Merkabas Voice-Help Hotline

[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.

[Peg Dizzler]

Well, I don't know the original songs, so I'm not really sure what to say about the singing. However, it was very soft and sounded pretty good, aside from a few pitch problems, but that's fine considering you weren't singing to anything (at least I don't think you would have been).
I'm not sure about the screams though man, sounds like you're tightening things up. I can't really be sure though. My falsetto scream sounds so much different from the typical "american hardcore" scream, so I really don't know.

[kaotic3]

Would singing along with a CD do anything to improve my voice?

[Merkaba]

Would singing along with a CD do anything to improve my voice?
Thats basically how i learned to sing and still how I practice. Just be careful that you dont try to compete your acoustic instrument with the electrically amplified stereo! This can be dangerous.

[Merkaba]

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.
I thought I had replied a few days ago....oh well.
The screams sound ok...but like CD said it sounds like youre closing up too much....maybe as youre first trying to find that area of rasp...then you kinda let it back off more and let it flow out. The First scream sounds a little better.

The songs...well it sounds like youre not singing. Probably trying to hard, and you dont have breath support. It sounds like youre trying to sing parts in head or falsetto that should be done in maybe a lower head or higher chest. ...thats why it sounds soft and the cords arent buzzing the sound out. I would recommend you try the song an octave lower...even if its way deep....then sing it like like two notes lower from the orgininal. Just to get a feel for keeping the cords closed and relaxed. Also just sing the song like you were talking. Even if its in a different key.

[fenderplayer1100]

Hey, I just started singing a month ago...I don't have a vocal coach or anything, but the singer that i'm TRYING to mimic is Freddie Mercury....Well first off when I wake up and try to sing along with Queen songs I can't hit certain notes because of flem blockage in my through. How do i get rid of the flem....and could u tell me some warm-ups that u guys use to prepare for singing. And did Freddy Mercury use his head voice in the song "Killer Queen". Oh and another thing...Sometimes when i try to hit some really high notes I end up sounding like Kurmet the Frog...Does anyone know how to stop that from happening? Thanks

[lloydapalooza]

to fenderplayer: links to warmups are posted on the first page of this post


alright so i recorded some growls and it would be cool if you could give me some input on them , see if im doing them right etc


link (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/lloydapalooza_music.htm)

[luciano]

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.

thanxs, man!!!

i'll work harder.

btw, i am not a native english speaker... is it too evident????

[Majic]

The Natives Are Restless

btw, i am not a native english speaker... is it too evident????
Yes. Your words are properly spelled and your grammar is too precise. ^:p^

Mispell your words, use excessively opaque, esoteric slang and post in incoherent sentence fragments and -- us Americans, anyway -- will assume you're a product of the U.S. public school system, and therefore a native speaker. ^;)^

[luciano]

The Natives Are Restless


Yes. Your words are properly spelled and your grammar is too precise. ^:p^

Mispell your words, use excessively opaque, esoteric slang and post in incoherent sentence fragments and -- us Americans, anyway -- will assume you're a product of the U.S. public school system, and therefore a native speaker. ^;)^

:D lol :D thanx :D

i was actually referring to my singing rather than my writing. anyway, i didn't write the lyrics, and in case you need them, you can find them here:

http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/helloween/keeperofthesevenkeyspartii.html#5

if you haven't heard the song i sang, here is the rapidshare link:

http://rapidshare.de/files/3598880/dr_stein_lu.ogg.html

any comments appreciated
(thanx rats and merka :) )

[Merkaba]

Fender check out the first page of this thread.

[MikeyEss]

Merkaba

I've recorded a new clip of my singing. Could you please check it out? (its under test)

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

I've just been reading through a lot of your posts, and with this clip i sang at a fairly low volume, 'robot faced', and in a relaxed and upright position in an attempt to create good air flow and keep a relaxed and open throat. My range isn't great at the moment so you'll notice some breakage at high notes. Could you give me some feedback on it? thanks!

>>Also, i've been trying a lot of variations in my screaming using the advice you've given, but its been to no avail. I listened to the rasp 101 instruction for example, trying a high note and adding rasp in an attempt to get a falsetto scream and it comes out... well... kinda f***ed up. Even with lower screams, when i sing and add rasp it just comes out as more of a super loud growl...

[lloydapalooza]

alright so i recorded some growls and it would be cool if you could give me some input on them , see if im doing them right etc


link (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/lloydapalooza_music.htm)

in case you missed it

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey MikeyEss,

I listened to your new scream, and I can definitely say you're doing what I thought was screaming at first. I'm 99% sure you're tightening your throat up and just pushing some air through it; do you feel tense when you do it, does it hurt, and is it quiet? If you said yes to any of those, then that's what you're doing. Before I found this thread, I never really knew how to scream and I remember I used to "scream" along with some CDs in my car... I could sound pretty close to them, but, it was always quiet and it hurt.

Same goes for your singing, before I knew ANYTHING about singing, I used to "sing" like you. All soft and crap. I don't want to offend you, but it's true. What you're doing is just "singing" with little to no breath support, so it ends up like a soft whisper. To get past that, you just need to put some volume behind it. Don't be scared to belt it out. If it helps, try just yelling to get in the mood. I can't really recommend yelling too much, because that can hurt your voice, but it taught me how to put some diaphragm behind my singing, and how use the back of your throat for rasp. Using the back of your throat should be somewhat natural too, don't think about it and try to tense up your throat. Like Merk said, it's like the aaannnk sound, the incorrect buzzer sound on game shows and stuff.

Just keep reading Merk's advice in the previous pages of this thread. Keep working on your falsetto, and warm up beforehand. Instead of just thinking to yourself "I'm going to scream!" just work on falsetto. I would recommend learning to sing with rasp first, but you may be able to figure out how to scream if you just keep pushing your falsetto harder and harder. Don't hit an exceptionally high note, but hit a generally "low" falsetto note, and try to just push it and let the air "scrape" your back throat. It might just take some experimenting to figure out.

[Peg Dizzler]

in case you missed it

They sounded pretty good. I was impressed that you did them soft, that's a key thing with guttoral screaming, at least I think so.
If it hurts at all, then I think you need to figure something else out. But if you're warming up beforehand and it's not hurting, congratulations.
The last one in "growl2" definitely sounded the best. Just make sure you're isolating and try to keep it soft and "airy." It's a little hard to explain. Or you could try using the gargling tecnique that Kristina showed me, but it's hard to form any words while doing that... yeah, growling is kind of a hit or miss thing, I can sort of do two different kinds of growls but I'm not sure if I've quite perfected it or not.

[Peg Dizzler]

Merk, you need to post some more sh|t. :thumb: I went to your soundclick hoping you'd have some new stuff. Take a day off work and record a bunch of falsetto screaming, and some singing, and some chest voice singing, and some whistle notes (I really wanna hear this.. and learn it), and some guttoral stuff if you can... do it for MX, man! :p Haha.

I want to figure out inward screaming too man, how'd you do that, that one on your soundclick? aaahh, I don't even know where to start to figure something like that out.

[Merkaba]

I was actually just thinking of recording some more stuff as i read the posts...I'll have to sit down and go through what people are having trouble with and post some stuff related to it. Inner screaming..I dont know...I dont do it but i guess I can if i want. And you say you wanna hear the whistle stuff...I posted it a while back...or are you saying that you want more? The new shift I work really limits my time but I'll try to get around to it, and listening to any samples soon. Its 8 in the morning, and I just got home from work...gotta sleep. Then be back to work at six in the evening til six.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Loyd, the growls sound pretty good. If its comfortable then keep practicing. Is that the lowest you can go? If not try to go lower and practice singing low notes and alos mid as well, as it helps strengthen the muslces that keep the cords held together. Are you gonna be trying to do wods that low or just a growling? If words...then try all vowels and see how well you can growl through them all....ay,ee, I , Oh, U, ah.
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Ah....Mike...I heard that song twice on like Conan or Leno reruns. The chorus I loved...and I had to look up the lyrics and found that I liked that song more. Its not my usual genre or style but I'm finnicky.

I say youre trying too hard. Sounds like you have a good voice. I say youre trying too hard because you've altered the approach, and youre singing slow and airy. Post a sample of you trying to sing this song the way they sing it. Just relax when you do it. Youre in falsetto and I dont think you have to be...bust I can tell youre holding back. The best thing that happened to me was someone said..."you've got good tone but you could sing harder" . Fallout boy, whoever the singer is, just basically sings this chorus hard. I think if you did you could find out alot about yourself and rasp because its not a high song and if you push it a little you might surprise yourself. Now I know I always say be careful and all but you will eventually have to push. Now I would recommend you try that with this song instead of a higher scream because its not too high at least most of the chorus isnt. Try to push the chorus and sound like he does...you dont have to worry about the Higher parts of it...if you cant do it all just practice the "sugar were going down swinging" part. And just relax and do it like you were singing it at someone across the street, to somebody, yet kinda yelling it, frankly. There should be a slight position as if you were talking it. That keeps you in true voice, or keeps the resonance close to true voice even when you go to falsetto so that people cant really tell that its falsetto. I can sing almost all of my falsetto range and sound like its true voice, due to that. Its basically the power falsetto, supported falsetto, or mixed voice, etc,blah blah position. Kinda like singing both and the same time. It kinda makes it louder by default. When youre in the soft airy falsetto, it creates more tension because youre opening up the cords when they dont really need to be. So when you try to go louder youre more prone to recreate that tension. Sing it normally.

Relax...but push it...not maximum...but go ahead and sing it loud and hard, and shift the feel til you get a sound and way that feels good and comfortable. Its awkward because you dont really feel much of a strain when youre clamping your cords around big air...the muscles are small...what most of us feel is the strain of our throats as we tense them up. The cords, you dont really feel them as much and alot of the faces you see from singers is straining to open the throat and keep the larynx from slamming up...Its not coming so much from straining for the note itself, although over time as you start driving your voice many times youre doing both. After a while it will come natural but youre not gonna get there singing soft in falsetto. You're gonna be more prone to letting your cords not hold tension if you sing soft which will make it harder to get stronger. I know from experience.

p.s. if you can upload that song I would like to have it. :)

[MikeyEss]

p.s. if you can upload that song I would like to have it. :)

Hey its the least i can do after your help. Its on my soundclick page :thumb:

Thanks a lot for the advice, i'll attempt what you suggested and post it later today if possible. Tty soon

[Bass_Guy_Jay]

Hey Merk, I was wondering if you could check out our song on My Space (sorry for posting in another thread) but I just need an opinion.

I didn't make lyrics for the song, I was just trying to test my scream, I find the second half is more efficent then the first half... you can check it out here at: www.myspace.com/SeiryuRock (Its called "Evermore")

Also man, I just wanna thank you for making those sound clips, they helped me so much, yesturday, I couldn't scream, I used your clips.. practice for about 4 hours last night (untill like 1 am) and I have made a big step, I still need to practice beyond belief (same with vocals) but you have been a BIG help to me, and I just want to say thanks.

[brainproof]

mikey, i listened to your soundclicks. you sound like you have the same problems as my friend who sings for my band. you still sound like your holding back and your just staying in your falsetto. i dont really know what to say because i dont know much about singing. but it sound like your afriad of someone hearing you at your house. i dont think you supposed to use your falsetto through the enite song. you have to use your true voice.

[brainproof]

whenever i scream(lower falsetto) i can barely manage a 3 sec scream or so. it sounds fairly good when i record and play it back. how do i do longer screams? am i doing something wrong? and how does puting a book and breathing help? also, my friend(good singer, got awards from choir) said to "hiss" like go tsssssssssss for as long as i can. how would that help?

[Merkaba]

whenever i scream(lower falsetto) i can barely manage a 3 sec scream or so. it sounds fairly good when i record and play it back. how do i do longer screams? am i doing something wrong? and how does puting a book and breathing help? also, my friend(good singer, got awards from choir) said to "hiss" like go tsssssssssss for as long as i can. how would that help?
I gave this same advice yesterday in another post. Holding a zzz or ssss sound. I say try to hold it for thirty seconds or more. Because it teaches you breath control. You cant sing without the diaphragm. You have to tense it instead of just relaxing like youre exhaling from a normal breath. You have to push a bit but not that much. ...depending on the sound you want. But by holding a sound that long it will teach you to not just let all your air out. You will have to get your diaphragm involved. So practice it.
Putting a book on your stomach(I guess thats what you were gonna say) and breathing helps you inhale correctly. The book should rise as you inhale. Its no big deal..you could use your hand. Some people breathe incorrectly and suck in their stomach some. But you stomach should rise first...then at about 75% your chest should start to rise a bit. Not as much as your stomach...but a little.

[MikeyEss]

Hey Merkaba, can you check out my new version of fallout boy? Thanks!

[lloydapalooza]

hey merkaba i can do this thing where i make clicks with my vocal cords but at the same time hiss air. its pretty wierd. i was just wondering if there was any relevance to it. i uploaded an mp3 here (http://www.soundclick.com/artist/0/lloydapalooza_music.htm)

its titled wierd

[Merkaba]

hey merkaba i can do this thing where i make clicks with my vocal cords but at the same time hiss air. its pretty wierd. i was just wondering if there was any relevance to it. i uploaded an mp3 here (http://www.soundclick.com/artist/0/lloydapalooza_music.htm)

its titled wierd
Yea I've been doing this since I was a kid. Youre using the false cords for the click. And thats pretty much the area you use for rasp. If you listen to my samples you can hear me kinda do this louder as I was starting off some of those rasp screams.

If you have trouble rasping try doing it, and slowly adding more sound and "click" and seperating them in and out from clean to not raspy will help learn some isolation.

[Merkaba]

Hey Merk, I was wondering if you could check out our song on My Space (sorry for posting in another thread) but I just need an opinion.

I didn't make lyrics for the song, I was just trying to test my scream, I find the second half is more efficent then the first half... you can check it out here at: www.myspace.com/SeiryuRock (Its called "Evermore")

Also man, I just wanna thank you for making those sound clips, they helped me so much, yesturday, I couldn't scream, I used your clips.. practice for about 4 hours last night (untill like 1 am) and I have made a big step, I still need to practice beyond belief (same with vocals) but you have been a BIG help to me, and I just want to say thanks.
Ahhh..thought I had listened to that one before and thought it was instrumental since the vocals kinda took a while to start. I like it though. Sounds like Linkin park mixed with some deftones. Some of my influences in those....I like it. I was looking for a link to download it. I was coming up with some melodies and things myself...I'd love to do little mix in there with you just for "play play" hehe.

I think you could sound almost twice as better...not that it sounds that bad. You did go a little flat sometimes...but I still do that when just fartin off. How does your voice feel after the screams? Because it sounds really pushy...but if you cant handle it then fine. But too much push robs you of your tone. I think you would sound better with more tone. At least in certain parts. If i were you I would take an instrumental if you have one....give one to me...hehe...and then ride around and sing those parts that you were doing, or whatever parts you come up with.....sing them like you were gonna sing them in opera. Back off of the push. Even the screaming note...sing it, I think its "no", or sounded like it. But for instance just sing it normally without so much push, and dont rasp any part of it. It will help you i think, to close up some of those notes and get the muscle memory to stay right on key. I do like the falling melody of you singing "Ehhh verrr morrre". Keep that. I can really hear that with a little reverb or something melting off...sounding like a dream or something. REally sounds like something I would do so I love that part. hehe. Maybe draw it out a little more. Just a little....and like I say, just a little more controlled...which I think would come from less push...for now at least. Thats my two cents. But then again you were just testing the song a bit...so whatever, no big deal. Keep me posted on this one.

OH yea...the second half ...maybe around the 2:40 mark the screams sound better. I'm on dialup. So my deal stops and buffers every ten seconds or so. sux.

[Merkaba]

Hey Merkaba, can you check out my new version of fallout boy? Thanks!
Mike, still sounds like youre scared. Or not wanting to be loud for fear of something. If thats the case then wait til you have the house or whatever to yourself. If thats not the case then....

Do you have to be in falsetto to sing this high? I dont think you do. I would like you to sing it about three notes lower. Do this... right now...without thinking of any specific note or pitch or anything..just sing and EEEEEE. Now sing this song in that same pitch even if its not the same key. It will give you practice anyways. It might sound like something from a lounge bar or a restaraunt but thats not important. So give it a try. And I dont think your pressurizing your lungs much with the diaphragm either. Dont fret...its just around the corner.

Maybe I'll post a sample if I can get around to it.

[brainproof]

thanks for the explaination, but your forgot one question, is it normal to for beginning screamers to have realyl short screams or am i doing something wrong?

[Merkaba]

Well yea...Youre not using enough breath control...i.e. diaphragm. I dont think its a matter of normalcy. But if you want to hold any sound long you have to take in a deep proper breath...and then be able to control how much your diaphgragm pushes up against your lungs. Thats why holding the ZZZ kinda gets you working with that. Because it will be hard to hold any sound without a good breath, and the diaphragm. Now you will have to manipulate it over time but thats second nature once you know how it feels. I might post another sample kinda dealing with this soon.

[Bass_Guy_Jay]

Hey Merk, thanks buddy for the help, I am glad that you (from what I gathered) like the instrumental for the song "Evermore" This is my favourite song so far.

When you say it sounds like I am pushing to hard, I think your right, cause when I try to do the more aggressive screams, I do push harder (Probably around 50% push) which, from what I have gathered is not good, I could easily get the same effect with less push right?

What does my throat feel like after doing these, well we played the song a lot that one practice, and my throat felt fine, didn't hurt, but I did notice it was harder for me to sing higher, so the screams maybe effecting my vocal chords, probably from pushing to hard. Also, when we start practice, at the beginning I have some tea, then always have 2 waters on hand (i drink so much water... lol)

When your talking about tone of the scream, could you give an example (on the song Evermore... if you can) what’s good tone, and what’s bad tone. Or maybe all my tone was bad, so how would I control this? How do I know if the tone is correct?

