up on music for a while, but now im back. I just got some stuff for recording on my Pc and i wanted to work on my vocals a bit. But i'm not sure wether what i hear on the radio and my Cd's is screaming or just rasp. The sounds that i would like to achieve are off of the audioslave - self titled album. Im guessing you have this since u like cornell (my favorite singer), but yeah off of that song Shadow On The Sun there is a break down where he does half normal and the other half either screaming or raspy, i cant tell. Can you tell me?


shapes of every size
moves behind my eyes
doors inside my head
bolted from within
[screaming starts here]
every drop of flame
lights a candle in
memory of the one
who lived inside my skin

but yeah, is taht screaming or rasp. ALso if you could, could u record taht and put it up or email it to me.... loki_cmr@hotmail.com THAT WOULD BE SOOOO FREAKING AWESOME. thanks man

[luciano]

I'll try to get to it after work...gotta go!

thanx merka!!! i am eagerly waiting.

i uploaded another version, this one is ogg vorbis file, so you need winamp 5 to read it. it is also rapidshare.

http://rapidshare.de/files/2914031/dr_stein_lu.ogg.html

[Merkaba]

hey merkaba, i used to come on here alot, but i gave up on music for a while, but now im back. I just got some stuff for recording on my Pc and i wanted to work on my vocals a bit. But i'm not sure wether what i hear on the radio and my Cd's is screaming or just rasp. The sounds that i would like to achieve are off of the audioslave - self titled album. Im guessing you have this since u like cornell (my favorite singer), but yeah off of that song Shadow On The Sun there is a break down where he does half normal and the other half either screaming or raspy, i cant tell. Can you tell me?


shapes of every size
moves behind my eyes
doors inside my head
bolted from within
[screaming starts here]
every drop of flame
lights a candle in
memory of the one
who lived inside my skin

but yeah, is taht screaming or rasp. ALso if you could, could u record taht and put it up or email it to me.... loki_cmr@hotmail.com THAT WOULD BE SOOOO FREAKING AWESOME. thanks man

Hey no fair...using cornell to get at me. Dammit. Thats one of my faves too. Gees. That part is typical rasp technique...but you have to have some control and flexibility to get an even tone like he does. Its just not impossible if you learn technique which...lets face it...is hard to do over the net. I cant stress enough the ability to isolate. You should practice it until you get what I'm talking about. I'll try to record that soon....It takes alot of push to get it to sound like he does though. I would do it now but its 8 in the morning and its way loud.

"Once upon a time..."

[Kosta]

*referign to my first post on this page*

So.... how do I stop that feeling? Y'know, like, if I have to throw up while I scream. Although I don't actually throw up.

[Peg Dizzler]

Yeah, the back of my throat feels scratchy/discomfort if I sing raspy or scream without warming up first. I mean if I only do it for a couple of minutes I don't feel anything, but if I push at it, it feels that way. So I guess it's normal, but it's only my fault for not warming up in the first place! I hardly ever do that, but every now and then I'll really get into a CD on the drive home from work or something, and it'll feel scratchy from singing along with the raspy thrash stuff. :D

[loki_cmr]

Hey no fair...using cornell to get at me. Dammit. Thats one of my faves too. Gees. That part is typical rasp technique...but you have to have some control and flexibility to get an even tone like he does. Its just not impossible if you learn technique which...lets face it...is hard to do over the net. I cant stress enough the ability to isolate. You should practice it until you get what I'm talking about. I'll try to record that soon....It takes alot of push to get it to sound like he does though. I would do it now but its 8 in the morning and its way loud.

"Once upon a time..."

cool! I'll just sit here and wait...



"i was of the mind..."

[Merkaba]

*referign to my first post on this page*

So.... how do I stop that feeling? Y'know, like, if I have to throw up while I scream. Although I don't actually throw up.
You might be pulling down with the root of your tonque, and doing it forcefully as you go about the scream forcefully. If you pull with the root of your tongue its like if you were sayin "ew" really hard at something gross. Thats really the only way i can describe it. Many people do this to open the throat but Its considered a nono as well because you can pull the tongue back and add pressure as your block the air flow again. Pay attention to your tongue and see what its doing. If you pull it back and in really hard it might could cause your feeling...that and overpushing.

Sing a word that ends in "ee"ng. Like singing. what your tongue does to hold the ng...(or should do) is kinda like home base for alot of mid to head notes. Feel how the sides of the tongue want to press against the teeth. Or more than likely they will. If not then try to find this feeling, but dont overmanipulate anything to get there if you dont do it naturally. But if you do do it...you might can notice a big difference. It keeps your tongue out of your way and looser. The point is to make sure the tongue is out of the way. Other than that its either over push or you contracting part of the tract out ot tension issues. Some people have stomach problems and acid reflux from singing. So its not impossible that youre tensing some wrong muscles.

[Stoic]

Hello Merkaba, congratulations on the excellent job you're doing here. It's good to see people willing to share their knowledge with patience and kindness.

I would like some information on growling or "singing from the gut" as you call it, so I was wondering if there are other resources besides page 5 of this thread.

[LOAfan]

First off, I wanna thank you for all the helpful tips. The warm ups, the breathing techniques, and the screaming advice. I've been struggling for the last couple of weeks to get a good scream down that doesn't hurt my voice. And I finally have one. You have no idea how excited I was after I had been using this certain screaming technique for awhile, went to go swallow, and it didn't hurt. lol But I have a question. The scream that I have is kinda...I dunno...high pitched maybe? Nothing like falsetto or anything like that. It reminds me of Brock Lindow (from 36 Crazyfists) on the song "At The End of August". lol I imagine that doesn't help if you don't know the song. And it's not like I dislike the scream, so the you knowing what the pitch sounds like isn't my concern. I wanna know how to make it lower. 'Cause I tried holding it like I was singing a note, then just trying to lower it like I would normally lower a note while singing, and my voice ended up cracking and it hurt. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated from anyone. But thanks again for all the great tips you have given.

[MikeyEss]

Thanks for the reply merk
One more thing though, i can only seem to scream a certain note. If i try to go higher, it comes out more like a ... gurgling... or something lol. Is it because my throat it tensing up or something?
I also can't seem to scream words just... sounds. What is the trick to doing that?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm <- this should be cleared by now, lemme know how it sounds, thx

[MikeyEss]

Sorry for the two posts in a row, but how exactly do you do a falsetto scream?

[Rats]

with falsetto and rasp

[luciano]

thanx merka!!! i am eagerly waiting.

i uploaded another version, this one is ogg vorbis file, so you need winamp 5 to read it. it is also rapidshare.

http://rapidshare.de/files/2914031/dr_stein_lu.ogg.html

still waiting....
if you want to, you can mail me at hechesi@yahoo.com

first version (mp3)
http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

last and better version (ogg)
http://rapidshare.de/files/2914031/dr_stein_lu.ogg.html

if rapidshare doesn't work, mail me and i'll send it through mail.

[StormX]

Ah, I pretty much totally forgot about this forum, I've been too busy in D&P.

anyway, merkaba, i'm not sure if you ever remember talking to me, but I was trying to scream, and I still can't really. It always ends up being a whisper scream, no matter how hard I try not to. If it's not, it's not really a good scream and it hurts. I've tried doing it from the gut and all that, but its just the whisper stuff. Also, if I try to do it not whisper, it sounds bad.

Basically, how do I get past this annoying whisper barrier?
Bringing it up to attention again

[Merkaba]

Storm, the only thing I can recommend is that you sing. I'm 99 percent sure youre trying to get the rasp so hard that youre shifting all kinds of stuff around looking for it. THe note comes first. learn to sing hard first, and the rasping will come. You will need diaphragm support though. Got any samples?

Yes, you might have to remind me if I skip over you. Sometimes I might not be around for a day due to my work and the next thing you know youre on an old page or I just plain ran out of time. Isolate, and sing.

[Stoic]

I would like some information on growling or "singing from the gut" as you call it, so I was wondering if there are other resources besides page 5 of this thread.

:wave:

[StormX]

Storm, the only thing I can recommend is that you sing. I'm 99 percent sure youre trying to get the rasp so hard that youre shifting all kinds of stuff around looking for it. THe note comes first. learn to sing hard first, and the rasping will come. You will need diaphragm support though. Got any samples?

Yes, you might have to remind me if I skip over you. Sometimes I might not be around for a day due to my work and the next thing you know youre on an old page or I just plain ran out of time. Isolate, and sing.

Sounds like a good idea, except I can't sing.

I try to sing, yes, but it just sounds like I'm talking.

Basically I just suck :upset:

[loki_cmr]

Hey no fair...using cornell to get at me. Dammit. Thats one of my faves too. Gees. That part is typical rasp technique...but you have to have some control and flexibility to get an even tone like he does. Its just not impossible if you learn technique which...lets face it...is hard to do over the net. I cant stress enough the ability to isolate. You should practice it until you get what I'm talking about. I'll try to record that soon....It takes alot of push to get it to sound like he does though. I would do it now but its 8 in the morning and its way loud.

"Once upon a time..."


mabe u forgot...

[crazyguy832]

<plea for help>

My throat starts hurting within a couple of minutes when I'm screaming. I know I'm doing something wrong... but I can't really figure out what.

>_<

Are there any really good exercises to get my throat more used to screaming and/or stop it from hurting so friggin much?

</plea for help>

[StormX]

Don't force the scream, and don't try to make it in your throat (I hope thats right)

It should be like singing, but you just push more.
but I can't do it so that may be wrong

[crazyguy832]

Don't force the scream, and don't try to make it in your throat (I hope thats right)

It should be like singing, but you just push more.
but I can't do it so that may be wrong
Yeah, I think that was my problem. Up till now, I've been using my throat a LOT to get the raspy scream out. I guess I'll work on using my abdomen more for that.

:p

[StormX]

From what I understand, you've got to push from your gut.

Read all the threads in the first post, a lot of help. Espicially the one about breathing opposite of normal, it helps tons.

[Kosta]

Yeah, I think that was my problem. Up till now, I've been using my throat a LOT to get the raspy scream out. I guess I'll work on using my abdomen more for that.

:p


You need yout throat to get the rasp.

The power comes from the diaphragm. The sound comes from the back of your throat. If you want more rasp, push more. But don't overdo the pushing.

[Kosta]

with falsetto and rasp


Har har. Gah, you're right, but I can see his point. I can't do a falsetto scream, at all, but I can scream from the gut with added rasp.

[Kosta]

You might be pulling down with the root of your tonque, and doing it forcefully as you go about the scream forcefully. If you pull with the root of your tongue its like if you were sayin "ew" really hard at something gross. Thats really the only way i can describe it. Many people do this to open the throat but Its considered a nono as well because you can pull the tongue back and add pressure as your block the air flow again. Pay attention to your tongue and see what its doing. If you pull it back and in really hard it might could cause your feeling...that and overpushing.

Sing a word that ends in "ee"ng. Like singing. what your tongue does to hold the ng...(or should do) is kinda like home base for alot of mid to head notes. Feel how the sides of the tongue want to press against the teeth. Or more than likely they will. If not then try to find this feeling, but dont overmanipulate anything to get there if you dont do it naturally. But if you do do it...you might can notice a big difference. It keeps your tongue out of your way and looser. The point is to make sure the tongue is out of the way. Other than that its either over push or you contracting part of the tract out ot tension issues. Some people have stomach problems and acid reflux from singing. So its not impossible that youre tensing some wrong muscles.