The only instrumental version of Evermore me have (that is the whole song) our Rhythm guitarist was to loud, and he has trouble with timing, so its quite messy. If you want it, you can find it here: "Evermore" Instrumental (http://www.franticgames.com/seriyu/Music/Evermore_instrumental.mp3) (its about 8 mbs)

So feel free to record over it or whatever, put a little Merk touch on it, ha ha... basically what I want to do is just follow the rhythm of the tune.

I think that’s it for now Merk, you have been a big help to me buddy :)

[MikeyEss]

Thanks Merkaba
Yeah a post of it from you would be very helpful if you have the time.
Much appreciated.

I'm just not exactly sure what the feeling would be if i were using correct diaphragm support... I breathe correctly, but you say it still sounds like i'm not getting correct support. Also what should the 'push' on a note feel like?

Oh, and how is singing really loud going to help me? Is it to find the true voiceor something? I attempted singing the song pushing hard and loud and it just sounded quite bad... lol

[Boondock]

Hey everyone. I've always wanted a raspy voice. Kinda like Foo Fighters raspy. Any tips? Also, can your voice ever become permanently raspy?

[MikeyEss]

Yes, by smoking 10 packs of cigarettes a day... lol

[Kosta]

I never post due to a lack of time. But..

To anyone who wants to learn the falsetto scream...

..first, read most theory found in this topic. SERIOUSLY. That's important.

But, theory is not all. It's just as much mentality towards your singing itself, as it is actual technique. I'll make a little guide to actually learning how to use it. Most assumptions here are from experience. It's nothing big, but heh, I guess any help is useful.

You don't have to force a falsetto scream. You just do it. I gave a similar tip before, but these past few weeks, I've been practicing for hours every day while showering, cleaning my room, etc. Every free time I kind find.

So you got something that sounds like a falsetto scream. Thing is, you're probably tensing it too much at first. So you'll work on that, just relax, don't move a muscle on your face, and just do those "screams". Just to get a feel for it. Just to improve your technique and such.

Right well. Singing with your raspened falsetto can be a bitch at first. It sounds and feels very unnatural. Hell, you probably can't even pronounce words yet, I sure as hell can't. That's fine at first.

So after having warmed up, listen to a song with falsetto screams. Let's say, Laid To Rest by Lamb Of God or I'm Broken by Pantera. I picked those because I didn't have to scream several sylables with one breath.

In laid to rest there is a 12 second falsetto scream where Randy scramed the "ure" part of "failure". It's quite easy.

In I'm Broken, Phil Anselmo screamed "Too young for" with a falsetto scream. Again, I picked those because I could scream a sylable at a time.

..to be honest, the only reason I listen to those songs is just to practice to them.

If you figured those out - which is very easy...

..I'd suggest just talking with added rasp. Just talk to yourself, or sing along songs with added rasp. Also to get used to it. Just get used to rasping your voice.

I couldn't do **** with my falsetto scream at first because it felt so alien. So I just tried to get used to it that way. And it worked.

I'd also suggest to stop using your chest voice to scream for the time you're learning to use your falsetto scream. Just fully focus on it. 'cause getting a feel for it as important as the technique.

Right. So you can sing with a raspened voice by now and talk with it, too. Now.. just practice some random screams as much as you can and see if you got more control over them, if not, keep trying.

ALSO. Force yourself to do stuff you thought you couldn't before. I got a better feel for my scream when I tried to scream along Aqua Dementia by Mastodon (what a brilliant song, by the way). And hey, I could do it immediately. Plus, it's very fun to scream along to.

The last, and probably most important tip is;
DON'T WORRY IF YOU DON'T SOUND LIKE WHATSHISNAME FROM WHATSTHEBAND. You have your own voice. Strop wanting to sound like let's say Jacob Bannon and accept your voice for what it is, unique. You might not be able to sound like..Greg Puciato from The Dillinger Escape Plan, but hey, he might not be able to sound like you either.

Hope that was even slightly useful.

[La Revolucion]

Merkaba (or anyone else who knows)- I haven't exactly read all of this thread yet, so hopefully you haven't answered my question already. Dave Grohl, from Foo Fighters, sings aggressively, according to definitions of that kind of singing I've found. I'm wondering how he sings like that, because I have a very nice normal singing voice (kind of like Chester from Linkin Park, when he sings normal) but I can't get much rasp in it at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[MikeyEss]

Thanks Merkaba
Yeah a post of it from you would be very helpful if you have the time.
Much appreciated.

I'm just not exactly sure what the feeling would be if i were using correct diaphragm support... I breathe correctly, but you say it still sounds like i'm not getting correct support. Also what should the 'push' on a note feel like?

Oh, and how is singing really loud going to help me? Is it to find the true voiceor something? I attempted singing the song pushing hard and loud and it just sounded quite bad... lol

[Merkaba]

Merkaba (or anyone else who knows)- I haven't exactly read all of this thread yet, so hopefully you haven't answered my question already. Dave Grohl, from Foo Fighters, sings aggressively, according to definitions of that kind of singing I've found. I'm wondering how he sings like that, because I have a very nice normal singing voice (kind of like Chester from Linkin Park, when he sings normal) but I can't get much rasp in it at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Well yea...we've all answered that before. Its all the same thing. Unfortunately at this time I dont wish to repeat it...nothing personal but I'm about to go eat. But if you read around.....you'll read what I would write anyways so...

Louis Armstrong, Wonderful World.

Good post Kosta...

[La Revolucion]

Oh ok sorry for bugging you then. I'll look around.

[Peg Dizzler]

Thanks Merkaba
Yeah a post of it from you would be very helpful if you have the time.
Much appreciated.

I'm just not exactly sure what the feeling would be if i were using correct diaphragm support... I breathe correctly, but you say it still sounds like i'm not getting correct support. Also what should the 'push' on a note feel like?

Oh, and how is singing really loud going to help me? Is it to find the true voiceor something? I attempted singing the song pushing hard and loud and it just sounded quite bad... lol

Talk to someone, at a normal volume. That's your true voice. Yell really loud at someone. That's your true voice. Scream like a girl, or like you're on a roller coaster. That's falsetto. Falsetto isn't bad of course, but it isn't proper singing if you're singing a whole song in falsetto, really softly.
So, try just talking loud, or yelling for that matter, and try to make notes out of it. Use a guitar or piano, it helps. It's not going to sound good at first, but you need to discover how to use your head voice in singing.

[MikeyEss]

Cool, thanks CD

I'll record some new stuff soon and post it.

[darklife]

Hey Merkaba...

I'm determined to learn how to scream, if only just to be able to do it for fun if not in a band setting. Your posts have helped quite a bit. I just have one question though.

If I scream at a lower volume it sounds a million times better. If I try to get it louder I either lose the rasp or I lose the whole thing completely. If I sing the note first and then try to add the rasp the volume drops a lot, I'd say to about half of what it was when I was just singing the note. Am I closing my throat too much as you keep warning about, or am I doing it wrong altogether?

I'm gonna keep playing around. I realize I'm trying not to be too loud cause I don't want people freaking out cause I'm in my room screaming all the time, but it doesn't seem right that I can't scream at the same volume as I sing. It sounds like I'm whispering. I am making sure I feel my gut tighten like I'm grunting. Actually, the very first part the the scream (when the diaphragm first contracts) is at a decent volume, it just trails off after that.

[Merkaba]

Hey Merkaba...

I'm determined to learn how to scream, if only just to be able to do it for fun if not in a band setting. Your posts have helped quite a bit. I just have one question though.

If I scream at a lower volume it sounds a million times better. If I try to get it louder I either lose the rasp or I lose the whole thing completely. If I sing the note first and then try to add the rasp the volume drops a lot, I'd say to about half of what it was when I was just singing the note. Am I closing my throat too much as you keep warning about, or am I doing it wrong altogether?

I'm gonna keep playing around. I realize I'm trying not to be too loud cause I don't want people freaking out cause I'm in my room screaming all the time, but it doesn't seem right that I can't scream at the same volume as I sing. It sounds like I'm whispering. I am making sure I feel my gut tighten like I'm grunting. Actually, the very first part the the scream (when the diaphragm first contracts) is at a decent volume, it just trails off after that.
Well your definition of low and decent volume might be different than mine. Without a sample I couldnt really know for sure. It will take some strength and coordination and you must know how to rise up into head without trying to stretch your chest voice up into it. Without a sample I couldnt really tell you, but if youre singing a decent volume you should be able to hold that volume and add rasp without it dropping in volume.

Thanks Merkaba
Yeah a post of it from you would be very helpful if you have the time.
Much appreciated.

I'm just not exactly sure what the feeling would be if i were using correct diaphragm support... I breathe correctly, but you say it still sounds like i'm not getting correct support. Also what should the 'push' on a note feel like?

Oh, and how is singing really loud going to help me? Is it to find the true voiceor something? I attempted singing the song pushing hard and loud and it just sounded quite bad... lol
I was gonna make some samples today but I opted to work so I dont have time...

by singing louder it will get you out of the falsetto position...hopefully. Because its hard to sing loud with tone in falsetto....unless you start using power falsetto/supported falsetto... thats another story.

The best way is to start at a normal note and rise up in pitch. You will have to feel like youre opening up the back of the throat a bit. Start with Ah...it naturally helps to accomplish this.

[darklife]

Well your definition of low and decent volume might be different than mine. Without a sample I couldnt really know for sure. It will take some strength and coordination and you must know how to rise up into head without trying to stretch your chest voice up into it. Without a sample I couldnt really tell you, but if youre singing a decent volume you should be able to hold that volume and add rasp without it dropping in volume.


I practiced a bit while recording and I did a couple that were on par with my singing volume-wise. It felt like I had to push a lot harder than when I sang the note. Is that normal?

Also, I noticed that when I sing the note and try to add the rasp, it feels like the note goes from about chest level to my stomach. That's not supposed to happen, right? If not I think I need to keep playing with it then, I may just not be adding the rasp correctly.

[Merkaba]

I dont really know what you mean by going from chest level to stomach. I would say play around with it and let your gauge be how comfortable it is and how much/long you can do it...and how your cords feel afterwards and the next day.

[darklife]

I dont really know what you mean by going from chest level to stomach. I would say play around with it and let your gauge be how comfortable it is and how much/long you can do it...and how your cords feel afterwards and the next day.

Hey, I figured it out. I was adding the rasp all wrong lol. I was sorta making that weird sound from The Grudge cause I do stupid stuff like that when I'm bored (and by myself), and then it dawned on me that that is how I should try to add the rasp. It doesn't make my throat feel scratchy like the way I was doing it before, and the note remains at the same volume. I still have a lot of practice to do, though, cause sometimes I accidentally drop in pitch when I try to add it.

[tatsu]

Hey Merkaba, just wondering if you'd mind checking out my scream and telling me whether or not I'm not doing it right, and where I stand. Here's the link:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=388240

Thanks in advance, I have so much trouble exhale screaming, I get no volume whatsoever.

[Peg Dizzler]

Well, I believe I have finally figured out INWARD SCREAMING!! yayus..!

This is my first day at it. So it may not be that good yet. Still working things out. I don't really know how I figured it out, I never really got around to trying to figure it out because I had no clue what tecnique to use, or how, because I've never done any kind of vocals breathing inward. Then a few days ago, while laughing really hard (you know like when it sounds like you're barely breathing that you're laughing so hard?) well I sucked a bunch of air in, and it sounded really freaky to say the least. Today I did the same thing, while I was in the middle of laughing really hard I immediately remembered that I should try inward screaming, and I did it. After about 15 minutes of messing around, I think I got it. I guess it requires a very open throat, it helped if I yawned first, just like when you're trying to falsetto scream, it helps...

Anyway... I can do 4 different kinds of screams now, or if you count the two different falsetto ones (which sound drastically different) and if you count the inward guttoral and inward high pitched separate, then I can do SIX screams. Wee! I assume there's no more known screams, aye?

Oh, and does anyone know if inward screams are damaging at all? I remember someone said it was affecting their singing range...

If you want to know more about the screams.. or want me to record more... just let me know. Here's the link.
http://www.soundclick.com/pendingdemise

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey Merkaba, just wondering if you'd mind checking out my scream and telling me whether or not I'm not doing it right, and where I stand. Here's the link:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=388240

Thanks in advance, I have so much trouble exhale screaming, I get no volume whatsoever.

The inward screams were great. You definitely figured those out. Can you do higher ones or just the mid to lower range ones?

The one called "Tony's exhale scream" seemed pretty good. I can definitely hear the falsetto voice behind it. It seems like you're used to inward screaming though, and your exhale scream was simply making your false cords click, which isn't a scream really. Warm up, practice your falsetto alot, and work with it--don't try to hit an exceptionally high falsetto note, keep it a bit lower actually. Then add the rasp with the back of your throat, if you know how. If not, read some more pages of this thread. I like Merk's example, rasp is like the "aaank" sound of the buzzer on TV game shows when the answer is wrong. If you can make that sound, you're generating rasp with the back of your throat.
Anyway. So always base it on a falsetto voice, and always warm up. Let us know what you come up with! :thumb:

[Dumpweedrock]

Well the other day a freind of mine asked me if i wanted to sing for his band in the fall. I agreed but now im kinda running into some problems. I listen to a lot of Thrice, and i want to be able to sing like Dustin. When i sing along with the songs, i can hit every note perfectly, but when i play it on my guitar my voice just blends in with the music. I guess my question is How do you sing fairly low tone wise and still project without blending into the music. Would simply turing up the mic solve this problem? When i listen to dustin of thrice sing, it seems to me that i am matching his pitch but im not projecting as much as he is.

[tatsu]

The inward screams were great. You definitely figured those out. Can you do higher ones or just the mid to lower range ones?

The one called "Tony's exhale scream" seemed pretty good. I can definitely hear the falsetto voice behind it. It seems like you're used to inward screaming though, and your exhale scream was simply making your false cords click, which isn't a scream really. Warm up, practice your falsetto alot, and work with it--don't try to hit an exceptionally high falsetto note, keep it a bit lower actually. Then add the rasp with the back of your throat, if you know how. If not, read some more pages of this thread. I like Merk's example, rasp is like the "aaank" sound of the buzzer on TV game shows when the answer is wrong. If you can make that sound, you're generating rasp with the back of your throat.
Anyway. So always base it on a falsetto voice, and always warm up. Let us know what you come up with! :thumb:

Well, I can do anywhere with my inhale, but I realize now, looking back, seeing as I don't have my own mic, it made it difficult... what was happening with all the exhale screams, was that I was moving the mic away from me when I was cutting the air for the consonants, causing the entire thing to seem like short, ugly yelps... Inward is my work, outward needs some work... like my life. Thanks for the crit and comment! I'll make sure to post more, when I'm at my buddies...

[Rats!]

Why are ee's and oo's and their variations harder to do than other vowels?

[Rats!]

Hey Merkaba, just wondering if you'd mind checking out my scream and telling me whether or not I'm not doing it right, and where I stand. Here's the link:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=388240

Thanks in advance, I have so much trouble exhale screaming, I get no volume whatsoever.

lol
funny **** man keep it up

[zultone]

Dude, thanks for all the help on vocals.
http://media.putfile.com/eh35

Please laugh at the song as it's a joke.
But that's where my scream is at now.
=D !!

[Peg Dizzler]

So has anyone listened to my new screams yet, including the inward ones? :D

http://www.soundclick.com/pendingdemise

[fenderplayer1100]

what exactly is a gliss anyway?

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

A glissando is sliding smoothly between 2 notes.

[Peg Dizzler]

Hmm, I just did a google on different kinds of screaming, and I found this site.

http://www.invisibleworld.com.au/pages/singfaqs4.htm

I'm not sure how much of this is true, but I think alot of his "warnings" about screaming are really untrue. It makes me want to go there and kick his ***. If that's true, then how come a bunch of death metal bands from the 80's are still around? These stupid "screaming will ruin your voice!" myths piss me off.

Of course.. assuming we use proper technique. :)

[siryan]

bump

[tatsu]

So, I've added one more exhale scream since. Feel free to check it out :D
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=388240
Crits and comments welcome!

[Peg Dizzler]

Poo, no one reads this anymore. :(

[Merkaba]

Why are ee's and oo's and their variations harder to do than other vowels?
An interesting question, and original for a change around these parts.
I'll pretty much paraphrase Mark Baxter...
When you make an E, during the wave form that your cords produce, they line up completely. This is why ee's are good for when you have a fatigued voice or problems because you realign them. This would be light e's in true voice, melodies and glisses. This is also why the E sound is the highest in relative frequency and guess which one is the lowest? O's. To make ohs you have to drop open your larynx and mouth because the frequencies are so low thats the only way they can come out. Doing low o's helps build depth in your voice. If you hold an E and put your hand over your mouth you will hear the e turn into an O, because your hand bascially absorbs the higher frequecies of the e. I'm guessing youre talking about higher notes when you say harder to do? If you think about it, this is all why. It just takes more form and stength to keep the cords coming to a complet close in their vibratory cycle, as in e. And if youre trying to do a high o...well...the shape is relatively more suitable for lower volumes. Relatively...because you want to be able to do them all the same.

CD...I went to your site. Which ones are the new ones? I listened to two that seemed to be the same.

So, I've added one more exhale scream since. Feel free to check it out :D
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=388240
Crits and comments welcome!

I dont have time to check out all of those. The one with "You and Tony" sounded ok....be sure not to overpush. The first one wasnt a scream or anything other than a slow note. Then i listened to the third one I think..and it was pretty much the same. But your true voice rasping sounds ok.

[SugarCoatedSour]

Hey Merkaba (love the Tool, Maynard is my fave vocalist)
I've been a habitual marijuana user for nearly 4 years, does this mean my singing/screamoyelling voice is shot? and what kind of damage does a gurgled phlegmy voice like say Chad Grey's (mudvayne) do to the thoat?