I think I'm overdoing it. I just practiced a bit today and just..relaxed more, and it helped. I strained something too much, for some reason. My screams always sounded better without straining anything, I think I just wanted to get more out of my screams than necassery, causing me to strain/tense too much. I relaxed again and it sounded good.

I'll pay more attention to my tongue, though. Thanks.

[Peg Dizzler]

You need to isolate your cords.
Warm up, practice glisses, and work on falsetto alot. If you understand how to add rasp with your throat, then just try adding that rasp while using falsetto. When I first tried that, it took ALOT of pushing, but I knew I was using the right tecnique so I kept doing it, and it didn't hurt (except for my stomach because I was tired from pushing so much :p haha).

But yeah, you just need to work on falsetto, you need to be able to sing the note in falsetto first... if you can't do that, well... start at page 1 of this thread. :thumb:

[Kosta]

But yeah, you just need to work on falsetto, you need to be able to sing the note in falsetto first... if you can't do that, well... start at page 1 of this thread. :thumb:


Actually, I can rasp my falsetto. I jsut can't scream with it. I know I'll figure it out eventually, though.

[Merkaba]

Actually, I can rasp my falsetto. I jsut can't scream with it. I know I'll figure it out eventually, though.
Like I said..alot of those staticky sounding mudvayne, deftones, pantera, etc screams arent falsetto. They are head.

But yes it will take some push, and you use the glottal region of the throat, like if you were going to gargle the note(thanks Kristina again). But concentrate on getting the note first, then try to "gargle" it,kinda. Now with time you might have to switch a bit to get a better feel but this is one of the muscle groups youre needed to seperate from the cords, and its actually right above the true cords and are comprised of your larynx and false cords. NO they are not used for falsetto.

You control rasp based on how much you close up this area and how much push. All of that will be in a linear relationship with your strength and technique. I hate saying that because I dont have the strongest voice on the planet by far..but thats just how it works. With time you can grow a lot though. And yes, relaxing is key.

Sounds like a good idea, except I can't sing.

I try to sing, yes, but it just sounds like I'm talking.

Basically I just suck :upset:
Then you need to sing!
Sing along with your favorites, if you listen to anything that has true singing in it that is.

[Kosta]

Like I said..alot of those staticky sounding mudvayne, deftones, pantera, etc screams arent falsetto. They are head.

But yes it will take some push, and you use the glottal region of the throat, like if you were going to gargle the note(thanks Kristina again). But concentrate on getting the note first, then try to "gargle" it,kinda. Now with time you might have to switch a bit to get a better feel but this is one of the muscle groups youre needed to seperate from the cords, and its actually right above the true cords and are comprised of your larynx and false cords. NO they are not used for falsetto.

You control rasp based on how much you close up this area and how much push. All of that will be in a linear relationship with your strength and technique. I hate saying that because I dont have the strongest voice on the planet by far..but thats just how it works. With time you can grow a lot though. And yes, relaxing is key.



I feel like a burden, asking all these questions you have awnsered before. Then I think to myself "hah, he made this topic, he asked for it himself".

No seriously, thanks a lot for helping me out with this. All of it. I can't afford vocal lessons now and I'm very dedicated my screaming and I've started to apply a lot of things I learned for my screaming for clean vocals. And it helps so much.

I have no idea how to find my head voice and use it, but you probably mentioned it somewhere before, so I will now try to find it.

[loki_cmr]

mabe u forgot...

MERKABA?!?!

[MikeyEss]

Thanks for the reply merk
One more thing though, i can only seem to scream a certain note. If i try to go higher, it comes out more like a ... gurgling... or something lol. Is it because my throat it tensing up or something?
I also can't seem to scream words just... sounds. What is the trick to doing that?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm << Can anyone listen to the new screams in here and let me know how they sound?

[Kosta]

Thanks for the reply merk
One more thing though, i can only seem to scream a certain note. If i try to go higher, it comes out more like a ... gurgling... or something lol. Is it because my throat it tensing up or something?
I also can't seem to scream words just... sounds. What is the trick to doing that?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm << Can anyone listen to the new screams in here and let me know how they sound?


How the **** do you people scream so...soft? I mean, do you actually scream? I don't get it, when I scream, it's so loud, I can't record it because my scream's volume distorts the mic too much - I'm using a ****ty computer mic, though.

[MikeyEss]

How the **** do you people scream so...soft? I mean, do you actually scream? I don't get it, when I scream, it's so loud, I can't record it because my scream's volume distorts the mic too much - I'm using a ****ty computer mic, though.


How close do you scream into the mic? I usually hold it some ways away from my mouth.

[Kosta]

How close do you scream into the mic? I usually hold it some ways away from my mouth.


I keep it about 3 feet away from me.

I don't have the problem with the regular mic we use at bandpractice, though.

Edit: Merkaba, I searched headvoice/head voice and couldn't find ****. How do I acces my head voice and how do I make use of it?

[loki_cmr]

dude merkaba im still waiting for that Shadow On The Sun recording u promised :confused:

[Kosta]

dude merkaba im still waiting for that Shadow On The Sun recording u promised :confused:


Believe it or not, the guy has a life. Stop complaining and just be thankful he's helping so many posters out.

[luciano]

I keep it about 3 feet away from me.

I don't have the problem with the regular mic we use at bandpractice, though.

Edit: Merkaba, I searched headvoice/head voice and couldn't find ****. How do I acces my head voice and how do I make use of it?

the best way to find it is doing the siren exercise that is described in one of the threads. if you need help, just let me know.

sorry, perhaps you were looking just for his answer, but since he isn't posting, i think we better help ourselves.

hope that helps. bye!!

[Kosta]

the best way to find it is doing the siren exercise that is described in one of the threads. if you need help, just let me know.

sorry, perhaps you were looking just for his answer, but since he isn't posting, i think we better help ourselves.

hope that helps. bye!!


I'm looking for awnsers in general, any awnser is welcome, so thanks.

I'll still wait for Merkaba, though.

[robman304]

Hey Merkaba (or anyone else who can help for that matter)

I've been singing for a few years and I just got to the point where I can hit notes very fluently mostly within a baritone range. I can hit notes from about A2 until about C3 the strongest, but anything too farther above that or below sounds very weak.

I've been trying all kinds of power excercises and it just seems to hurt my vocals, I don't notice any improvements. Could you give me a list (or a link) to a list of good power excercises. Does it help to sing to the radio or to cds constantly, like if I'm in the car. Berkley guys say it's bad to sing in the car...is that true? Thanks.

[loki_cmr]

Believe it or not, the guy has a life. Stop complaining and just be thankful he's helping so many posters out.

i'm not complaining and i am thankful. :thumb:

[GermanGuy4]

Hey Merk, I been singing for about 3 months correctly since i found your thread, but in the last two weeks or so, I have had a sharp pain in the left side of my throat. At first it was only a little bit annoying, but now its really bothering me. Singing and screaming don't aggravate it,so I have been practcicing about 2 hours a day like normal, but now its getting bad. Do you know what this is and if i should keep singing and screaming?

I have noticed talking loudly and shouting does aggravate it, but not all the time...thanks

[Merkaba]

Hey Merk, I been singing for about 3 months correctly since i found your thread, but in the last two weeks or so, I have had a sharp pain in the left side of my throat. At first it was only a little bit annoying, but now its really bothering me. Singing and screaming don't aggravate it,so I have been practcicing about 2 hours a day like normal, but now its getting bad. Do you know what this is and if i should keep singing and screaming?

I have noticed talking loudly and shouting does aggravate it, but not all the time...thanks
Well I couldnt tell ya over the internet. But if vocalizing results in any throat pain I would lay off for a while. Or go see a doctor to be sure.
My bad, wrong URL
Here's the real one:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm
The first scream sounds good. The second ones sound like youre tight, constricted and not using the same technique you used in that one single first scream. That scream sounded way more relaxed and free flowing. You might have tried to hard on the new ones when really all you need to do is just maybe do that first scream and then keep sliding up. THe thing is though, you have to be able to do that with the cords while not rising up with the throat which is what most people do.

hey merka what about me!!

use the rapidshare link:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

you scroll down, put "free" and then scroll down again and wait a couple of seconds and then download.
Sounds like you got a nice clean voice. The only thing I could recommend is to watch the larynx. Mostly in those higher runs. Seems like you wanted to reach for the note instead of letting it come to you and if youre tight it will be harder to do a high pitched melody because you'll be constricted. That and dont give up at the end of phrases. Like the one about "time is right" or something like that. Sing it through. You sing that style of music better than I could so dont get me wrong, you should be on tour, compared to alot of the vocalists I see out there and on t.v. Just keep practicing and getting better at what ever youre wanting to do. Nice ending too! Where you doing the back up high stuff too? If so good job. Nice ending too! High D with the falsetto in the back. Or something like that.... :thumb:
I keep it about 3 feet away from me.

I don't have the problem with the regular mic we use at bandpractice, though.

Edit: Merkaba, I searched headvoice/head voice and couldn't find ****. How do I acces my head voice and how do I make use of it?
Like Luciano said...do glisses. And dont make it harder by thinking too much. Head is only a term. Its basically your high end, in true voice. Around Middle c for most men is head maybe unless youre bass. So start maybe on the F below middle C and do a simple scale up to the next F to see whats going on, and where falsetto wants to start and all that.

[Merkaba]

MERKABA?!?!
Not the greatest but hey, its acapella

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/moredemos_music.htm

[Kosta]

Like Luciano said...do glisses. And dont make it harder by thinking too much. Head is only a term. Its basically your high end, in true voice. Around Middle c for most men is head maybe unless youre bass. So start maybe on the F below middle C and do a simple scale up to the next F to see whats going on, and where falsetto wants to start and all that.


Awesome. I kind of thought so, so..thanks a lot!

I'm wondering. How loud are your falsetto screams? I think I got it down but there isn't much volume. There is, but not as much as my lower screams. But my mic distorts a bit.

Edit:
I decided to post my second ever falsetto scream.

Falsetto scream (http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UJ21CNCT4SVB1MCLYD9M58PI1)

I think I close-off my throat too much.

I do as it burns my throat.

[luciano]

Sounds like you got a nice clean voice. The only thing I could recommend is to watch the larynx. Mostly in those higher runs. Seems like you wanted to reach for the note instead of letting it come to you and if youre tight it will be harder to do a high pitched melody because you'll be constricted. That and dont give up at the end of phrases. Like the one about "time is right" or something like that. Sing it through. You sing that style of music better than I could so dont get me wrong, you should be on tour, compared to alot of the vocalists I see out there and on t.v. Just keep practicing and getting better at what ever youre wanting to do. Nice ending too! Where you doing the back up high stuff too? If so good job. Nice ending too! High D with the falsetto in the back. Or something like that.... :thumb:

thanx merkaba for taking the time to listen. though i feel that i don't deserve some of your compliments, i want to let you know that some of us really appreciate what you are doing here, using some of your valuable time to help some people you don't know over the internet. that is a very noble gesture and i truly thank you. :)

i'll let you know when i improve some more, so i can hear your valuable opinon once again. however this might take at least a couple of months, and i hope you will be around for that time. in case you won't, drop me a line at hechesi@yahoo.com so i can keep in touch with you.