[Peg Dizzler]

The one at the top is the only new one. It's called "6 styles of screams" or something. The low, exhaling one (the first one, I believe) doesn't feel right even when done softly, even though it's basically done like the falsetto scream.. except over my true, chest voice. So I really don't do that one.. I dunno if I'd consider it a scream I guess. So make that 5!

[Merkaba]

Hey Merkaba (love the Tool, Maynard is my fave vocalist)
I've been a habitual marijuana user for nearly 4 years, does this mean my singing/screamoyelling voice is shot? and what kind of damage does a gurgled phlegmy voice like say Chad Grey's (mudvayne) do to the thoat?
If youre smoking mary then youre inhaling way more resin and heat than a cigarette, which just fries your cords more. Does it mean your voice is shot. No. But it does mean that youre more injury prone, your more prone to have weak stamina and not be able to get to your potential which could astronomical as far as you know. But you could be one of those people that's just not affected by it that much. You just dont know if youre one of those. So its a dice roll.

As far as Chad...He's been a big influence on me and helped me understand the position of a scream when I first heard him live off of the LD tour, which was back when I was first trying to get into screaming. I could just hear and tell what he was doing. I think its always good to hear your faves live a few times to see if they really sing as good as the studio makes them sound, and to pic up on what they do vocally. I think he has good technique and he uses the mic like he should, usually. He just really blocks off alot of his throat which takes good strength. One runs the risk of losing a bit of resonance and range over the years but who knows. Its all about technique. Once you reach a certain level of strength and flexibility it just doesnt take as much sheear push and you can key in more on the overall sound instead of just trying to get a raspy note. Once you know your own limits and realize how to trick the sound out clearer and better at a lower push then you can get away with alot more for alot longer....in my book.

[Peg Dizzler]

^ I agree. I'm not into nu-metal at all, but I love Mudvayne. Not only is the bassist just freakin' awesome, but Chad has an incredibly good voice. His technique is spot-on, and he blends his falsetto scream with his raspy singing voice very well. Children of Bodom does the same thing, but he has a totally different tone. Like you said though, he's really good, and just being able to hear and know what he's doing--it helps alot.
When you first taught me how to falsetto scream, after awhile it just all "clicked"... with the help of listening to Mudvayne, and being able to pick out what exactly he's doing. :)

[Sephyr]

I searched all the threads and posts here for over and hour and a half and couldn't find anything to truly answer a question I have, so forgive me if it's been asked before.

Alright so I've been learning to sing for the past year or so (not through training, but from listening, recording, studying the art of singing, etc.) and I've always been interested in the metal "sing-scream".

What I mean by sing-scream is sort of like the type of screaming Corey Taylor of Slipknot does. It's not necessarily growling, and it's not the high-pitced emo/hardcore scream.

I think I actually have strong vocal chords and I'm able to stay on key easily by now, but whenever I try to scream it ends up coming out almost TOO harsh and I know I'm doing it too hard.

I can get the raspy/scraping sound easily, but it sounds too harsh and feels like it too. (For example, soreness. :upset: )

I was wondering if I could get some help with this? Like, more thorough help than I've been able to find so far. Anything's appreciated ^_^

Thanks!

[Rats]

it's the same god **** ****ing **** as all the other screams and your question has been answered a thousand times. it's just a note with rasp.

[Merkaba]

...ouch!

:amaze:

[Rats]

he did say "anything's appreciated" :lol:

[Merkaba]

hehe..yep....

Yea sephyr...I would just be repeating what I've written at the begining of this thread to answer that. Sometimes if I'm in the mood I will, and sometimes if I have an idea of a different angle on it I will....

Just practice singing correctly first. From what you've written you shouldnt have any problems getting their. Be sure to relax and start off trying to get the sound you want by not pushing that hard. This will help you realize that its not your cords or so much push that is making the raspiness but the throat above the cords.

[Sephyr]

Alright, so I apologize for leaving my main question out.

Basically, I seem to have two types of sections to scream with. I have this passage that leads to the growling stuff, and then there's another thing I can do that is sorta like...electronically staticky or something. The first one I mentioned I didn't discover till recently and I can make it go up and down easily, but the other one (the one that has an electronic-ish sound to it) can't get really loud at all.

I'm just wondering what's the difference?

[Peg Dizzler]

It's hard to say with a description like that, to be blunt. You should post a recording if you can.

[Sephyr]

I know...it's hard for me to describe it sorry :(. Hmm..I'll try to get my microphone working soon. I might have some recordings by tomorrow, hopefully.

Thanks for your time so far >_<

[Merkaba]

Well like I say....theres really not much going on. Theres only one "passage". Go ahead and get that thought and it will help to simplify it. I'm willing to bet that your first technique is more correct. You should be able to do it low and ride it up through to your falsetto if need be, and you should be able to do it at close to any volume. Your second one, I'm betting is a higher tense larynx one that you might be over squeezing, kinda like thinking too much about the rasp and not about singing first. I think one of the most important things I usually stress is that you should practice singing first. A good scream has the same support and feel as a hard singing note, because it is. I'm not saying do only regular singing for six months first. I'm saying if there's trouble getting something, try to sing the note first. Pay attention to whether or not you have to strain to sing it normally, or if you have to scrunch up your face to reach for it. You should be able to hold a good operatic sounding tone,I say, if you want a good foundation for more push.

[Sephyr]

Yes you're right, the second one isn't natural and when I usually have to force it while singing it.

I've been working with the one that's natural for me alot lately, and yeah...anyway, thanks for making this thread ^_^ It helped alot.

I'll try to get some recordings as soon as I can.

[Merkaba]

Yep. Remember that, as far as I'm concerned, even the harshest SOUNDING vocals should still be comfortable and shouldnt feel irritating. Just keep practicing and when you run into trouble use your relaxed "opera" voice to try to reconcile your technique.

[panthersfan16]

Hey Merk, I've become a decent screamer since reading ur lessons, but now my band wants to do rock instead of metal. I can sing with all the correct techniques, but what do I do to improve my tone? I really hate my singing voice...It sounds "teenagery", especially when I rasp. Is there a way to get rid of this or do I have to wait for my vocal cords to mature more?

[Merkaba]

How old are you?

If you know you've got decent technique, all you can do is be sure youre relaxed and opening up the throat. If youre say, less than 18, then it could just be your cords for now. Just make sure youre not squeezing and tensing any of your throat. Practice doing low O's and Ah'sand doing slow singing like you were in an opera.

[panthersfan16]

I'm 17

I'm trying to get a slightly rasped tone, like avenged sevenfold or dave grohl, because my clean singing lacks punch... and one more question, would you suggest finding a band willing to do music my vocals are more geared for? I'm seeing very little improvement over the last month and a half over my rock singing voice, and basically wanna know if it's possible to even develop this or if you have to be born with it.

[Merkaba]

You dont have to be born with it....but youre only 17. Thats why you sound "teenagery". It could take a while for you to develop. Dont rush it. If you can post a sample it would help. Just keep practicing. If you cant get your normal singing voice to get some umph behind it, well....you need that for more agressive vocals naturally. Be sure you've got all the basics down. like breath support and isolation.

[Mambuto_O'Mally]

Hey, Merk

This is really cool. I've been thinking alot that I would like to scream, and now I found what I'm looking for. I would read it but its getting late and everybody in my house is trying to sleep.

Why isn't this stickied anymore?

[Merkaba]

Mods kinda switched some stuff around....I guess to have it a little cleaner looking. Its inside the Jams session threads sticky though.

[On The Edge]

Hey Merk,

I'm an aspiring singer (already play guitar) primarily in the rock/hair metal (Bon Jovi, Skid Row) department. Ihave a few questions- do you have any popular books you reccomend I buy for this style of singing? Also, how long would estimate it would take me to be accurate with pitch and to have a warm singing voice- (doesn't have to be perfect).

I practice singing scales on piano and breathing exercises from sliver at the moment. How long do you think I should practice a day and what things are the most important to practice and how much time for them?

[Jandy]

I've looked through plenty of your posts Merk, and I appreciate all the help you've given everybody.

I didn't see anything regarding staying on key though. How does one improve this? When I sing along with something, I can stay on fairly well, but by myself with no reference notes, I'm f'd.

[Phototropic]

I've looked through plenty of your posts Merk, and I appreciate all the help you've given everybody.

I didn't see anything regarding staying on key though. How does one improve this? When I sing along with something, I can stay on fairly well, but by myself with no reference notes, I'm f'd.

This happens to me as well

I usually find myself singing too high or too low

I have to find a word I know and associate a note on the fretboard with it so I know where to start

[Jandy]

This happens to me as well

I usually find myself singing too high or too low

I have to find a word I know and associate a note on the fretboard with it so I know where to start

Yeah if I'm all alone I can't even sing mary had a little lamb. But my g/f hums a note in the car for me sometimes and I can match it right away, so I can't be tone-deaf, can I?

[Phototropic]

Yeah if I'm all alone I can't even sing mary had a little lamb. But my g/f hums a note in the car for me sometimes and I can match it right away, so I can't be tone-deaf, can I?

No

No way

Tone deaf people probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a high note and a low not

Just keep practising

I will :wave:

[Merkaba]

Hey Merk,

I'm an aspiring singer (already play guitar) primarily in the rock/hair metal (Bon Jovi, Skid Row) department. Ihave a few questions- do you have any popular books you reccomend I buy for this style of singing? Also, how long would estimate it would take me to be accurate with pitch and to have a warm singing voice- (doesn't have to be perfect).

I practice singing scales on piano and breathing exercises from sliver at the moment. How long do you think I should practice a day and what things are the most important to practice and how much time for them?
Theres another thread with more recommended books in it...look around. I know Mark baxter's book is good...I cant even remember the name of it. I dont know of much literature though.

Estimates of how long? It wouldnt be fair to make any idea. Some people take forever some take overnight. All you can do is practice, and sing alot of acapella and record yourself so you can hear your progress and your true voice without the aid of your body cheating the sound into your brain.

How long should you practice a day? Ideally...I would say at least an hour. ten minutes is better than nothing though. The most important thing is breath control and cord isolation. You have to be able to support your air to keep a good tight flow through the cords, but you have to be able to sing without your larynx interfering.

I've looked through plenty of your posts Merk, and I appreciate all the help you've given everybody.

I didn't see anything regarding staying on key though. How does one improve this? When I sing along with something, I can stay on fairly well, but by myself with no reference notes, I'm f'd.
Keep singing by yourself. Accapella with no music. Its the best way because lots of times the music is a crutch to your development. It can throw off your technique and cause tension when one trys to listen then match. It should be a relative thing of feeling what you want next and not hearing it. The best way is through repetition, if you're not one of the "naturals" that just can do it almost automatically. But with practice you can develop a feel for the intervals you want to sing which makes it easier to stay on key in any key. You can do intervals on the piano or guitar. play one note at a time. Stop your voice before the next note so you dont slide up to it. Then do it faster and faster and do scales. But to me acappella singing in a relaxed environment is the best way to get the true feel of your voice, not sound. Its more about feeling. And be sure to relax.

and yea...true tone deafness is extremely rare. Now being able to sing on key is something different and it takes alot of coordination that some people just cant do readily. Kinda like juggling or something. Most people can do it but it takes work and time and repetition.

[Jandy]

Keep singing by yourself. Accapella with no music. Its the best way because lots of times the music is a crutch to your development. It can throw off your technique and cause tension when one trys to listen then match. It should be a relative thing of feeling what you want next and not hearing it. The best way is through repetition, if you're not one of the "naturals" that just can do it almost automatically. But with practice you can develop a feel for the intervals you want to sing which makes it easier to stay on key in any key. You can do intervals on the piano or guitar. play one note at a time. Stop your voice before the next note so you dont slide up to it. Then do it faster and faster and do scales. But to me acappella singing in a relaxed environment is the best way to get the true feel of your voice, not sound. Its more about feeling. And be sure to relax.

and yea...true tone deafness is extremely rare. Now being able to sing on key is something different and it takes alot of coordination that some people just cant do readily. Kinda like juggling or something. Most people can do it but it takes work and time and repetition.


Thanks a lot merc, I guess I'll keep the cd player in my car turned off a while. As for playing with the guitar. Do you suggest I start with something like the major scale? Like hum the Doh. Stop, then play the note. Continue up and down the scale this way?

[Merkaba]

yea ...but sing vowels...not hum. Use all vowels..ay,ee,I,o,u, and ah. Do a scale with all ah's...then all ee's etc.

[panthersfan16]

Hey merk is marathon singing good for you? Theres no pain, but the vox on third eye blinds first album are fairly challenging and I have been singing the album all the way through... I was just wondering if this is too much for my vocal cords, since the album is almost an hour long...thats about an hour of challenging singing after warmups...so uh yeah will this hurt or help me?

[Merkaba]

NOt if you warm up good and over time you will find it easier. The thing is to make sure youre not tensing the larynx and squeezing it up with your notes. If youre good at keeping things isolated an hour can go by pretty fast. For me in my ideal situations I sing alot of lower intensity stuff to warm up. Sometimes for an hour. Or I'll just sing any song that I like at a lower intensity, even if the song is high intensity. I like to have thirty minutes to an hour at least of warmup stuff before I start trying to get any growth based work going.

[Acey13]

ok ive been reading this "how to scream" thread since the very first one posted by MIKE.....and i want to learn to do the emocore type scream, I JUST CANT GET IT its just impossible.... and i tryed last night and i got a major migraine/headache...i got the headache at about 8 30 last night and i still have it now .... 2:45 p.m the next day! i dont know wut to do....

[Merkaba]

ok ive been reading this "how to scream" thread since the very first one posted by MIKE.....and i want to learn to do the emocore type scream, I JUST CANT GET IT its just impossible.... and i tryed last night and i got a major migraine/headache...i got the headache at about 8 30 last night and i still have it now .... 2:45 p.m the next day! i dont know wut to do....
Well this thread is way different than the "how to scream thread" that you looked in. THat thread is laughable at best, and as you can see, a waste of your time and dangerous. This line is one of my favorites: "This is NOT the healthiest way to scream/shout, but if Ian (Minor Threat) can do it, so can you. Just make sure to coat the vocal cords with a substance such as milk and saliva to at least not completly damage your voice on your first attempt."
You cant "coat the cords". When you swallow your larynx closes off so that you dont get anything at all on your cords because if you do thats called choking. Duh! THis type of ignorance actually makes me angry.

Since you seem to have cut and past this post I'll give you time to read this thread before replying much. Just relax and go for more of a normal singing approach. To get a note your cords vibrate at a certain length(pitch). If you want to scream you have to be able to hold this while pushing more. Its the same for singing or screaming. But with screaming you need more strength of course and you need to use your false cords to get the rasp. This is the same area you use to bark like a dog or get the ANNKK wrong answer type of sound. It is important that you be able to relax the throat and keep the adams apple(layrnx, voicebox) from clamping up shut like when you swallow. And you need to be supporting the pressure with a good proper breath and diaphragm. It sounds like alot but dont overthink it. Its all in this thread. Lately my usual advice is to practice singing through your range, and work your way up to more and more push. You cant run before you can walk.

[Acey13]

well i did drink a glass of milk and a glass of water of equal size after reading the thread :lol: it seems only the water is logical. I can tell u know wut ur talking bout, which is great, and i'd like to thank u in advance for that:thumb: now...my problem seems to be understanding this stuff about my vocal chords n all that.... Basically i just sing and try to get the pitch, and when i try to "use my diapragm/gut" it sounds the exact same, feels the exact same except then my ab muscles just hurt... i dont know, ill try tomorrow again when my head settles but thanks for takin to the time to read/reply to this:wave:

[Bleeding-Through]

Hey Merkaba,
I'm not going to barrage you with questions like
"How do you scream"
I have that all down, I have a very deep scream and I get no pain
when screaming It's just I lose my highest falsetto after practice
wich is very odd.
I was wondering If I am not warming up enough?
I warm up for about 10 minutes, my band's practices usually last for about
an hour - 2.Thanks dude.

[Merkaba]

well i did drink a glass of milk and a glass of water of equal size after reading the thread :lol: it seems only the water is logical. I can tell u know wut ur talking bout, which is great, and i'd like to thank u in advance for that:thumb: now...my problem seems to be understanding this stuff about my vocal chords n all that.... Basically i just sing and try to get the pitch, and when i try to "use my diapragm/gut" it sounds the exact same, feels the exact same except then my ab muscles just hurt... i dont know, ill try tomorrow again when my head settles but thanks for takin to the time to read/reply to this:wave:
If youre not having problems dont worry about the diaphgragm. You cant sing without it but many people need the "sing from the gut" term in order to get them to not "sing from the throat" which is when one closes the throat down to increase pressure behind the cords, to get a feel of pressure, but this shouldnt be the case.

Hey Merkaba,
I'm not going to barrage you with questions like
"How do you scream"
I have that all down, I have a very deep scream and I get no pain
when screaming It's just I lose my highest falsetto after practice
wich is very odd.
I was wondering If I am not warming up enough?
I warm up for about 10 minutes, my band's practices usually last for about
an hour - 2.Thanks dude.
Thats not odd at all.
Falsetto occurs when the cords cant close together and they open up which gives them an edge only vibration. The more you do anything strenuous the more your cords will swell and tighten naturally from the heat and friction. Its nothing to be concerned about usually. But singing even normally is way more taxing than talking. While screaming is way more taxing than singing. When they get a little swollen they wont vibrate as well at higher pitches(stretched thin) because they are thicker from the swelling.
warmup longer for shorter "work", warmup shorter for longer work. I would take about twenty minutes to warm up for a lot of screaming. Ideally you should be warming up as you get out of the shower, get your clothes, go get the mail, do this and that, whatever. get the cords loosened throughout the day. And dont forget that you could be overpushing a bit.