and once again, thanx for helping young screamer-wannabes like us. :thumb:

[MikeyEss]

Kosta, that was a pretty killer falsetto scream!
You got any tips for me too buddy? lol :thumb:

[MikeyEss]

The last post you had for me sent me back to square one merkaba :upset:
but its good that i don't go in the wrong direction. I've been practicing today and i have a new sample scream (wellitry.mp3), so merkaba and/or anyone else with time, could you please give me some feedback on it (let me know if i'm going in the right direction). This one might be too much like my other ones that were wrong, but lemme know. Thanks a lot

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm

[Kosta]

Kosta, that was a pretty killer falsetto scream!
You got any tips for me too buddy? lol :thumb:


Haha thanks, I really liked your second falsetto screams, too. I decided tou just try one myself, after I heard yours, to be honest. As I usually just use my chest voice to scream. Which kind of gives it that "grindcore" tone. But, now I just tried something.

But, I'd wait for Merkaba for some tips, as the scream really heats up my throat. It doesn't hurt, but, it sounds like I'm frying my cords - kind of hard to explain. And I really don't want to give you tips that could possibly mess up your voice.

Edit: your third scream sounded awesome.

[MikeyEss]

Thanks buddy :thumb:

[MikeyEss]

Oh one more thing merkaba, I remember a previous post where you mentioned something about people only being able to scream vowles. So has been the case for me, and i was wondering how you go about screaming consonants? Thanks man!

[Rats]

lol how du scream liek teh used

[Kosta]

lol how du scream liek teh used

lolz idunno lol maybe u shud chek teh furzt page of dis topik out

[Merkaba]

Kosta my falsetto screams are pretty loud...about as loud as I can sing any other note.

Mike, I was saying that the vocal cords can only make vowels. Everything else comes from the teeth and tongue,etc. Thats how you make vowels, by obstructing the sound basically. Sometimes it leads to problems for people when they're screaming, like making a K or H sound, they might squeeze the throat again. Just be aware of what youre doing but dont overthink it.

[MikeyEss]

Sry for another pointless post, but i need to lay something to rest. When i was younger my friends always told me that i was a ****ty singer and whatnot, and that kinda kept me away from singing in front of anybody for the next 7 or so years. I just pretty much sang to myself in the car and in front of the computer. I decided to record something (mind you this is without warming up or anything of that nature), and i want some honest opinions.

The song is War all the time by Thursday

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm

If you think I do suck, tell me to what degree.. lol

[MikeyEss]

^^^
And please listen to all of it if you're going to make a comment plz

[MikeyEss]

Sorry for another post all! This one is a question for merkaba though.

I was reading through the isolation post again, and practicing singing and screaming while holding my fingers to my larynx. I can sing all the time without movement from my adams apple, but whenever i scream it moves up. I listened to the falsetto scream lesson one you posted as well, and noticed that my adams apple moves whenever i make the grunt... the ha! or hu! sounds.

Do you have any suggestions?? :confused:

[Kosta]

Kosta my falsetto screams are pretty loud...about as loud as I can sing any other note.


Yeah, I got mine louer, too.

How is my falsetto scream, though? I posted it earlier in this topic.

[LeadSinger327]

Hey Guys, I need some help lol...I'm 16 and started singing last year...and I like the high pitch sounds of Tyson Ritter of All American Rejects, but the dude's voice is crazy high pitch, but I think he uses alot of falsetto...since im going through voice changes and stuf f lol is there anything i can do to make sure when im Tyson's age (23) to have the same pitch...and is it possible for a voice to become more high pitch after voice changes? lol alright if anyone could help me out there i'd appreciate it, thanks guys

-Cody

[Violent_Bill]

Hey Guys, I need some help lol...I'm 16 and started singing last year...and I like the high pitch sounds of Tyson Ritter of All American Rejects, but the dude's voice is crazy high pitch, but I think he uses alot of falsetto...since im going through voice changes and stuf f lol is there anything i can do to make sure when im Tyson's age (23) to have the same pitch...and is it possible for a voice to become more high pitch after voice changes? lol alright if anyone could help me out there i'd appreciate it, thanks guys

-Cody

Cutting off your testicles should help you maintain that 16 year old voice.

[Rats]

still waiting....
if you want to, you can mail me at hechesi@yahoo.com

first version (mp3)
http://rapidshare.de/files/2856106/dr_stein-04.mp3.html

last and better version (ogg)
http://rapidshare.de/files/2914031/dr_stein_lu.ogg.html

if rapidshare doesn't work, mail me and i'll send it through mail.


sounding good man. nice upper register. it suonds like you're straining to hit the highest ones but just keep practicing and it will get easier. i think you should work on your pronunciation/articulation because i can barely understand what you're singing or if its even english.

[LeadSinger327]

Hey guys, I got some recordings i did with my 200 dollar recording equipment lol, eh gets the job done, anyways if anyone would like to listen and give me some feed back on 3 of the songs with my singing that'd be cool, oh yeah I warn you its nasal and emo like sorry lol alrighty seeya

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/startingoverus_music.htm

Cody

[Kosta]

Heh, this is the second falsetto scream I ever recorded;

falseto scream.........2 (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2SL0PKS9M795W04SJSU7CRMDX7)

[aznrocker]

You are a God.