Warm up with normal singing first. In between songs or during any breaks I always do my lowest o's and e's, glissing up and down from low to high on a light push. Be sure to warm down after your practice by doing your highest falsetto and glissing down to your lowest chest. I do this on all vowels a few times. And usually end doing some low e's and normal speaking voice e's. Warming down doesnt need to last more than five minutes.

[Acey13]

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]If youre not having problems dont worry about the diaphgragm. You cant sing without it but many people need the "sing from the gut" term in order to get them to not "sing from the throat" which is when one closes the throat down to increase pressure behind the cords, to get a feel of pressure, but this shouldnt be the case.

Thats not wut i ment lol ... as far as sonding the same, thats bad because i wus sayin it wus too hard before....ok so lemme rephrase that : Ok when i sing its hurts my throat and i get a headache after/during. When i try to use my gut or diapragm it doesnt feel likes its making a difference...it ADDDS the ab pain but keeps the head aches and soar throat....also the fact that i cant get that scream, i figure u probably cant really help but im ****in stumped....:confused:

[Merkaba]

If youre getting headaches and sore throats from singing its one thing. Mis managment of air supply. Youre pushing too hard and/or blocking off your throat too much. The false cords and vocal cords close up when you grunt or strain to lift something because it increasing your internal pressure which makes your spine and everything more rigid to support what youre doing. If you did a set of heavy squats and didnt breath properly you'd probably feel the same way. I say, as usual, practice normal singing and add more and more push to your normal singing while keeping lose and relaxed. Your abs shouldnt hurt. You dont squeeze in much with the abs. If you pull your belly buttom in and up, thats about the only ab movement you'd be wanting to do. And that would be a slower thing. If your tensing the abs stiff youre doing it wrong, and this is just adding to your internal pressure giving you headaches and throwing your air off and giving you a more throaty approach because if you clench your abs its harder to get intouch with your diaphragm.

No vocal technique should be uncomfortable or give you pain ever.

[Acey13]

ok ill try that........ill check in soon thanks again man :thumb:

[moaner]

Will my 2 pints a day milk habit stop me from becoming a semi-competent singer?

[El_Goodo]

I have a question...

Is there any tricks or anything to being able to sing a sneery sorta voice. I dont know how to describe it except by saying like Liam Gallagher from Oasis. Is that style possible to re-create or is that type of singing best left to Liam.

[Jandy]

I have a question...

Is there any tricks or anything to being able to sing a sneery sorta voice. I dont know how to describe it except by saying like Liam Gallagher from Oasis. Is that style possible to re-create or is that type of singing best left to Liam.

Plug your nose :lol:

I'll leave it to Merk but that guy from Oasis sounds like he sings from his head, nostril area.

[Merkaba]

I think its possible to learn any style , if you learn how to sing first. There's just not alot of stuff that can go on. Now trying to be identical to someone else's tonal quality and "timbre" will drive you insane because you cant do it exactly. But sounding whiney, sneery or whatever else you like is a matter of learning how to sing hard without letting the larynx affect you. Not sure about liam but From what I remember he's just a little nasal and whiney. Not hard to mimic.

[El_Goodo]

I think its possible to learn any style , if you learn how to sing first. There's just not alot of stuff that can go on. Now trying to be identical to someone else's tonal quality and "timbre" will drive you insane because you cant do it exactly. But sounding whiney, sneery or whatever else you like is a matter of learning how to sing hard without letting the larynx affect you. Not sure about liam but From what I remember he's just a little nasal and whiney. Not hard to mimic.

I would say he's alot nasally...especially live. Now do you have any links or anything to something that would help me learn to "sing hard without letting the larynx affect me."

Also can the stance that your singing in really hurt your voice? Cause I was reading that Liam's voice was getting hurt from him singing in his trademark stance.

Which can be seen here (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Liam_Gallagher_singing.gif/250px-Liam_Gallagher_singing.gif) and here (http://www.musthear.com/new%20gallery/Rock/Artists/Oasis/images/0502_oasis_4.jpg). Appareantley he had to stop singing during one of the songs at Glastonbury 2004 because of the pain, and after that he got a vocal teacher to help him out.

[Rats!]

I would say he's alot nasally...especially live. Now do you have any links or anything to something that would help me learn to "sing hard without letting the larynx affect me."

Also can the stance that your singing in really hurt your voice? Cause I was reading that Liam's voice was getting hurt from him singing in his trademark stance.

Which can be seen here (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Liam_Gallagher_singing.gif/250px-Liam_Gallagher_singing.gif) and here (http://www.musthear.com/new%20gallery/Rock/Artists/Oasis/images/0502_oasis_4.jpg). Appareantley he had to stop singing during one of the songs at Glastonbury 2004 because of the pain, and after that he got a vocal teacher to help him out.



yea, if you need to position your throat like that to get the sound you want, then you aren't singing correctly.

[Merkaba]

Now do you have any links or anything to something that would help me learn to "sing hard without letting the larynx affect me."
page one, under "isolation..."



Also can the stance that your singing in really hurt your voice? Cause I was reading that Liam's voice was getting hurt from him singing in his trademark stance. Stance can really affect your air support, thus making you more prone to sing "throaty", which isnt good over the long run. But if he has to stop because of pain...the way that he sings(and not scream), then he needs a good coach. No way should his singing style result in pain and stopping, unless of course you drink like a fish, eat crap, lose sleep and dont warm up..which I'm SO SURE liam would never do!

Now I just looked at those pictures. Never ever sing like that. You never want to lift your chin like that...if anything, maybe drop it a tad. I would expect him to run into problems with a crooked neck like that...plus if its cocked to the side more like pic two, youre putting more pressure on one side than the other.

[onetrickpony]

Hi Merk,

Not sure which of your threads to post my question in. Hopefully this one is okay. I've been reading through all of the threads here and slowly starting to work on my singing voice which is terrible.

I spent some time this afternoon trying to match my voice to the open notes on my guitar. I was surprised to find that I could match every string except the low e. Just couldn't get that low. As for the other notes, I compared them to a tuner and they blended in just fine with the guitar. My notes were shakey and sharp most of the time, but I was surprised that I was able to finally feel some connection between my voice and my guitar.

Will spending 30 minutes a night training my voice in this fashion help me improve my singing ability (which I have none of)? I only did this making an AH sound. Should I try this with all the vowel sounds? Ay, E, I, O, Uh?

EDIT - I just had a thought. The B note seems to be the only one that I can pretty music sing at will. The others require me to adjust my voice to match that of the guitar until we're in tune.

Would be it more useful for me to focus on on note a week? Say, spend the next week singing the G (or any) string for 30 or 45 minutes a night - doing all the vowel shapes and any other helpful excersizes and then move onto the next note? Or just learn them all at once?

Thanks for any help.

[Merkaba]

Yes do all vowels.
But don't try to throw darts with your voice. It will make you tense up, probably why you cant find the other notes as easily if youre trying to match the tone and timbre of a guitar string. Just relax as much as possible and play around until you find the notes. It might feel like youre singing deeper than you thought. The typical male voice, once you get around middle C, to the next g youre in head voice territory. Anything below that, it might feel like youre singing deeper than you thought you might. The voice doesnt cover alot of range in a relaxed state. And yes, the low E on a guitar is, well, low. pretty low.

[Nergal666]

hey guys, i have been doing vocals for about three months..
i'm trying to improve my growl. i have been keeping up with these posts, so what I am asking of is to just try and help me identify my weak points..
I recorded this growl straight from computer mic..i'll record some stuff tomorrow through a P.A..i don't know if im using my throat too much or what, i just want a really clean, deep low. an idea would be Kataklysm , or Vital Remains/Deicide.

link:
http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=172AFDF8BTCSF2HMYSE72T0A07

[Dreww]

Will my 2 pints a day milk habit stop me from becoming a semi-competent singer?
All I can say is when I stopped drinking milk nonstop like I used to, my singing became much easier.

[Rushki Smushki]

Milk is awesome.

Singing and Milk...not so awesome. Drinking it develops mucus (in the short term, that is) whichs stops the cords vibrating properly.

It's been said before, but:

Because your voice and cord vibration is somewhat restricted by the milk, your tone and range become a little 'tardy. You feel as though you need to push harder to get the sound you want, when really, you just need to drink water to clear your throat out.

There is nothing wrong with milk, but don't use it too hydrate yourself if you're practicing your singing. Drink alot of water, warm up, and keep your throat clear as best as you can.

Especially with screaming, I could never scream properly after eating food or drinking something like milk. I pushed harder thinking I was doing the right thing - Wrong.

Overdoing your cords usually happens when they can't vibrate properly, and this can damage your voice. Bottom Line.

Still drink milk, because you need it - But, balance your singing practice with Water.

'arr :thumb:

[siryan]

kewl so i shouldn't be afraid of milk jus dont drink heaps

also i have a question k is it ok for small amounts of air to be coming out of the nostrils when singing. i can sometimes make the air only come out of the mouth but this is rare

[onetrickpony]

Merk,

I've been working on these excercizes again tonight -- running through vowels with my open guitar notes... and after about 30 minutes of warming up, I was amazed to discover that I can play pretty much any note (excluding those on the low E string) between the first and 5 fret on my guitar and match the pitch within 2 or 3 seconds. I haven't tried any above the 5th fret yet.

I am completely fascinated by this, considering three days ago I had never matched a single note. Does it seem unusual that I am able to do that after a couple of practices or is it normal progress? Either way, it's more than I was expecting.

With enough practice, should I be able to recall these pitches from memory? Right now I can only hit them when I'm singing to the guitar. At the beginning of the session I struggled to "find" a lot of notes, but at the end, it was much more quick and natural. I was able to find notes in a couple of seconds that I've never properly sang before. It's awesome to feel the notes lock together like that.

Also, here's a weird question since I am completely new to singing. You may not be a guitar player, so I don't know if you can answer this:

When I play a G note, I can match it with my voice, but if I am playing a G chord, it doesn't fit as well. It seems like it would fit... I don't fully grasp this I guess.

Thanks again for your help.

[Merkaba]

Milk is awesome.

Singing and Milk...not so awesome. Drinking it develops mucus (in the short term, that is) whichs stops the cords vibrating properly.

It's been said before, but:

Because your voice and cord vibration is somewhat restricted by the milk, your tone and range become a little 'tardy. You feel as though you need to push harder to get the sound you want, when really, you just need to drink water to clear your throat out.

There is nothing wrong with milk, but don't use it too hydrate yourself if you're practicing your singing. Drink alot of water, warm up, and keep your throat clear as best as you can.

Especially with screaming, I could never scream properly after eating food or drinking something like milk. I pushed harder thinking I was doing the right thing - Wrong.

Overdoing your cords usually happens when they can't vibrate properly, and this can damage your voice. Bottom Line.

Still drink milk, because you need it - But, balance your singing practice with Water.

'arr :thumb:

And why do you need milk? Why does a human need the fat, hormone laden, partially undigestable modified sweat from the glands of a bovine animal? Calcium? Nope. Vitamin D? nope. Name how many other mature animals feel the need to suckle....? Cant do it. And if its not organic, you should also be prepared to take in a heap of pesticides, herbicides, steroids, and antibiotics that also get passed through into the milk. Have fun. And we wonder why we get tumors and cancers.
Dont drink milk. Its bad for you. Balance out your singing with a good diet.
----------------
And its ok to have some air venting through the nostrils. Worry more about how your notes feel coming out of your mouth.

[DougJI]

And why do you need milk? Why does a human need the fat, hormone laden, partially undigestable modified sweat from the glands of a bovine animal? Calcium? Nope. Vitamin D? nope. Name how many other mature animals feel the need to suckle....? Cant do it. And if its not organic, you should also be prepared to take in a heap of pesticides, herbicides, steroids, and antibiotics that also get passed through into the milk. Have fun. And we wonder why we get tumors and cancers.
Dont drink milk. Its bad for you. Balance out your singing with a good diet.
----------------
And its ok to have some air venting through the nostrils. Worry more about how your notes feel coming out of your mouth.

It's not like Dairy is one of the 4 essential food groups.

Oh shi...

Ever hear of osteoporosis?

[Merkaba]

4 essential food groups? right, from the FDA, with their RDA's of things like sugar and SatFat? As if its recommended? The four essential food groups, in the same proportions that are used to fatten up pigs before they are slaughtered. Its not like the government is going to say dont eat dairy or beef. It would be "un American". But we all know that governments institutions have ulterior motives, just like with the whole tobacco industry.

Osteoporosis? :lol: Ever hear of green leafy vegetables? Or fortifiied juices, grains, soy products? Where do you think the cow's get calcium from? The bottom line is that cows make cow milk for THEIR young, with THEIR specific needs of growth hormones and steroids, and ONLY when they're pregnant, unless induced further afterwards by drugs. If milk is so great then why dont you drink horse milk or dog milk or human milk since we're humans? Its an industry, with catchy commercials and marketing and you can fall in line if you want. Its like saying Pizza is good for you because you can get lots of calcium. Eat up.

What happens to bodybuilders that take steroids for a while? They get tumors, heart problems, digestive problems, etc. Now when the average joe gets the same we think it's something else. Many times it is. But think about how many people have a glass or two a few times a week of a beverage that first of all is full of the cows natural growth hormones, one of which is ten times more potent than HGH, plus the steroids that are pumped into the cow to keep it healthy and strong while its being kept pregnant all the time in order to make milk, plus the pesticides and herbicides from the food intake, plus the antibiotics that are given the animal becuase its immune system is compromised due to all the impregnation and udder irritation from the constant milking. Combine that with a steak or hamburger plate. And we wonder why we get colon cancer and tumors??? I'm not a member of peta. And like I said, Every blue moon I'll have dairy or beef, but you WILL be ingesting these by products. End of discussion.

Hey, drink/eat up all you want. All I do is supply info. Most people dont warm up, work out, and warm down either. So it wouldnt be the first time something I wrote didnt get heeded. Thats not why I'm here. But if you want to argue about nutrition I guarantee you It wont work in here.

[nickname009]

Merkaba,
I've been doing falsetto screams for the past couple of weeks and they're no problem but now I'm having trouble with full-voiced mid/low screams. There are two types that I'm looking to emulate/learn the technique:

the first is brian fair from shadows fall, he uses his chest voice (i believe) and basically just yells out his notes and pushes, adding the rasp and whatnot. But for some reason, whenever he does it, it's SO THICK and LOW sounding compared to mine. sample:

http://www.myspace.com/shadowsfall


The second is matt heafy from trivium, at first I thought his screams were like burps cause they honestly sound like that at times. I've seen them live and his voice is exactly like the recordings, his screaming is actually quieter than his singing (live).

http://www.myspace.com/trivium

I can attempt the shadows fall type but I don't get it as low or thick or raspy as brian's and also at the end my throat feels slight pain and my normal talking voice changes (usually doesn't when i do falsetto). I attempted matt's screams but was nowhere close. Could you tell me what I should be doing/feeling or anything else to help get these types of screams more comfortable and accurate? Is it just that my cords are weak and I need to make'em stronger to get past the slight pain/voice change? Or am I doing it wrong and 'scraping' my throat too much?
Thanks in advance!

[zoom11219]

Hello,
I am really new to this..
I have a question..i really want to learn how to scream... They searching for screamers in my school band.. can some1 help..
i tried to read those other topics..but i dont understand them...im really a beginner and dont really know a lot about singing...
Can some1 help me?
thank you..

[DougJI]

4 essential food groups? right, from the FDA, with their RDA's of things like sugar and SatFat? As if its recommended? The four essential food groups, in the same proportions that are used to fatten up pigs before they are slaughtered. Its not like the government is going to say dont eat dairy or beef. It would be "un American". But we all know that governments institutions have ulterior motives, just like with the whole tobacco industry.

Osteoporosis? :lol: Ever hear of green leafy vegetables? Or fortifiied juices, grains, soy products? Where do you think the cow's get calcium from? The bottom line is that cows make cow milk for THEIR young, with THEIR specific needs of growth hormones and steroids, and ONLY when they're pregnant, unless induced further afterwards by drugs. If milk is so great then why dont you drink horse milk or dog milk or human milk since we're humans? Its an industry, with catchy commercials and marketing and you can fall in line if you want. Its like saying Pizza is good for you because you can get lots of calcium. Eat up.

What happens to bodybuilders that take steroids for a while? They get tumors, heart problems, digestive problems, etc. Now when the average joe gets the same we think it's something else. Many times it is. But think about how many people have a glass or two a few times a week of a beverage that first of all is full of the cows natural growth hormones, one of which is ten times more potent than HGH, plus the steroids that are pumped into the cow to keep it healthy and strong while its being kept pregnant all the time in order to make milk, plus the pesticides and herbicides from the food intake, plus the antibiotics that are given the animal becuase its immune system is compromised due to all the impregnation and udder irritation from the constant milking. Combine that with a steak or hamburger plate. And we wonder why we get colon cancer and tumors??? I'm not a member of peta. And like I said, Every blue moon I'll have dairy or beef, but you WILL be ingesting these by products. End of discussion.

Hey, drink/eat up all you want. All I do is supply info. Most people dont warm up, work out, and warm down either. So it wouldnt be the first time something I wrote didnt get heeded. Thats not why I'm here. But if you want to argue about nutrition I guarantee you It wont work in here.

I'm fat, so my opinion about nutrition shouldn't matter anyways.

[Merkaba]

Hello,
I am really new to this..
I have a question..i really want to learn how to scream... They searching for screamers in my school band.. can some1 help..
i tried to read those other topics..but i dont understand them...im really a beginner and dont really know a lot about singing...
Can some1 help me?
thank you..

No need in rushing. If youre a totally newbie, learn to sing or take lessons. If you cant do it "naturally" then be careful. It will take some time to learn and get a good feel of technique and how much you can push yourself. You may not be the guy for the job. But if you really want to be a singer/screamer then consider if you start now, later you will be prime. I dont know what your scope of time is, but if you just want a few paragraphs that will magically have you wailing at the top of your lungs, its not gonna happen. But hey, give it a go, you'll never know if you dont.

[UsefulIdi0t]

So my dad told me that he was listening to NPR a few weeks ago and there was this opera singer who could scream( im assuming a falsetto type scream) very well. She was being interviewed and the guy who interviewed her was able to scream like her by the time it was over. I guess she teaches people how to do it properly, but she taught him on air and I really wanted to hear this but I cant find it anywhere. Did anyone hear this or know about her? Sorry that I dont have anymore info on her.

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

Im not sure who it is, but my guess would be melissa cross.

www.melissacross.com

[zoom11219]

well...
I do sing tho...idk if that helps...
i just need to know how do i scream like underoathish/senses fail..
like i heard that u have to damage ur vocal cords or something...can u give me some tips..thx

[panthersfan16]

Hey Merk, I've noticed after about 2 hours or so at the gym, my voice is not only clearer, but stronger and richer in tone. I was just wondering why this happens, because if I could sing like that all the time, I'd get a lot more respect from my bandmates. It's also a lot easier to scream, they sound more dry and angry, and I can do it like that for a few hours without straining or hurting my voice. In case it helps, I warmup for about ten minutes, lift for an hour or so, and cardio for 20-30 minutes. I don't always do cardio but it doesn't seem to matter. Thanks


and to Zoom: Damaging your vocal cords isn't worth it...you wont be able to talk correctly and it will not improve the sound. These guys didn't make it big trying to replicate another singer to a tee. You are better off developing your own voice and learning how to achieve the sound you want through practice and technique

[eski]

"well...
I do sing tho...idk if that helps...
i just need to know how do i scream like underoathish/senses fail..
like i heard that u have to damage ur vocal cords or something...can u give me some tips..thx"

You certainly do not have to damage your vocal cords!!!! Read the hundreds of posts about screaming on this board, there lies basically everything you need to know

[Merkaba]

Hey Merk, I've noticed after about 2 hours or so at the gym, my voice is not only clearer, but stronger and richer in tone. I was just wondering why this happens, because if I could sing like that all the time, I'd get a lot more respect from my bandmates. It's also a lot easier to scream, they sound more dry and angry, and I can do it like that for a few hours without straining or hurting my voice. In case it helps, I warmup for about ten minutes, lift for an hour or so, and cardio for 20-30 minutes. I don't always do cardio but it doesn't seem to matter. Thanks


and to Zoom: Damaging your vocal cords isn't worth it...you wont be able to talk correctly and it will not improve the sound. These guys didn't make it big trying to replicate another singer to a tee. You are better off developing your own voice and learning how to achieve the sound you want through practice and technique
I spoke about this in my warm up thread or somewhere before a few times. Its simple. Your whole body is more limber and more circulated, this will include your cords. More blood circulated through them and thus more hydration and energy, making them and the false cords way more flexible and "alive". This is also why I recommend a vocal warmup of at least thirty minutes if its possible. And why I say nutrition and fitness will make a big difference. Its pretty simple. After a while your cords stay closer to this feel, just like the rest of your body gets in better shape and stays closer to a point of readiness.

[Nergal666]

Has anyone got a recording of themselves doing the throaty type scream/growl that Zao, Black Dahlia Murder, or Haste The Day, etc do?
**** sounds weird but I like it...I heard they use alot of their throat for it, not really sure what they're doing..they all sound exactly the same though..

ZAO: www.purevolume.com/zao
Haste The Day: www.myspace.com/hastetheday
or Black Dahlia Murder: www.myspace.com/blackdahliamurder

[tatsu]

Has anyone got a recording of themselves doing the throaty type scream/growl that Zao, Black Dahlia Murder, or Haste The Day, etc do?
**** sounds weird but I like it...I heard they use alot of their throat for it, not really sure what they're doing..they all sound exactly the same though..

ZAO: www.purevolume.com/zao
Haste The Day: www.myspace.com/hastetheday
or Black Dahlia Murder: www.myspace.com/blackdahliamurder
Well, I don't have a recording of it, but I'm pretty sure it's just a lot of air rushing through your throat, with next to no scratch. I'm sorry, I'm no good at explaining. I love Zao. Umm... when you were young, did you ever try honking like a goose? Where all you did was push tons of air through your throat? That's kind of the idea, though it may be a little different is some respects. I can somewhat do this, but it sounds awful from me, and I can't get enough air to go verse after verse like Zao, but I can do it... I don't know, experiment, try all you can, it just takes practice, and you can do almost anything!

[Merkaba]

Its all the same. Have you read much of the links at the begining of this thread?

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey Merk, whatsup? I got "The Rock N Roll Singer's Survival Guide" recently. Great book! I'll discuss some of that later though, since I know you have the book. I'll probably be back on like monday or something.

Anyway, I just wanted to say I got that "how to scream" thread closed! :D

[Merkaba]

Hehe...I'm forever at your mercy now, Thanks!

[brainproof]

just a tip to any aspiring singers who cant sing for crap:

your probally still in school, and you dont want to take vocal lessons because they are costly and your very shy about your voice, you dont want to try and sing in front of someone who sings for their life. i know i didn't. My friends got me to join choir because they needed more people. At the beginning of the school year, i could not sing at ALL. i was far below average. I could not match a note, not that i was tone def, i could tune a guitar, but i couldn;t find the note in my throat. If you take choir, you will be in a beginning choir around a lot of people who are just as bad as you, so you can sing so quietly no one will here you. You will be forced to practice at least every week day for almost an hour.

now, just into second quarter, i can sing along with songs, staying fairly on key. by no means am a good singer... yet. but ive only been singing for a couple months. matching notes is no longer a problem. if you can sing a choir style, then you can just manipulate the way you hit the notes into a rock or whatever style.

the best part about it is its free, and you have to practice atleast 5/7 days a week.

i stringly suggest taking a choir class if you want to sing, or become a better singer and dont have money for one on one vocal lessons.

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

http://www.melissacross.com/news_detail.php?articleID=12

That may be what your dad was talking about UsefulIdi0t

[Peg Dizzler]

Hehe...I'm forever at your mercy now, Thanks!

Now that I think of it, I think I got it deleted. So we sacrificed a few posts to get rid of that horrible excuse for a vocal thread. :D
P.S. what kind of scream would [insert stupid MTV band here] fall into?? :p

Anyway, I've been readin that rock n' roll survival guide book a bit, and I read the part about different exercises, and how pushups and things of the sort tighten your vocal cords. I remember you mentioning that as well awhile ago. So are pushups good to do, or not? Also, what is the proper way to lift heavy things? Besides keeping my back straight and using my knees, of course. I life a bit of heavy stuff at work, so should I purposely try holding my breath as I life something? The book wasn't exactly clear on that subject, I think.

[Merkaba]

hehe...yea...thanks again then!

I dont really worry much about working out and stuff. I mean its important to keep it in mind. I mean you've got to breath. The basics like inhale on the negatives and exhale during the exertions are key to getting a good air supply for your workout. I would just try to avoid a lot of audible grunting. Your cords are always gonna tighten a bit and close up when you strain, its part of their purpose. I think if you take care of your voice it wont make enough of a difference. Plus I sing on the way to and from the gym...so it just doesn't concern me at all. But you dont want to bust a vein or pass out in the gym worrying about your cords. So dont hold your breath or alter it.

[Peg Dizzler]

Yeah I get what mean. I mean I don't really grunt or make noises alot when lifting or working out, haha. I was just wondering if there was any right or wrong way to doing it at all, besides simply not trying to tighten the cords and not make noise.

Another question though:
I've finally become un-lazy and I've started working on vocals again, ever since I got this book. For a few months there I was hardly working on anything vocally each day, because I wanted to wait until I got a book or a teacher or something so I could work on proper technique, incase I might have been doing something wrong.

Anyway; I've still been working my upper register alot, and my chest voice too. I have not, however, done much stuff with rasp or any screaming lately. When I do though, it feels scratchy. I remember it feeling like that before, but after awhile I think it went away the more I did it. Now I know scratchiness is a bad sign though. I guess that's why some vocalists think that "rock vocals" and rasp is bad for your voice, haha (I encountered some teachers like that, in my search for a vocal teacher). Anyway, I'm just wondering if there's any warmups I should be doing before using rasp, or if I should just slowly use more and more as I warm up, or any other remedy. Or is it feeling scratchy because my throat isn't "used to it" as much, like it's weaker now that I haven't been using rasp? Any help on this would be great.

[Merkaba]

Well is it your throat or you cords? I would say your throat probably. If its your throat you know its probably coming from the sudden extra air blasting it now. That you'll probably get used to, tissue wise and it should be ok after a while. If its your cords you will feel it when you do medium pushed buzzes, like a good slow E. As far as warming up to rasp....i just usually just try to ease into it a little at a time over the course of about ten minutes. But depends on how raspy a song is youre gonna jump into. Just take it easy and pay attention and you should be alright.

[Peg Dizzler]

Definitely my throat.

And yeah that does make sense. I suppose I should try easing into it more, and doing it everyday too. Then I probably won't notice it. Thanks! :)

[Merkaba]

I'd say so too. No problemo

[BenCJ]

Yo Merkaba. I'm finally trying to give this whole singing thing a shot. I'm trying to bridge the gap between my regular & falsetto voice with little success. I've read through the isolation thread a couple times, and I'm trying to keep my larynx low, but I'm having a hard time doing this without sounding like Kermit the frog.:confused:

[Peg Dizzler]

^ Bridging the head and falsetto voice is a great place to start, it takes some time and practice, but it'll smooth over eventually. I had it down for awhile but now I only sort of do, because I'm trying to increase my head voice range, which is working a little.

Merkaba, I've been reading the rock n' roll singers book, so far I'm to the breathing exercises part. All is going well so far; but I have a few questions. Should I be breathing in through my nose, or my mouth? Or does it not matter? Normally I like breathing through my nose throughout my day, but when I sing I'm pretty sure I automatically breathe through my mouth. I don't think the book has specified if that's good or bad (at least not yet), just wondering if you knew.

Also, I'm having trouble keeping my larynx down too. I never knew this was a big problem until recently. Is it supposed to stay in one place? How much movement is really bad? I haven't gotten to any exercises concerning that, but I find that I can sing different pitches without it moving. :confused:

[panthersfan16]

Hey Merk, since you're a personal trainer hopefully you can help me...

I'm a wrestler and I can't cut the weight I need to cut before my matches start and stay hydrated, so I'm going to try some Stacker 2. I was wondering what problems may arise from taking this, since I'm 17. Will this affect my singing voice? That is my main concern, but I was also wondering what other side effects this may have.

[randomthought9]

Is it possible to teach yourself how to sing? I can't afford lessons, and guitar is my main thing, but I'm thinking about giving vocals a shot. Do you think it's possible to be a decent singer just by following this thread, and practicing what it says? I just don't want to learn bad habits. At least with guitar, I was taught proper technique, so I don't hurt myself. I don't want to damage my voice due to bad habits, you know, since I don't know proper technique for vocals.

[Subete]

Hi i love opeth, and would love to be able to death growl like mikael, but im not quite sure how to do this. Any help? I caN Seemingly get it but i cant sustain the growls long enough, they seem to take alot out of me. Am i doing them wrong?

[JessJansen]

hey i was wondering if you guys could help me out on the singing in my band.
I need some pointers on what to do and how i could improve.
Please be kind with the comments lol:lol:
heres the link if it doesnt work just copy and paste it into the address bar
www.myspace.com/euphoriavis
any other comments on the music are welcome to.

[Aklerc]

Ok so I can sing ok and everything from what I've been told so it's not the quality that's the problem. I don't really even have a problem as such but I'd really love to extend my vocal range. I have a really low voice compared to most girls and I'd like to just get higher. Any tips on how to do it?

[Merkaba]

^

Merkaba, I've been reading the rock n' roll singers book, so far I'm to the breathing exercises part. All is going well so far; but I have a few questions. Should I be breathing in through my nose, or my mouth? Or does it not matter? Normally I like breathing through my nose throughout my day, but when I sing I'm pretty sure I automatically breathe through my mouth. I don't think the book has specified if that's good or bad (at least not yet), just wondering if you knew.

Also, I'm having trouble keeping my larynx down too. I never knew this was a big problem until recently. Is it supposed to stay in one place? How much movement is really bad? I haven't gotten to any exercises concerning that, but I find that I can sing different pitches without it moving. :confused:
When i sing i normally breathe through my mouth when doing faster stuff, when its applicable I try to breathe through my nose because it moistens and warms the air. I think it mentions this somewhere in the book. Technically it would help the cords, but in front of a mic it can be a little noisier to breathe in quickly through the nose. And its slower. So other than timing and sounding issues, I wouldnt really worry much about it. But technically I'd try to breathe through in through the nose when applicable.

Yo Merkaba. I'm finally trying to give this whole singing thing a shot. I'm trying to bridge the gap between my regular & falsetto voice with little success. I've read through the isolation thread a couple times, and I'm trying to keep my larynx low, but I'm having a hard time doing this without sounding like Kermit the frog.:confused:
Are you doing glisses? (hold a lower note and slide up continuosly to your highest falsetto....or vice versa) Do lots of them. And if you havent read the section on finding your head voice. Over time you have enough strength and flexibility that you can hit your bridge or break in either voice. But it will take time and working out.

Hey Merk, since you're a personal trainer hopefully you can help me...

I'm a wrestler and I can't cut the weight I need to cut before my matches start and stay hydrated, so I'm going to try some Stacker 2. I was wondering what problems may arise from taking this, since I'm 17. Will this affect my singing voice? That is my main concern, but I was also wondering what other side effects this may have. Well its probably got caffeine, bitter orange,guarana, or some combination of the sort. If so it will dehydrate you to some degree. It can be hard to cut weight quickly without being dehydrated. Its usually one in the same since much of quick weight loss is water. I've had a lot of caffeine over the past few weeks. I havent had any in three days and on the second day I could really tell my voice was more supple and smoother, and I didnt have to warm up as much. The big thing is to watch the caffeine and stimulant intake as that will sap water. Other than that, I couldnt tell ya much other than don't over do it.

Is it possible to teach yourself how to sing? I can't afford lessons, and guitar is my main thing, but I'm thinking about giving vocals a shot. Do you think it's possible to be a decent singer just by following this thread, and practicing what it says? I just don't want to learn bad habits. At least with guitar, I was taught proper technique, so I don't hurt myself. I don't want to damage my voice due to bad habits, you know, since I don't know proper technique for vocals. Sure. Take it slow and learn the fundamentals as boring as it is. Do the "rudimental" exercises. We all know they are boring. If you can't afford a teacher you need to read as much as possible so you can learn the basic idea of what the cords are and what they're doing. Then take it slow and dont try to be chris cornell tomorrow.

Hi i love opeth, and would love to be able to death growl like mikael, but im not quite sure how to do this. Any help? I caN Seemingly get it but i cant sustain the growls long enough, they seem to take alot out of me. Am i doing them wrong?
If its taking alot out of you then youre tensing up the throat, and probably much of your body, and pushing too hard. Practice singing the note without screaming it, holding it longer than he does. then slowly add more push over time. For me, time would be a few minutes in this case...once I've relaxed and made sure I wasn't tensing up.


Ok so I can sing ok and everything from what I've been told so it's not the quality that's the problem. I don't really even have a problem as such but I'd really love to extend my vocal range. I have a really low voice compared to most girls and I'd like to just get higher. Any tips on how to do it?
First page of this thread, "Exercises for strength and flexibility"
Range increase can take a long time. BUt be sure you read the isolation thread as well because you could add a note or two simply by using better technique.

[Peg Dizzler]

Cool, thanks Merk. That makes alot of sense too. I never thought that it would help to breathe through the nose when possible.

[Acey13]

ok ......... could it be that my voice just isnt developed enough ........ or is it because i have too deep of a voice........ because im 15 but i cant reach high notes...... and it strains me so much no matter how much i try using my gut n breathing out and relaxing n stuff...im sooo confused :upset:

[RobJones]

Merk, you are the Omega of vocals. Omega is the last letter of the greek alphabet, and you are the last word on vocals round this place.

I'm still at the Alpha. I'm just starting.

Now, I'm 14. My voice has fully broken, I'm 6'2", I'm skinny but i aint tiny.

I do not want to be able to scream like [crap, sceney band]. I dont even want to shout that much.

What I aspire to, is Chris Cornell-esque style vocals. They amaze me, I dont like Soundgarden but his voice is amazing. To be honest, my real hero is Peter Shoulder of Winterville, but you don't know him. www.wintervilleonline.com, check them out. Other than that, fairly generic rock anmd blues vocals is all I want.

Any basic groundwork I can do to get a good start? How can I start off on the good foot? etc.

[nickname009]

http://www.melissacross.com/news_detail.php?articleID=12

That may be what your dad was talking about UsefulIdi0t

here's the link i just found it!

http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/publicradioweekend/2005/10/22/22_prw_02?start=41:03.0&end=48:21.0

hahah sorry Screamin_Demon_Auz, didn't realize your link lead to it!

[Merkaba]

ok ......... could it be that my voice just isnt developed enough ........ or is it because i have too deep of a voice........ because im 15 but i cant reach high notes...... and it strains me so much no matter how much i try using my gut n breathing out and relaxing n stuff...im sooo confused :upset:
Sing with less push. Everything you do should be comfortable.

You very well could be a bass. Who knows. At 15 you might just be at one of those periods of time where your singing voice could be hard to find due to your larynx being shifted a bit in size and shape by puberty. In general though, I would bet that its your technique. Sing softer and do glisses. Perhaps a sample posted could help out too.

Merk, you are the Omega of vocals. Omega is the last letter of the greek alphabet, and you are the last word on vocals round this place.