[Merkaba]

Hey Guys, I need some help lol...I'm 16 and started singing last year...and I like the high pitch sounds of Tyson Ritter of All American Rejects, but the dude's voice is crazy high pitch, but I think he uses alot of falsetto...since im going through voice changes and stuf f lol is there anything i can do to make sure when im Tyson's age (23) to have the same pitch...and is it possible for a voice to become more high pitch after voice changes? lol alright if anyone could help me out there i'd appreciate it, thanks guys

-Cody
The only thing you can do is make sure you using proper technique and practice singing. Chances are youre not gonna be a Jaimie Venderra or a freak, but practicing your true voice will help keep things strong and flexible while everything is changing. You should take some lessons to make sure youre using proper technique and breathing that way you wont be weakening your self over the long run. I always wish I had been into singing when I was a teen and had sang through puberty. I'd be a freak no doubt. Too bad I was playing video games and trying to get all of the Constructicons to make Devastator.
Yeah, I got mine louer, too.

How is my falsetto scream, though? I posted it earlier in this topic.
I didnt listen to the first one, or if i did i cant remember but that second one sounds pretty kick arse! Keep it up

[lloydapalooza]

how do you falsetto scream mikeyess and kosta? is there any way that you can describe it in words for me? ive wanted to learn to falsetto scream for the longest time but i never knew how to get that sort of rasp.

[Kosta]

how do you falsetto scream mikeyess and kosta? is there any way that you can describe it in words for me? ive wanted to learn to falsetto scream for the longest time but i never knew how to get that sort of rasp.


Just...do it.

Seriously, that's the best advice I can give you. I was overthinking it, and hell, I forgot the technique again, but I'll figure it out.

Thing is, I was just...posting all of these questions and whatnot, trying everything, but it just doesn't work. It's so hard to explain. But after I heard Mikeyess, I thought, "heh, I'll listen to Merkaba's audio's again". I tried it, and BAMN, first try. I did my first falsetto scream. I recorded my second one. And I recorded another one later that night, and yeah. That's pretty much my falsetto scream.

My tip;

First, just..make sure that using your diaphragm in your screams or singing is just..second nature. You don't have to prepare for it, or think of using it, you do it automatically.

If you got passed that point, here's my ultimate tip

Clear your thoughts. Don't think. Don't think about rasping it, using your falsetto, or anything. Just do a falsetto scream. Just go for it.

Chances are, you'll be able to do it right away if you know the background of the falsetto scream. If not, check out page one of this topic.

Also, try not to think too much about how you did it. That's what I did, and guess what? I thought I could work from there, and I forgot how to do one. Although, I will be able to do another one later tonight - I'm sure - forgetting the technique is a burden.

So yeah, as I said, just do it.

[Merkaba]

there ya go! :thumb:

[lloydapalooza]

are you sure you're not working for nike? haha just kidding

ill try man

[Po0sH]

Hey merkaba, when I push from my stomach, I push so my stomach is out as if im trying to show that I am pregnant if you know what i am trying to say. Am I pushing too hard? I get dizzy and it feels like an ab workout if i do that, yet somehow i feel as if I can get better tone that without pushing that hard.

[Merkaba]

You dont push from your stomach, its from your diaphragm. You shouldnt really pay much attention to your stomach...other than it should bellow out a bit when you breath IN. Not out. You shouldnt be squeezing your stomach or feeling tired abs or getting dizzy. And I'm sure you'd get better tone. Practice taking a breath and holding the Z sound for thirty seconds or so You'll have to use the diaphragm to get the air controlled enough to last that long.

[MikeyEss]

Sorry for posting this again, but i think you didn't see it b4 merkaba

I was reading through the isolation post again, and practicing singing and screaming while holding my fingers to my larynx. I can sing all the time without movement from my adams apple, but whenever i scream it moves up. I listened to the falsetto scream lesson one you posted as well, and noticed that my adams apple moves whenever i make the grunt... the ha! or hu! sounds.

Do you have any suggestions??

[MikeyEss]

how do you falsetto scream mikeyess and kosta? is there any way that you can describe it in words for me? ive wanted to learn to falsetto scream for the longest time but i never knew how to get that sort of rasp.

All that i can recommend is reading through the isolation, rasp, warm-up, and a variety of the screaming posts... try each thing serparately and then try to bring it together. Kosta is right tho, you'll probably just try it one time and it'll come to you. Its pretty much what happened to me anyway...

Oh, and i don't think my screams are falsetto (could be wrong though?)

[MikeyEss]

I decided to try a mid - low - high scream... heres the link

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm

The low one was bad... lol

[Merkaba]

Mike, it will move a bit...but especially doing ha at a mid level you should be able to keep it. You'll have to find the muscles that hold it. Now when youre going way up it will want to move up a bit...and if you relax it will be ok but you just dont want to equate the squeeze of those muscles to the pull of the cords...and thus slam your apple up with all the force youre using to do your vocalizing. Swallow and feel it and how it goes up and locks to prevent choking, to block the airway. So you wouldnt want to be blocking your airway when youre singing would you? hehe. Off to work for now...

[MikeyEss]

Awesome thanks Merkaba, i thought i was doing something wrong. It does just move up and down a little bit, its nothing like swallowing.
I appreciate the help, thanks again!

[MikeyEss]

Good new falsetto Kosta :thumb:

[MikeyEss]

Hey Kosta, are you able to scream words yet, or in tune with something? If you can post it

[MikeyEss]

Merkaba I have another problem... lol

You know how kids hold their breath and push to get the blood all rushed to their faces and it can make them blow blood vessels or pass out? Well i can only scream when i'm pushing like that... hahahaha. What am I doing wrong (if you even know, this is kinda strange)?

And one more thing, how do I get a cleaner scream? If you've listened to any of my recordings, the scream sounds as though i have spit gurgling in the back of my throat or something.

Thanks a lot buddy!