I'm still at the Alpha. I'm just starting.

Now, I'm 14. My voice has fully broken, I'm 6'2", I'm skinny but i aint tiny.

I do not want to be able to scream like [crap, sceney band]. I dont even want to shout that much.

What I aspire to, is Chris Cornell-esque style vocals. They amaze me, I dont like Soundgarden but his voice is amazing. To be honest, my real hero is Peter Shoulder of Winterville, but you don't know him. www.wintervilleonline.com, check them out. Other than that, fairly generic rock anmd blues vocals is all I want.

Any basic groundwork I can do to get a good start? How can I start off on the good foot? etc.What do you mean by "has fully broken"?
Cornell is one of my faves. You've really got to be able to relax the throat and keep open without squeezing up anything. This gives you the ability to keep the sound "warm" with resonance. There is no real trick other than breath support from the diaphragm so you dont tense the throat as much, and to practice like youre in an opera. And dont over push! So many people push way harder than they need to because of watching videos and listening to overpushed vocals. Til you find your voice you need to sing without a lot of push so your throat doesnt run the risk of tensing up to resist the air. And as i say if you sing in an auditorium or post office you'll realize that voice can carry without alot of push.

And don't forget about the first page of this thread.

[Subete]

Thanks for the advice mate. But i was wondering, how would i go about getting mikael from opeths growling tone? I love the way he can go from a really low death growl to a higher screaming one, but i have no clue how to do either! Any help

[Merkaba]

Have you read this thread?

[Subete]

Yeah, but didnt find anything too helpfull. Did i miss any nuggets of info on growling in this thread?

[JessJansen]

What page of this thread is "Singing from the gut" i checked out page 5 but i cant find it. If anyone could post a link it would be greatly appreciated.

[Merkaba]

I just checked that out and I didnt see it on there either! Dam, who made this silly thread?

I'll try to find it if not I'll post a bit about it. I have a lot of work to do so if you dont see anything over the next few days then ask again.

[fuzzyhair]

I just started screaming (possibly properly) last night. I was going through an amp with a lot of distortion like the guide said to do. Last night my voice started to hurt so i stopped. I didnt really feel any pain in my vocals, just my throat. This morning I wake up and my vocal chords feel, i guess the best way to describe, stretched. On the sides of my neck my vocal chords feel i kinda stressed, like I just did a workout. So am I doing everything, possibly anything,right? Heres a 5 sec. clip of me screaming testing 123.
http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UYW0C43HRF6Q0ZUS07FEVJJH6
p.s. im 16 and am kinda working toward a norma jean styled scream like in memphis will be layed to waste.

[JessJansen]

I just checked that out and I didnt see it on there either! Dam, who made this silly thread?

I'll try to find it if not I'll post a bit about it. I have a lot of work to do so if you dont see anything over the next few days then ask again.

ok thanks Merkaba

[Scarcely_Living]

Alright, first off i will start by stating i have indeed read just about everything on screaming contained in this website... and believe that i understand a majority of it. The knowledge isn't the problem, but i have a little question on the application......

I am screaming, but hoping on range. Most of all, i want to do it right. Listening to all styles of 'screaming' vocals i noticed they ALL sound relatively the same, like they are coming from the same area (As Merkaba has said...) but here is my problem. First off, i can't gliss a scream very far at all, is this me or just how it works? Next, when i do a deep, lower ended scream it has a quite resonating, airy, kind of rumble to it... no problem with the sound (which, if i had to relate would be like Tim Lambesis, As I Lay Dying lows) it is just how long i can hold it... maybe 15 seconds... top. My friends say it is SUPER open, and that i believe is the problem, but closing it, even slightly, alters the sound for the worse. Next, my higher ended screams. I either get a whiny-rasp that i feel in the back, upper part of my throat (i really don't like it), or, recently, i have been able to obtain an airy, more open scream which i feel coming rumbling in my larynx slightly. Niether cause pain, but both require a decent amount of push... the worse part is the airy, larynx based high pinches every once and a while into a quite unpleasant screachy noise (like slamming on your brakes...) Anyone have any assistance????

Finally, one more note.... mid-ranged styled screams (Norma Jean, Stars Are Falling, The Chariot, Fear Before the March of Flames, Dead to Fall.....) when i attempt them it seems i can always get a quit scratchy, nasty sound.... that doesn't sound open at all


i need help, please........ just advice

[Merkaba]

Dont have much time right now to get too long. BUt If you can, post a sample of your screams...and then of you trying to sing the same note. High, mid and low. If you can't sing it, you cant scream it well.

[darksoul]

i want to get a good vibrato going, a la 'opera'. Think you can help me out?
thanks

[Scarcely_Living]

I would love to record some samples, as i understand this would make critiquing much easier, and more accurate but.... i only have a mic and no knowledge of how to get my sound onto the internet. I am familiar with computers, so if someone could quickly decribe to me what i need and how to get it up on the internet, that would be great... I have a mic (PG 58 is the model, if it matters), and the only method of transfering voice onto the computer, that i have, is one of those cheap microphones that allow you to talk to someone else on the internet.... how do i record? like what program would i need, and what is the best way to record onto the computer?

[Scarcely_Living]

...anyone? just need a bit of advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Merkaba]

Dont know much about it all.

Do you have anything to power the mic up? Like a stereo or mixer? If so plug it into that and run out from their into the comp. You might need a converter depending on what type of connection you have in the back of your comp. I'm pretty sure its not a 1/4" jack! If you dont have anything to power up your pg 58 mic then I'm not sure if you can just run it directly into the comp...maybe someone else will know if you need it powered up or not.

In any event, go here http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and get audacity. Its decent. Then see if you can at least get some input even if its with the crappy computer mic. Just dont get too close.

[Scarcely_Living]

Alright, i will get those samples hopefully put up in the next couple of weeks... but in the mean-time i have a quick question for Merkaba, or anyone else who would like to take a stab at it:
Alright i noticed that i get the rasp/change in tone from the same portion of my throat in both highs and mid-ranged styled screams but, no matter how hard i tried i notcied a gliss was impossible. Then i found that i am pushing in 2 completely different ways... with the high is has pressure, and dare i say i am tense while i do it, a bad thing. My larynx is raised slightly, and sometimes i get that squeely brakes "chirp" squeak which i believe is the cords closing off due to the pressure, which i understand is bad. No pain has ever evolved from it, but on to the mid-ranged style. They have little volume, about say a raised speaking tone. They also, seem to derived from a very feeble singing not. If i add more air, the blast causes problems. Could it be that i just need to work on the mid-ranged more to allow for more volume and cleaness of tone?

[onetrickpony]

Merk,

I've been following your thread for a couple months now trying to improve my vocals. I'm making progress, but I was wondering if you had advise on a daily practice routine.

Right now, I spend about 30 minutes singing major scales. I am doing a pretty good job of hitting the notes acending and decending the scale with my guitar. I can also sing the the scales doing 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, etc. intervals. I'm getting pretty good at this, but need a good deal of practice still. I sing these as "do-re-mi" "moh, may moo", etc. sounds with these exercises. That's really all I'm doing, though.

Are there other things I should be doing to round out my practices?

I have a few songs posted here: http://onetrickpony.dmusic.com

Please take a listen (and anyone else reading this) and offer your advise if you can. I am happy with the improvements I'm making, but have a long way to go.

Thanks.

[jakerc]

hey merkaba/anyone else who can help:

i haven't read this whole thread, so forgive me if my question has already been addressed.

i currently play guitar, been playing for about a year, and i'm working on singing and playing at the same time. i have no real singing experience at all. i'm not interested in advanced singing techniques like screaming or falsetto really, i just want to be able to hit notes in my own range and be able to sing a song in key. i don't really have any idea where to start; what kind of stuff should i work on as a complete beginner? thanks :thumb:

[Merkaba]

I forgive you

[Merkaba]

If you cant stay in key you need to work on singing along with single notes as you do scales. Then play three two five note scales where you play the scale first, then repeat it by singing it without playing. Staying in key with an instrument on your lap is the easiest way to stay in key. If you cant do this then you might be tensing up around your vocal bridges which makes it hell trying to stay in key if you dont know which voice to use(this should be automatic after enough practice to realize where your chest voice really ends and your head voice begins, and the same for head to falsetto. The first three sections at the first page's "menu" can help you alot. And just relax and sing.

[Scarcely_Living]

Funny thing, i love singing but i think i am doing it entirely wrong. It seems no matter what my throat tenses slightly when i try and hit odd notes. i can sing completely comfortable, loose, relaxed etc. but i don't always think it sounds right. Before i am warmed up a few have told me it actually sounds more like an aired talking note.... anything to remedy this?

If it matters my falsetto is decent, i just think i am not doing something right in head/chest... of which i can't discern the difference when i am singing.

[Merkaba]

Not much info here. But you might be having trouble releasing into head voice. A sample would be better.

[luciano]

merka i get a 404 error trying to download your samples

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

please, can you re-upload them into something like rapidshare.de or something??

thanx

[Merkaba]

I'll look into it. I dont know if I have those files still...but I can make somemore sometime. I don't know what happened to my account. I'll try to contact soundclick to see.

[raz0r]

It's here http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=228211

I think soundclick changed their linking system or something.

[jan_thevaliant]

Hey Merkaba

Please visit www.purevolume.com/thevaliantaus and listen to the clips "The Scare - Cry Junkie" and "At The Drive-In - Cosmonaut". Now how would you go about switching from singing to screaming demonstrated in both of these clips? Because I have trouble going from singing clean to singing with a rasp or screaming. How can I make it so that the transition from singing to screaming present and make it smooth?

Regards,
Jan

[Merkaba]

I'll have to check it later. Got to get to bed now..but I must say that Cedric sounds very tenor...so if youre baritone it will be way harder for you to relate to how easy it is for him.

Be sure you can isolate and stay in head voice, if its head voice. The best thing is to practice the screaming passage by singing it normally...gradually increasing push and rasp. Otherwise it might make you tense up the throat in an attempt to get it all in one blow, if youre not used to it.

[HumanSlaughterHouse]

Hey, Im a newbie to this ****in site!!! rock the **** on...
My question is, how to get a louder bellow? i got ur tips and its working and all, but I want to get louder, like Cannibal Corpse, Disturbed, ummm Drowning Pool, like loud ****! lol...
I love hardcore and have my own band, Human Slaughter House, I need to get louder and a little bit better for my band and my fans...
thanks in head of hand for your tips..

[HumanSlaughterHouse]

Whats isolate? sorry...

[Merkaba]

Go to the first page in this thread.

[Aakon_Keetreh]

How can i get the black metal sounds of screaming?

I can get my voice all raspy and such but i cant get that dark sound to it.

[zango]

Hey Merkaba

Please visit www.purevolume.com/thevaliantaus and listen to the clips "The Scare - Cry Junkie" and "At The Drive-In - Cosmonaut". Now how would you go about switching from singing to screaming demonstrated in both of these clips? Because I have trouble going from singing clean to singing with a rasp or screaming. How can I make it so that the transition from singing to screaming present and make it smooth?

Regards,
Jan

holy sh*t, is that you singing at the drive in? lol or is it actually at the drive in... cuz if its you, it sounds really really awesome. i can match his voice but not that well. if its you that is:p

[Stuff9238]

umm......im back.........i dunno whats wrong with me. i like.......lack tone in my voice? completely?

[Peg Dizzler]

Merkaba, I've been having some vocal trouble lately. :(

Well for one, I don't read the singer's survival guide book as much as I should, or practice as much as I should. My motivation is kinda shot I guess. Not sure what to do. :(

But other than that (and maybe related to that), I seem to be having a problem keeping my voice loosened up. As you probably know, I've worked my range to a little over 3 octaves. I'm quite proud of it actually. It may be a little less now because I haven't practiced it though.
After I learned how to "bridge" my voice between chest, head, and falsetto, things were going great. It seemed as they there were no breaks between my voice.

But then after that, I decided I would rather increase my upper head voice range, instead of going into falsetto so early. Bands like Helloween, Iced Earth, and Sonata Arctica use insanely high head voices, and that's what drove me to improve my voice to that level, or as close as possible of course.
When I sing that high in my head voice though, my larynx is very high and my neck simply feels tight. I don't know how to relax it. I tried the robot face and stuff, I just don't know how to NOT make the larynx move. Is a little movement okay? Or should it always be still? I think I need help in this area. And I believe that's why my motivation has been nil because I feel that if I can't relax while singing my preferred style of music, meh.
As for my tone I think it sounds good, has a good amount of volume to it, but just from hearing myself I can "hear" my throat kind of straining, even though the note is coming out loud and clear. On the contrary, when I recorded it, it sounded much quieter than vocals in my other range, not sure if it really is quieter or if it's my $5 mic though.

If you can help me in any way, I'd greatly appreciate it. =) I'll do whatever it takes to improve upon this, even if it means starting over and working my range back up.

Otherwise.. the rest of my head voice and my chest voice are doing great. :thumb: I've just been discouraged to sing much. =/
Though I have been working on my growls now and then, I think I've really excelled at that. It's kind of the same feel as falsetto (which I also do sometimes) but more like a whisper voice. Isolating, of course. :)

[Toaster]

I have a few specific questions regarding the technique I'm using to get my harsh vocals (growling). I have been using the technique I do for about three months, and I don't practice too frequently. It's really not painful at all until I do it for longer than an hour, when it starts to get pretty uncomfortable. I basically use the technique I hear is most recommended: pushing from the diaphragm.

First, I can't get any length on them. I feel like I'm pushing quite a bit to get only about 7 or so seconds of pure growling. I uploaded a clip of me growling for as long as I can, starting with my lungs almost full.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28CNNBBCR5GFA2OS9XU57T7QFN

Second, I hate the tone I get when I scream. I rarely ever get any "note" in my growling, and I know how to stop it when I do, but I can't seem to stop a "note" from coming out when I scream. It feels like the "rasp" of the scream is getting more choppy as I open my mouth more and more, and the rasp is almost gone when I open my mouth as wide as I can. I uploaded a clip of me going from a growl into a scream, using the exact same technique but opening my mouth a lot more.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=146LWO2EVNSLI1KM0CTTPDYF3G

This clip is one of me attempting a scream. You can clearly hear my regular singing voice coming through the scream.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FB59KKX056IT0DHZRO57UGT44

This last clip is a bit redundant, but it demonstrates how the rasp gets more and more choppy as I open my mouth more.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=211V4L8RGW0X40Z6I2UOZC9ET7

If you could tell me what I'm doing wrong or give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it. I'm not worried about my normal growling, just the length I can go for and the tone of my screaming. Thanks very much.

Sorry, this didn't get noticed in the stickied vocal thread, so I thought I'd give this thread a shot.

[Merkaba]

Merkaba, I've been having some vocal trouble lately. :(

Well for one, I don't read the singer's survival guide book as much as I should, or practice as much as I should. My motivation is kinda shot I guess. Not sure what to do. :(

But other than that (and maybe related to that), I seem to be having a problem keeping my voice loosened up. As you probably know, I've worked my range to a little over 3 octaves. I'm quite proud of it actually. It may be a little less now because I haven't practiced it though.
After I learned how to "bridge" my voice between chest, head, and falsetto, things were going great. It seemed as they there were no breaks between my voice.

But then after that, I decided I would rather increase my upper head voice range, instead of going into falsetto so early. Bands like Helloween, Iced Earth, and Sonata Arctica use insanely high head voices, and that's what drove me to improve my voice to that level, or as close as possible of course.
When I sing that high in my head voice though, my larynx is very high and my neck simply feels tight. I don't know how to relax it. I tried the robot face and stuff, I just don't know how to NOT make the larynx move. Is a little movement okay? Or should it always be still? I think I need help in this area. And I believe that's why my motivation has been nil because I feel that if I can't relax while singing my preferred style of music, meh.
As for my tone I think it sounds good, has a good amount of volume to it, but just from hearing myself I can "hear" my throat kind of straining, even though the note is coming out loud and clear. On the contrary, when I recorded it, it sounded much quieter than vocals in my other range, not sure if it really is quieter or if it's my $5 mic though.

If you can help me in any way, I'd greatly appreciate it. =) I'll do whatever it takes to improve upon this, even if it means starting over and working my range back up.

Otherwise.. the rest of my head voice and my chest voice are doing great. :thumb: I've just been discouraged to sing much. =/
Though I have been working on my growls now and then, I think I've really excelled at that. It's kind of the same feel as falsetto (which I also do sometimes) but more like a whisper voice. Isolating, of course. :)
The more you think the more possibility of tension. To keep the larynx Relatively low, you have to think about pulling the cords back. Extreme reaches in head voice arent natural, and takes a bit of unnatural feel. I would say at this point, dont worry about the larynx. You'll know if its a problem if you start to lose stamina or get pain or more breaking notes. Be sure to warm up as you start to get back into it. Remember though that some of these guys can be tenors or high tenors. Yea, life isn't fair. But there are things they can do and can't. And the same with a baritone(most of us).

It can really take a while to see any improvement in head voice, and then to gain consistency is even longer. I say if you arent getting any pain or hoarsness then lay your ears back and let em have it.... and warm down. Post a sample if ya wanna.

[Peg Dizzler]

The more you think the more possibility of tension. To keep the larynx Relatively low, you have to think about pulling the cords back. Extreme reaches in head voice arent natural, and takes a bit of unnatural feel. I would say at this point, dont worry about the larynx. You'll know if its a problem if you start to lose stamina or get pain or more breaking notes. Be sure to warm up as you start to get back into it. Remember though that some of these guys can be tenors or high tenors. Yea, life isn't fair. But there are things they can do and can't. And the same with a baritone(most of us).

It can really take a while to see any improvement in head voice, and then to gain consistency is even longer. I say if you arent getting any pain or hoarsness then lay your ears back and let em have it.... and warm down. Post a sample if ya wanna.
Yeah, it seems to be tense when I just try to go really high with my head voice. Like when I sing in my car it sounds good to me but I guess it sounds quiet/gay when I hear it recorded. Haha.
And about pulling the cords back... is it kind of like "pulling down" feeling when singing in chest voice? Is that related to belting?

Also, how do I know I'm a tenor/high tenor? I could figure out the notes in my range if that helps..

[Merkaba]

Yeah, it seems to be tense when I just try to go really high with my head voice. Like when I sing in my car it sounds good to me but I guess it sounds quiet/gay when I hear it recorded. Haha.
And about pulling the cords back... is it kind of like "pulling down" feeling when singing in chest voice? Is that related to belting?

Also, how do I know I'm a tenor/high tenor? I could figure out the notes in my range if that helps..
Its hard to sing high in head voice(as opposed to falsetto) and not be tense. I can't off much but to say practice. I have a problem with locking the back of my neck....so i just try to be mindful of it when I'm practicing and try to sing the song I'm singing while going loose in my neck. Isolation.

The whole pulling back thing, I would say dont worry about it. Just be sure youre not thinking about your cords being vertical or in the back of your throat, as I used to!

Fach....just sing. Start on the G or A below middle C and rise up and see when you start to go into falsetto. Not how long you can stretch to stay in head, but when you naturally feel your cords wanted release. Basically a tenor should be able to comfortably hit the next C in normal head voice. I.e. tenor high C.

[Surgicalgod]

Well I think he should be able to sing tenor if he has a 3 octave range? Unless you can sing in the first octave which is insanely low lol..

[Peg Dizzler]

Alright, I think I can help you out a bit, Toaster. :)

I have a few specific questions regarding the technique I'm using to get my harsh vocals (growling). I have been using the technique I do for about three months, and I don't practice too frequently. It's really not painful at all until I do it for longer than an hour, when it starts to get pretty uncomfortable. I basically use the technique I hear is most recommended: pushing from the diaphragm.

First, I can't get any length on them. I feel like I'm pushing quite a bit to get only about 7 or so seconds of pure growling. I uploaded a clip of me growling for as long as I can, starting with my lungs almost full.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28CNNBBCR5GFA2OS9XU57T7QFN
That sounded pretty good. Don't be surprised if you can't get them to last very long--I can't either. :p It requires alot of diaphragm muscle, and breath control. I remember when I first started screaming I could literally only hold them for 2 seconds. My first I learned to properly scream, I did them constantly for 2 hours on end. My throat and all felt fine, but my stomach hurt! That was because I was pushing my diaphragm so much when it wasn't used to that, I think. So I had to build it up alot. There's some good breathing exercises the book I have, "The Rock N Roll Singers Survival Manual". I'm not very good with "breath control" myself though, so I need to work on that, as well as build up my diaphragm more. I know this local band who hold out these guttoral screams for insanely long. At first I thought they were breathing inward because they were so long, but I asked them and they said it's all outward and they just had to build up their diaphragm and use breath control.

Second, I hate the tone I get when I scream. I rarely ever get any "note" in my growling, and I know how to stop it when I do, but I can't seem to stop a "note" from coming out when I scream. It feels like the "rasp" of the scream is getting more choppy as I open my mouth more and more, and the rasp is almost gone when I open my mouth as wide as I can. I uploaded a clip of me going from a growl into a scream, using the exact same technique but opening my mouth a lot more.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=146LWO2EVNSLI1KM0CTTPDYF3G

This clip is one of me attempting a scream. You can clearly hear my regular singing voice coming through the scream.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FB59KKX056IT0DHZRO57UGT44

This last clip is a bit redundant, but it demonstrates how the rasp gets more and more choppy as I open my mouth more.

http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=211V4L8RGW0X40Z6I2UOZC9ET7

If you could tell me what I'm doing wrong or give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it. I'm not worried about my normal growling, just the length I can go for and the tone of my screaming. Thanks very much.

Sorry, this didn't get noticed in the stickied vocal thread, so I thought I'd give this thread a shot.
I thought those all sounded good, tbh. At first when I read your post I thought I'd hear alot of head voice in these recordings. But honestly, I'm not hearing much, if any. That's what all my screams sound like. I always tell people that everyone has a different screaming tone, just like a different tone a voice. I mean, if you're into like the "hardcore" scream, well, I can see why you don't like it. :p But to me that sounded very European-ish, like alot of black and death metal bands. I prefer that tone.
But if you can feel that your "singing voice" is shining through on those screams, practice falsetto first. Sing notes in falsetto. Pretend you're in a hair metal band. Anything. Then add the rasp on top of that, little by little, making sure you're in falsetto. That's how I learned--that way, it taught my voice to always be in falsetto once I decided to do a scream. Muscle memory, I suppose.
But really, I don't see much of a problem. I think it sounds great. I've heard alot of screams that sound that way, and yet I can tell they're doing it right, because I hear no head voice. Mine pretty much sound that way. I suppose that you'd be doing them wrong if you had alot of phlegm while doing that, or if you just ate fast food or pizza or something greasy. That creates a fake rasp--really choppy, too. I've tried it. :p

Here's another theory of mine...
I've been thinking this for awhile now, but not sure if it's true. I think.. that the "hardcore" style of scream, was learned from yelling/singing loud with rasp, and accidently going into falsetto, if at all. It's my theory that although they may me doing it right, they "learned by accident", or simply by pushing really hard (not a good idea). Think, oh, maybe Atreyu or some other crap (imo) mainstream "hardcore" band.

It's also my theory that the black/death metal style of screaming, or even the screams in some nu metal believe it or not, were learned in the proper way because I can hear plenty of rasp, not very much pushing, and no head voice. The main point here is that they don't have to push hard, because they're using the right technique and amount of rasp--which seems to be the opposite of hardcore, those guys seem to strain themselves, and I can hear it every time.
Remember, that's not fact, that's just been my little theory for awhile now. But anyway, sorry for the long post! Just make sure you're in falsetto, and that you warmup, and I think your screams sound great!

[Peg Dizzler]

Its hard to sing high in head voice(as opposed to falsetto) and not be tense. I can't off much but to say practice. I have a problem with locking the back of my neck....so i just try to be mindful of it when I'm practicing and try to sing the song I'm singing while going loose in my neck. Isolation.

The whole pulling back thing, I would say dont worry about it. Just be sure youre not thinking about your cords being vertical or in the back of your throat, as I used to!

Fach....just sing. Start on the G or A below middle C and rise up and see when you start to go into falsetto. Not how long you can stretch to stay in head, but when you naturally feel your cords wanted release. Basically a tenor should be able to comfortably hit the next C in normal head voice. I.e. tenor high C.
I see. Well if that's the case, then I guess I don't have a problem except not practicing enough! :p I nearly stopped singing altogether because I was disappointed I couldn't sing in that area without tensing up. I thought I'd have to back up and rework my technique, which is why I stopped. :(
I will work on that then..

And about my range. I'm not really sure how to name these notes (like.. G4) haha, I'm a n00b..
But.. I started with the G below middle C (fret 3 on the 6th string of guitar too) and I could easily hit the C an octave above middle C. From there I could also easily hit the high G, 2 octaves above the G I started on. After that, if I allow it, my voice "naturally" goes into falsetto on the high A. But if I "stretch" my head voice higher, right now (without warming up) I can hit the C that's 2 octaves above middle C in head voice. Maybe farther if I warmup but I wouldn't know right now.
So that's what I was referring to, was that area that's TWO octaves above the middle C. It seems that I've "trained" my voice to push up my head voice that high, but with a bit of tightness. I guess there's nothing to be worried about then if that's a good range. :D Or if I can eliminate alot of that tension with practice. I was just afraid of it getting worse and, well, training my voice to tense up. It's just that the bands I listed, can go INSANELY high with their head voice, I covet that!!

Maybe I'll post a clip sometime.. although I get the impression that my $5 mic doesn't pick up high frequencies very well.

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

I think its important to be careful though with your high stuff Peg Dizzler. Everyone's voice can do certain things well and other things not well or even not at all. No voice can do everything and if you keep going higher and higher with more and more push (which will probably happen if your not careful about it) then you may find you lose quality or even your complete ability in parts of your voice. I'll give you some examples:

Mariah Carey. I don't like her very much at all but she is considered to be one of the best singers of our time. However, because of her excessive use of whistle register incorrectly and pushing chest up to high and loud shes now lost a lot of tone quality. Most of her stuff is done now in an extremely weak and annoying breathy sound and anything high in chest and head voice sounds extremely strained. Also her whistle register is becoming weaker and less consistent it seems.

Rob Halford. One of my favorite singers of all time along with Geoff Tate and James LaBrie. In the older records up to Hell Bent for Leather he could sing pretty even in a clean or distorted tone throughout his range and hit incredibly high notes. But then he slowly started losing the ability to mix chest and head at all, to sing a lot of stuff above a certain pitch cleany, and several other things. I still think he's better than 99% of metal singers out there but he has lost quite a bit. Somes from smoking, but most is from pushing and squeezing incorrectly too much. If you want an example, listen to when he filled in for Dio with Sabbath in the 90s. Its on Limewire and even though the quality isn't too great, you can still hear what a struggle it is for him to sing in his midrange in a relaxed way. Heaven and Hell is the song im thinking of I believe.

Theres many more examples but I don't have the time to list them all. Its cool you can get that high and should should keep doing it, but do it with a lot of focus. Make sure your extremely warmed up and your not squeezing your throat up too much. It's good though to push and challenge yourself, but don't drill those notes for hours on end. I only attempt my very top note (soprano high c) when I am extremely warmed up and loose. Good luck and keep working with Baxter's book it'll help a lot.

About numbering, the way I think it's done most of the time is:
Middle C= C4
Tenor High C=C5
Soprano High C=C6

[Toaster]

Alright, I think I can help you out a bit, Toaster. :)

Thanks a lot for the help, I'll try that falsetto thing you mentioned. :)

[Surgicalgod]

If you can do a C6 is head voice, it's like beyond amazing. I still can't access my head voice, but my falsetto stretches to about Ab5 then I access whistle which takes my to about C7. But my full voice ends on G#4 so that sucks alot. I really need to work on my head voice.

Screamin_Demon_Auz, is your speaking voice bass-baritone? How did you access your head voice, and how long did it take you? Can you tell me what lessons (if they're off the internet or books/cds/dvds) you took?

K thanks!

[Peg Dizzler]

Screamin Demon, thanks a bunch for your input. I know you're into the same type of vocals as me, or at least I think so. :) I'm a big fan of Halford too. I know his voice has deteriorated some, but wouldn't alot of it be from age?

I don't like Mariah Carey much either but I do know she has a good voice. I didn't know it was getting worse though. I can't do whistle notes, but aren't those about squeezing the vocal cords so much that the air actually whistles through them?

Squeezing my throat too much is exactly what I'm worried about when doing those high notes. I know I should warm up more, too. I'll really have to start being careful with that. Is there anything else I can do to help relax it? It seems that it's hard to prevent tension sometimes. In the past couple of days it didn't seem as bad though, as I was really trying to relax.
Merkaba mentioned pulling back or pulling down on the cords. Does that mean, kinda like pulling the larynx down as if it were chest voice, but using your upper range? I've been doin that a bit and it seems to help somewhat, but that could be bad, I dunno.

And about the numbering.. as I don't have a keyboard around I'm not really sure. But if middle C (C4) is the 8th fret on the 6th string (low E string) of a guitar, then yes I can hit a C two octaves above that in head voice. Hmm..

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

Peg,
age only takes out range because lack of flexibility. That happens from not singing as often, improper technique, or just plain getting old like you said. Halford has consistently been singing with no long periods of retirement or anything so its not that, and you only lose the very highest note or two when you get older, not your midrange like has happened to him. He can still do it, but its not that good at all.

Do things like lip trills, open vowels like AH (as in father of course), and vowels on MUM with a very hollow tone. If you do them correctly all 3 will help to keep the larynx stationary. Your larynx will always rise a bit as you get into the higher stuff but when it gets to the point of you feeling the back of your throat closing up from the larynx rising, your doing too much. It won't kill you to do that every once in a while for effect, most things in moderation vocally wont kill you, but if thats how you always sing then it's going to start narrowing your range and your tonal quality.

Your right about whistle. Your cords completely zip up to where theres just a tiny crack which air goes through creating the tone. Pretty much the same setup as your lips when you whistle.

Surgicalgod,

Im a baritone. But voice types really don't matter because its not about the range; it's the tonal quality of your voice. You can sing lower, and just as high (sometimes higher) but it won't be as shrill and therefore won't sound as high as a tenor doing it. Think of a clarinet and a flute playing the same note. The flute will sound higher because of the smaller vibrating space. Tenors= thinner,smaller cords. Baritones=thicker,longer cords.

I have taken video lessons with Mark Baxter for 3 years now. I am thinking of taking lessons this summer with Jaime Vendera as well who most people probably know; if not check him out and get both of his books. www.thevoiceconnection.com

I bought the program a few weeks ago called Singing Success by Brett Manning. Its $200 but well spent. It's gimmick is a promised octave addition and i'm up to 2 notes short of the full octave gain. The notes are soft and weak but over time will develop. If you can afford it, get it because it's probably the next best thing to having a teacher available.

I also have a lot of other books, but the best ones are:
The Rock N Roll Singers Survival Manual by Mark Baxter
Raise Your Voice by Jaime Vendera
Sing For The Stars by Seth Riggs
Secrets Of Singing by Jeffery Allen
and
Pro Secrets of Heavy Rock Singing by Bill Martin just because its interesting.

The DVD's I have are quite good too. They are
Rock Your Vox by Rose Coppola
The Zen of Screaming by Melissa Cross
and
Vocal Power by Jim Gillette

I know this is a lot of stuff, and most of it I don't really work with daily. I just do it when I have a specific problem. But they all are good to get as alternatives to a teacher, or if you just happen to get free money on a holiday you have nothing else to spend it on.

Head voice is tricky. It's been hit and miss for me for a while now. The thing is, if you do an AH 5 tone scale completely relaxed and without increasing volume as you go higher, you'll get to head voice but it'll be pretty weak and similar to falsetto. But the more you push and pull chest voice up when you sing, you start to lose head voice for that day because of swelling. I think its more important to just get a good even sound throughout your range using scales and glissandos and just let your vocal cords do their job and change registers reflexivley. When you think too much, thats when you push chest up and never get to head voice.

[Surgicalgod]

Damn, 3 years with Mark Baxter! He's one of the best.

I bought the Brett Manning CDs 2 weeks ago but I'm kinda stuck on the first CD cause I dunno if I'm entering head voice or not. My high notes are sounding just like the ones in the example, except when I try to prove that's it's head voice and do it in falsetto, it sounds just the same.

Today I did this ascending sirenish thing starting from E2-C6 and I didn't get any breaks or noticable shift in volume like what happens when you switch into falsetto. Falsetto is a whole different coordination right? So it's not supposed to sound all smooth and connected with that.

So you see why I'm confused? On one hand my falsetto resonates well enough to sound like head voice, and on the other I'm not breaking while doing sirens now.

By the way, how old are you?

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

;Falsetto as examples by a lot of vocal teachers (including Manning I believe) is BS. They do a very breathy demonstration that really is just terrible. Yeah I guess its falsetto but theres a way (which is what I think your doing and is what I do ) to build strength in falsetto. My falsetto is pretty rich souding on stuff like screams and just going up a scale. Don't worry if its head or falsetto because if you build tone in your falsetto, there wont be too much of a difference; especially on exercises.

The shift isn't really SUPPOSED to happen; it just does for people who are ignorant about falsetto and don't use it correctly. Your obviously doing it right which is why it's smooth and connected so good job. Falsetto isn't considered true singing by a lot of people because thats what they've heard from the know all's of classical music. Unless your a countertenor thats true, but only for classical. Falsetto is used by pretty much all singers when they scream, used in R&B a lot, etc. plus Baxter is quite big on it as well and of course I would trust his opinion over anyone else in rock singing. Keep at just doing the notes you want without worrying what register it is. The only time it's important is around the break you should be mixing the 2 so you dont strain unless your belting for style purposes.

Im 16

Oh and for the Manning CDs do each of them for 7 days and after that if you can do all the exercises well even if your going into falsetto move on. If not keep going until you do it. You don't have to stick on the CDs forever and if you find out maybe you've gone too fast and aren't ready for the next lesson, go back to the previous one again for a week.

[Surgicalgod]

Yeah I know, they all make falsetto sounds like it's too breathy and weak. Mine is quite strong I guess, but still is there such a thing as a falsetto-chest mix? :confused: I mean they're two different things, and if you're doing falsetto instead of head voice then you have to pull up chest for those middle notes.

I can make my falsetto sound like head voice (the singers on the CDs) but I'm worried about is the mix..

[Merkaba]

Peg...Let me make sure youre straight on this.

C4 middle C, or standard tuning on the guitar, fifth fret 3rd(G) string, where the dot should be. Now if youre hitting two octaves above this(fret 20, high e string) in head then youre truly gifted and I really want to hear a sample! Unless youre a female soprano then I say its highly impossible or youre confused. Are you sure about this?

[Surgicalgod]

Maybe he's hittin it in whistle or falsetto?

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

I think its always better to measure range on a piano/keyboard than a guitar because it does get confusing. Find a virtual one on the net or even the piano on Guitar Pro if you have that program.

It's impossible to mix chest and falsetto. You can mix chest and head which is called middle/ or mixed voice. You can add extra breath and volume to get more tone and somewhat mix it resonance wise with head voice and its called reinforced falsetto which is really what a lot of screams are. Many people argue for hours that metal singers scream in full voice, but in most cases its falsetto or reinforced falsetto. Its not worth arguing over though; whats always more important is that your getting the sound you want and getting it as safely as can be done.

[Surgicalgod]

It's impossible to mix chest and falsetto.