[fuzzyhair]

I was sorda screaming today. I cant really scream so I just sing at about speech loudness and add a lot of rasp, sometimes I go a little louder. Anyway I was "screaming" along with a band today and after I did a scream my throat started hurting so I immediatly stopped. I drank some water, and drank some more later. My throat still hurts. I almost feel sick. When will this go away and what am I dont wrong with my screaming. I know im not doing it right. I dont want to paralyze my vocals or have a ****ty voice.

[MikeyEss]

I was sorda screaming today. I cant really scream so I just sing at about speech loudness and add a lot of rasp, sometimes I go a little louder. Anyway I was "screaming" along with a band today and after I did a scream my throat started hurting so I immediatly stopped. I drank some water, and drank some more later. My throat still hurts. I almost feel sick. When will this go away and what am I dont wrong with my screaming. I know im not doing it right. I dont want to paralyze my vocals or have a ****ty voice.


Same thing happened to me when i started trying... you're probably trying too much through your throat without pushing with your diaphragm. You need to use the air from your gut rather than making the noise in your throat. The pain and irritation probably won't last more than a day, or two at the most.

[PunkSkater163]

Hey Merkaba, you told me to post this here, so here I go.

I was wondering if any one could give me any points on how to make my voice a little better. My voice is preatty bad, and even when it comes out good its just really dull and boring. I want my voice to be a little more cooler, and better haha. I saw before your style of music matters so the style of music im going for is like punk. I want my voice to sound like not exactly raspy but soething like that, like Tom Delonge's voice sort of. Can any one please give me any pointers?

[fuzzyhair]

Same thing happened to me when i started trying... you're probably trying too much through your throat without pushing with your diaphragm. You need to use the air from your gut rather than making the noise in your throat. The pain and irritation probably won't last more than a day, or two at the most.
thanks very much. It feels much better today.

[Kosta]

Good new falsetto Kosta :thumb:

Thanks a lot! You've been making progress as well!

Hey Kosta, are you able to scream words yet, or in tune with something? If you can post it

I've made me a little archive of all of my screams so far. Scream for is me basically trying to scream "reminds" like Jake from Converge did in "The Broken Vow".

Boo-yah! (http://www.soundclick.com/myvocals)

I can't sing with it, though. I'm still learning that.

[Merkaba]

Merkaba I have another problem... lol

You know how kids hold their breath and push to get the blood all rushed to their faces and it can make them blow blood vessels or pass out? Well i can only scream when i'm pushing like that... hahahaha. What am I doing wrong (if you even know, this is kinda strange)?

And one more thing, how do I get a cleaner scream? If you've listened to any of my recordings, the scream sounds as though i have spit gurgling in the back of my throat or something.

Thanks a lot buddy!
I couldnt say, but I would bet that youre clamping off your throat too much. Its part of the purpose of the cords and false cords, when you need to strain, to keep the air in give support to your inner organs. All i can tell you is to practice singing the note normally. Whatever the pitch and note is just sing it normally without trying to scream it. Then try to add a tiny bit of rasp, which would come from the same mechanism that you clamp down with to pass out or blow vessels. Theres just not many ways you can create that kind of pressure. Well really, you cant do that without closing up your throat. Practice singing and the scream will come, as clean or as raspy as you want it to be, when you can isolate the cords from the larynx and that area you use to blow vessels and pass out with.

I was sorda screaming today. I cant really scream so I just sing at about speech loudness and add a lot of rasp, sometimes I go a little louder. Anyway I was "screaming" along with a band today and after I did a scream my throat started hurting so I immediatly stopped. I drank some water, and drank some more later. My throat still hurts. I almost feel sick. When will this go away and what am I dont wrong with my screaming. I know im not doing it right. I dont want to paralyze my vocals or have a ****ty voice.
Well youre well on your way! hehe. Just kidding. But yea, like mike said, if youre not doing it properly youre gonna be squeezing your throat off to get the pressure you need to rasp. This creates an imbalance between the air flow and the cords and they cant vibrate as well. If the cords are pushed more than they and their muslces can handle then they bow up and cant close to vibrate, and over time youre just shooting air over them more and pushing them up more and this can lead to overstressing the structure and down the spiral you go. You could be feeling sick because of the added pressure you exert when youre doing alot of pushing on your internal organs and brain and the increased blood pressure, especially if you were closing your throat up alot... yes, its real. Or you could have irritated the larynx and cords enough to open them up for pathogens, thus youre getting a "cold". Now with it coming on that quickly, I would probably guess its the former, all of the internal pressure. It sounds funny but why else would you feel so crappy from singing or screaming? Obviously you did some incorrect stuff. I wouldnt sing until the pain goes away. Maybe just hold some EE's at a low push. Concentrating more on lower notes and glissing up some to higher True voice notes,EE's, and back down. Then keep doing moderate to low ee's to finish off. Singing with swollen cords(and yours are) can lead to nodes because it certain pitches the cords dont clamp together evenly because they are puffy and swollen. Right in that spot or spots where its uneven the air will shoot through and over time just roughen that spot, leaving you a node. What fun!

Vitamin C, Zinc, potassium(bananas,OJ,) and water, while you recover and you'll have time to read through the first page of links in this thread, especially the isolation threads.
Cheerio

Hey Merkaba, you told me to post this here, so here I go.

I was wondering if any one could give me any points on how to make my voice a little better. My voice is preatty bad, and even when it comes out good its just really dull and boring. I want my voice to be a little more cooler, and better haha. I saw before your style of music matters so the style of music im going for is like punk. I want my voice to sound like not exactly raspy but soething like that, like Tom Delonge's voice sort of. Can any one please give me any pointers?
Well thats not really a good question. As far as we know your voice might sound fine and you just dont like it, or you want it to sound more like someone elses. Raspiness comes from the position of your throat. If you dont have good strength or stamina you can chalk it out. But you get that from practice with proper technique and breath control. I think we need a little more specific question. I dont think the style of music matters, as far as learning to sing goes. Now punk is usually higher pitch, so naturally you have some issues their if youre not born a tenor or with that ability. But Delonge doesnt go extremely high so I wouldnt sweat it. Just practice and dont try to run before you walk because you only get one set of cords.

[kaotic3]

Ok, simple question I guess. Whats the best way to tell if you're singing the right note? I'm just learning how to sing and I'm trying to train my voice by playing along with my guitar. However, when I'm singing, it might sound ok but if I record myself I can tell it's pretty far off. Should I get some sort of voice tuner type thing?

[lloydapalooza]

If the cords are pushed more than they can handle then they bow up and cant close to vibrate, and over time youre just shooting air over them more and pushing them up more and this can lead to overstressing the structure and down the spiral you go.




but if you had strong vocal cords, wouldn't the air shoot past it and hit your soft pallate, thus, producing rasp?

also i have another side question

generally how strong do your vocal cords need to be to be able to scream?

and what exactly is happening when someone is growling? is it just like screaming except at a lower pitch or is it something different?

[Merkaba]

but if you had strong vocal cords, wouldn't the air shoot past it and hit your soft pallate, thus, producing rasp?
Nah, you forgot how the cords work. When you push air up and close the cords it restricts the air flow, but they roll open in a certain shape, depending on the pitch, then they close, then they do that again, then they close. hundred or so times a second. So if your cords and the muscles arent able to hold the cords tight to resist a bigger airflow they wont stay together to vibrate the air and you get a break, a lot of breaks, just a plane old shltty sounding bad note, or pretty much nothing at all. Ever blown up a balloon and then squeezee the opening with your fingers and pull it and make it make sounds? Then when you pull it tight it gets higher, but if you pull too much the air just flaps out. Its working the same way. So you need to have your muscles strong enough to be able to hold the folds together to resist the air. Anything shooting past your cords is nothing but extra air, which means you cant hold the note as long, and it means more stress on the cords and a quicker drying thus more heat thus more swelling, because they arent vibrating from the air. It has to vibrate the cords to get a sound, or a note that is.

also i have another side question

generally how strong do your vocal cords need to be to be able to scream?

and what exactly is happening when someone is growling? is it just like screaming except at a lower pitch or is it something different?Well how could I answer the strength question? YOu have to be able to resist at least 35 psi.....etc. ??? It will depend on the person. Some people can get a scream at 60% push that it might take me 90% to imitate. There just is no setpoint, and it depends on your makeup. But with a little practice and good technique, I always say anyone can do any type of sound with no more than 80% of their maximum push if that, especially when you start to add in a Mic.You dont have to be the loudest or strongest, just have good technique toget a clean sound.
Growls are the same, just the cords are thicker at lower notes, and youre using alot of the glottis, or back of the throat. Like I say....theres really not any other way to get rasp. THeres just not enough things in your path to alter. But there are enough so that you can do it wrong. But when you hear a high shrill... a good mid tone raspy note, or a low growl, theres really only one way to get that rasp consistently.

Ok, simple question I guess. Whats the best way to tell if you're singing the right note? I'm just learning how to sing and I'm trying to train my voice by playing along with my guitar. However, when I'm singing, it might sound ok but if I record myself I can tell it's pretty far off. Should I get some sort of voice tuner type thing?
Keep practicing is all i can tell ya. Be sure to start on low notes. And do octaves from a low note youre comfortable with up to its next higher cousin. sing A, then play and sing the next higher A. then move up one half step and repeat and so on. Then do a low note, the perfect fifth up, then the next octave(from the first low note, tonic, etc.) Practice without cords, just a single string.

[MikeyEss]

Hey Merkaba
Thanks for the info earlier. I was reading the rest of the posts and noticed the one you replied to for punkskater... about how his voice might sound find and he may just not like it. I'm kinda interested in seeing if thats the case for me, because i've always enjoyed singing but never liked my voice. I sent a recording to my sister, and she said that she was totally surprised i could sing. Could you check out the two songs I posted on soundclick --->

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/mikeyess_music.htm

One is Cemetery Drive by My Chemical Romance, the other is an acoustic (I believe you but my tommy gun don't) by Brand New

Let me know what you think, be brutally honest, and thanks a lot!

edit>> I'm adding 1 more song as well 'soco amaretto lime' by Brand New, could you please check it out as well?

Also a new scream, which i personally think is my best so far, for anyone who wants to check it out.
Wait nevermind soundclick is down atm... i'll put it up as soon as possible

[spaztik]

I've just recently started screaming for my band. When I do, it starts to really hurt after a couple of songs. I know this is really bad, and I'm trying to fix it, but I don't really understand how to make the sound come from my gut, and not from my throat. Can anybody elaborate so I can start screaming again? Oh yeah, I'm 16, and I scream for like a death metal type band. I don't really know who to compare it to, It's just a deep, raspy scream...

[Merkaba]

I've just recently started screaming for my band. When I do, it starts to really hurt after a couple of songs. I know this is really bad, and I'm trying to fix it, but I don't really understand how to make the sound come from my gut, and not from my throat. Can anybody elaborate so I can start screaming again? Oh yeah, I'm 16, and I scream for like a death metal type band. I don't really know who to compare it to, It's just a deep, raspy scream...
Its gonna come from your throat, you just need to make sure your air support comes from your diaphragm....otherwise you will squeeze your throat up in an attempt to gain the pressure you need to scream. Thats where the problem comes in at.