Yeah thought so. I'm actually embarassed I even brought it up lol.
Basically what I do to get a more resonating falsetto is give it more volume and it just sounds better on its own, so is that reinforced falsetto?

Today, I was doin some "nay nay nay" exercises and on the Ab4 --> notes I had a 'ringy' feeling in my head that I've never had before, is that what head voice feels like?

Tell me if I'm askin too much lol...

[Screamin_Demon_Auz]

Yeah thats more than likely reinforced falsetto. It's what I do as well for a lot of stuff.

The ringing was the resonation of either mix or head voice. They both will ring it the same places (the different areas of your face), so you just go by the sound. If its a lighter and higher tone thats head voice, but if theres some deeper, chestier overtones to it then that would be mix. Whatever it is, the feeling of the ringing is a good sign and keep it up. The very first exercise (humming) in Singing Success are extremely good for resonation and feeling what different notes feel like when you place them correctly. Do that one often; it's actually good to do it first thing when you wake up to help clear out and prepare your voice for the day.

[Peg Dizzler]

Today I did this ascending sirenish thing starting from E2-C6 and I didn't get any breaks or noticable shift in volume like what happens when you switch into falsetto. Falsetto is a whole different coordination right? So it's not supposed to sound all smooth and connected with that.

So you see why I'm confused? On one hand my falsetto resonates well enough to sound like head voice, and on the other I'm not breaking while doing sirens now.
That's definitely a good thing, it takes a bit of work to "connect" all the voices. I'm not sure how I did it or how long it took, but I think I owe it alot to the glissando exercises (and Merkaba!).

I can make my falsetto sound like head voice (the singers on the CDs) but I'm worried about is the mix..
When you say make your falsetto sound like head voice, you mean you're adding volume to make it sound more "full", right?
Like if you sing in falsetto really softly, it kind of sounds like a whisper, but if you push it a bit more.. it sounds kinda fuller, hehe, is that what you're doing? If not, tell me your secret. :)

Peg...Let me make sure youre straight on this.

C4 middle C, or standard tuning on the guitar, fifth fret 3rd(G) string, where the dot should be. Now if youre hitting two octaves above this(fret 20, high e string) in head then youre truly gifted and I really want to hear a sample! Unless youre a female soprano then I say its highly impossible or youre confused. Are you sure about this?

Oh I would post a recording but I have no mic, and I just caught a cold today.

*lame excuse that's a lie anyway* :D
Haha. No, you're totally right, Merk. I am confused. For some reason I thought middle C was an octave lower on the guitar. I don't have a piano/keyboard around when I practice vocals (I really should though), so forgive me for the mix-up folks.
But as of this week, without warming up, I can "stretch" my head voice to a C, fret 8 on the high E string. So yeah, ONE octave above middle C (I think!). While my falsetto goes up to something like an A, fret 17... kinda tense though, I shouldn't do that..

[StormX]

I was hoping someone here could help me out, I've posted a few times but I never really got anything solid. In my band, I sing a cover song that we do, and I'd like to start singing backup vocals on other songs, but as of now I can't really sing at all. I can control my voice barely, but I have no idea how to hit notes and such, and I always sound like I'm talking heatedly rather than singing. I want to learn how to get my voice under control and actually sound musical.

[Surgicalgod]

Page 1 on this thread.

Merkaba posted a whole bunch of good exercises. Always start with the vowels if you're going to start singing, do the EE's and Ah's etc... Those will help you get the 'musical feel', I doubt that you feel like you're talking them.

Also, take your time and practice, practice, practice. Record your singing to hear what it really sounds like outside of your head. Don't delete your recordings, leave them for future motivation. Do the exercises everyday, and I think you'll start noticing some changes in a few weeks.

Good luck, and if you need any more help please be more specific so we know what exactly you're looking for. Maybe if you record a sample?

[StormX]

The problem with that is he's talking about doing vowels at various notes and octaves and whatnot, but I have no idea how to hit notes and what my range is or anything.

[conkers]

Well I've been reading through these threads for a few hours now, and have been picking up quite a bit of information. I do have one small question regarding falsetto and screaming though.

I'm a huge Blind Guardian fan, for those who know of them, and the lead singer, Hansi, can go pretty high, and does excellent metal screams- but his notes don't sound like a regular falsetto (cartoony)... they sound pure and smooth. So I read into the whole Speech Level Singing stuff, and about headvoice and how you should be using it instead of falsetto.

Well, if I sing high, I have to go in falsetto, else I'm just struggling in the chest. If i go very quiet, I can blend the chest into the falsetto- but apparently when you achieve that, that's your head voice.... Yet is sound the exact same as my falsetto, if not worse because I can only do it very very quietly.

Can anyone post some sound clips of singing in head voice? And then singing in falsetto? And then each in a scream / rasp?

Thanks a lot guys

[Merkaba]

The problem with that is he's talking about doing vowels at various notes and octaves and whatnot, but I have no idea how to hit notes and what my range is or anything.
it doesnt matter. Do what you can. Start off in your normal speaking range and try to sing notes in that range. That and the lip trills/motorboats to get your diaphragm working in coordination with your breath support and larynx. Basically you want to make your lips flutter like youre a kid making a motor sound. Now you do this on all vowels(ay,ee,ah,oh,uu,I) yes your mouth will be closed but still position your cords for the vowel and make it, keep your teeth together at first if you need to then work on doing them with your teeth far apart, mouth still closed..but you want to keep the lips fluttering with no breaks. They will increase and decrease with pitch, but you want them to be consistent. This is a very important exercise for a beginner. Mix it up and have fun with it but remember the feeling, so you can translate into regular notes.

[StormX]

it doesnt matter. Do what you can. Start off in your normal speaking range and try to sing notes in that range. That and the lip trills/motorboats to get your diaphragm working in coordination with your breath support and larynx. Basically you want to make your lips flutter like youre a kid making a motor sound. Now you do this on all vowels(ay,ee,ah,oh,uu,I) yes your mouth will be closed but still position your cords for the vowel and make it, keep your teeth together at first if you need to then work on doing them with your teeth far apart, mouth still closed..but you want to keep the lips fluttering with no breaks. They will increase and decrease with pitch, but you want them to be consistent. This is a very important exercise for a beginner. Mix it up and have fun with it but remember the feeling, so you can translate into regular notes.
Alright, thanks, I'll start working on that.

[Rock_Out_Dudes]

Hey Merk or anyone else that can help...I have a question about the song Punish my Heaven by Dark Tranquility. When he sings does he use the falsetto rasp that you've talked about in your screaming threads or is that a death metal growl? It doesn't sound like normal death metal growls that I've heard (Opeth sounding) but it doesn't seem to be high pitched enough to be in falsetto. I've never been able to do the falsetto rasp you've talked about for some reason so I don't know exactly what it sounds like, but it just doesn't seem right. Maybe it's just that his voice is just naturally higher pitched, but i'm not sure...elightenment would be great. :)

[Surgicalgod]

I can't help you with that, but I know you'll get a really better chance of getting an answer if you post a sample. You can post the part of the song where he does the falsetto screams, or if you don't know how to cut the song, upload the whole thing and tell us when the screams start.

[Rock_Out_Dudes]

I can't help you with that, but I know you'll get a really better chance of getting an answer if you post a sample. You can post the part of the song where he does the falsetto screams, or if you don't know how to cut the song, upload the whole thing and tell us when the screams start.

Alright, I'll upoad the song soon...is it against the rules to post the link here, or should i send it out to emails or what?

[Merkaba]

Post a small sample here, not the whole song. I'm on dialup.

Most people use Yousendit or soundclick or something like that.

[Rock_Out_Dudes]

Post a small sample here, not the whole song. I'm on dialup.

Most people use Yousendit or soundclick or something like that.

I'm not exactly sure how to cut a sample out of a song...I'll search the net for it though, and hopefully figure it out...if not i'll have to upload the whole thing

I'll edit this post with a link later tonight hopefully.

Edit: Ok...here's the link :

http://s65.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2OHRMT587EF3A3EQWBQKRZ5QFA

Really in general I'm just wondering what kind of screaming he uses thorughout, but especially at the chorus thing around 49sec-1min, and then at like 3:00-3:16...Thanks. I'm a noob as far as this screaming stuff goes

[Merkaba]

whatever's clever

[codeword]

Hey, ive read a lot of your posts and it seems really helpfull but i cant seem to get myself to sing from the gut and i think thats probably the start of my problems. I dont think im the worst singer ever but i dont think im at all decent. Id love to be able to sing like either gerard way, lead singer of lost prophets or billy joe. something like that. anything you tell me will be much appreciated!

heres an accapella i did of helena (its really bad but i can usually do slightly better, not much though so thats pretty much it) http://s60.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=011P3LCVVUGJ101WT4NEH2L3R1

or you can listen to 2 of my songs online that i sang on but the recording is bad so you cant hear properly and my friend also sings on them so its kind of a mess but thats at www.soundclick.com/codeword its only the top 2 songs (the 1s that arent covers)

THANKS

[Merkaba]

Dont have much time right now but the whole lip trills/motorboats exercise is key for getting in touch with the diaphragm. It should be on this or the last few pages.

[Rock_Out_Dudes]

I'm not sure if you saw that I posted a link in my last post Merk, so this post is just to remind you. Thanks :thumb:

[Merkaba]

Its not falsetto. At least not anything I heard. Its more head than anything else, just rasped rather gutterally "below the pencil" as melissa cross would say or if you were going to upchuck a steak. So you can pretend to barf, maybe, as a way to feel. It should feel pretty gaggy. Its a highly blocked sound with alot of larynx in the way.

[wkd]

I found my "falsetto" voice.. now how do I "develop" it?

Right now it just sounds really girly.. and it likes to crack.. and it's almost like a whisper.. it sounds like when you lose your voice or something. I don't see how I could possibly use this in singing.. it sounds TOO girly.. and I wanna able to do it like how the singer in Fall Out Boy does it.. you can tell he is in falsetto.. and it is high, but he stil keeps is kind of with his same reg voice tone.. how can I do this?

Does this just come with practice? And if I "loosen" my chords enough can I do this? How do I loosen them? By doing A, E, I, O, U in falsetto?

Or are some people just naturally unable to do falsetto?

Thanks. [I'm 16 btw.. if that changes anything.. and I've had no prior vocal classes whatsoever.]

I'm doing this basically so I can 1.) Sing higher. 2.) Strengthen my falsetto so I can scream better.

Thanks again.

[Merkaba]

I found my "falsetto" voice.. now how do I "develop" it?

Right now it just sounds really girly.. and it likes to crack.. and it's almost like a whisper.. it sounds like when you lose your voice or something. I don't see how I could possibly use this in singing.. it sounds TOO girly.. and I wanna able to do it like how the singer in Fall Out Boy does it.. you can tell he is in falsetto.. and it is high, but he stil keeps is kind of with his same reg voice tone.. how can I do this?

Does this just come with practice? And if I "loosen" my chords enough can I do this? How do I loosen them? By doing A, E, I, O, U in falsetto?

Or are some people just naturally unable to do falsetto?

Thanks. [I'm 16 btw.. if that changes anything.. and I've had no prior vocal classes whatsoever.]

I'm doing this basically so I can 1.) Sing higher. 2.) Strengthen my falsetto so I can scream better.

Thanks again.
If youre sixteen...who knows what has or will happen. But in general it doesnt matter. It will happen slow enough so that if you can properly sing then it should be easily remedied. But most people dont know that I guess, or really arent "naturals". In other words, age technically doesnt matter except that it will affect your range, and where youre head and falsetto breaks are due to the layrnx enlarging and whatnot.

For falsetto, you should try to sing head and falsetto at the same time, this will move it more to the "mask" or front of your vocal are. Keep your tongue loose, and try to keep the sound feeling like its going more out of your face and not your head. Do this just to get a feel. Many times people say to try to feel the sound going up through your temples. It will when done properly but if you cant really control it yet, you should try to keep it as close to head voice. Just go up another note higher. You will have to feel a shift in your throat as the cords are opened for falsetto. You do need good breath support, but remember you dont need much push at all....dont blow out the candle in front of you.

And you will get more out of strengthening your head voice than trying to strengthen falsetto alone. Check out the first page of this thread, the exercises for strength and flexibility.

[DanD]

My singer in my band has a good voice, and he can hit and hold notes really well, the only problem is he is really quiet when he sings. Like, his singing voice is quieter then his talking voice. Is there anything he can do to get louder without changing his voice?

Thanks

[Surgicalgod]

Push more air? just a little bit. It's just like raising your voice when talking, I'm sure he can do that without changing his tone. Let him try this: Keep his facial expressions, jaw, and chin relaxed while he goes higher (in volume), this should help prevent any change of tone.

[adz_18]

Hey Merkaba,

Yes I'm going to be the 1 million and 1st person to thank you ever so much for your time and effort into helping people like myself with singing. I've been reading over all of your posts for a few months now and have learnt a great deal. So THANK YOU for that! However a couple of things are still troubling me. Before I start though, if it helps, I'm male, 20 years old and am sharing lead singing duties in my rock band.

At the moment I'm having trouble with my head voice. I believe that in general I can pitch my notes well, even falsetto, but am struggling with my head voice. I'm finding it difficult to distinguish from chest voice (ie. i think sometimes im pulling up my chest voice when i should be releasing into head, giving it a strained sound and me an uncomfortable feeling), and sometimes get the type of voice going that sounds partly head and partly falsetto. Unless I push from the throat I can't really get passed G4 (G above middle C) without going into falsetto, and even then it sounds bad. Even though I may be in tune, I know my technique and consequently tonal qualities are lacking. When I sing in the region of about D above middle C (D4) to the G above that (G4) for extended periods of time my throat becomes tight and sore. I know that this is due to me not using my diaphragm or "gut" properly but I'm finding it hard realising how to do this. My voice never becomes sore when I sing lower notes, only the highish ones.

On our myspace webpage, http://www.myspace.com/opshopninja , we have a song called 'colourblind' of which I am singing lead. Or you can go to the following link, http://s31.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3BVG0LMD5CUJU0QIL64Y55GMS3 , which has the same vocal track as on the myspace page but soloed so you can hear it more clearly. Most of this song is sung in the region of D4 to F4. I'm pretty sure that 99% of the song is sung in the correct pitch, but it sounds a little 'airy fairy' despite the fact i'm not singing in falsetto, if you know what I mean? I'm using either head or chest, most likely head, but it sounds too soft and not very powerful/guttural to be head/chest done correctly - at least to me anyway. if you could have a listen to this song and tell me:
1. what regisiter you think I am using,
2. whether you think that regisiter is being used correctly,
3. if you think i'm using the 'gut' appropriately (and if not how i should go about singing from the gut - ive read posts regarding this issue but am still struggling with it) and
4. whether, overall, you think it sounds reasonably good or not

I would be very appreciative. I know i'm asking a lot but I've been doing a lot of research on the net and despite how much info i've obtained just need someone to tell me if what i'm doing is right or not. At the moment I can't really afford singing lessons so am trying to improvise. Your response would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, :thumb:

adz

[Alive]

This may or may not have been asked before but, as an absolute beginner singer, what shall I sing? I can obviously practice exercises and scales and stuff until time ends, but I don't really know what songs or somethign to sing.

[Merkaba]

My singer in my band has a good voice, and he can hit and hold notes really well, the only problem is he is really quiet when he sings. Like, his singing voice is quieter then his talking voice. Is there anything he can do to get louder without changing his voice?

Thanks
Surgical is right...
Push more air? just a little bit. It's just like raising your voice when talking, I'm sure he can do that without changing his tone. Let him try this: Keep his facial expressions, jaw, and chin relaxed while he goes higher (in volume), this should help prevent any change of tone.
But the thing is, I bet a million bucks he's not using his breath support/diaphragm well. The motor boat drills/lip trills....first page of this thread under "singing from the gut". If you have no diaphram support you wont be able to do them and if so then he will need to practice them to get in touch with trapping and venting pressure. Tell him to take a good breath, not the the deepest in the world because it gets harder on the diapghram, save that for future workouts. You should be able to sing loud without blowing out the candle in front of you...so to speak.

[Peg Dizzler]

My singer in my band has a good voice, and he can hit and hold notes really well, the only problem is he is really quiet when he sings. Like, his singing voice is quieter then his talking voice. Is there anything he can do to get louder without changing his voice?

Thanks
If it's quieter than his singing voice, I'd say he's not singing right. He needs to get that diaphragm going and push with it, not from his throat, or whispering, or whatever he's doing. Either it, it comes out quiet.

Maybe advise him to take some singing lessons. Then he'll learn how to project his voice. That was the first thing I did--I had no idea how to "project" my voice, so I took some lessons. If your singer doesn't like that idea... maybe try to encourage him saying that his singing tone sounds good, but if he learned to project it louder then it'll sound better. Something like that.

[Peg Dizzler]

Hey, uhh... quick question.

When I do vibrato.. my larynx kind of goes up and down a bit, or wiggles. Am I do it right, or should I stop and re-learn my technique the right way?

[Surgicalgod]

I think you're doing it the wrong way cause it doesn't happen with me. A stable larynx is a happy larynx.

[Merkaba]

Hey, uhh... quick question.

When I do vibrato.. my larynx kind of goes up and down a bit, or wiggles. Am I do it right, or should I stop and re-learn my technique the right way?
Theres about three different vibratos. Technically Surgical is right, but if youre getting a consistent smooth vibrato it usually means youre relaxed enough...I wouldnt worry about it.

[Peg Dizzler]

Teach me the other ways to do vibrato plz? :D If you don't mind of course. Or just show me a site or recommend a book.

[Surgicalgod]

I heard Brett Manning has a pretty good vibrato course CD called Mastering Vibrato. You can find it on www.getsigned.com or just do a google search.

[Wobblestop]

Well I'm kind of new here, I've been reading the forum for a while, and today registered, but that irelevant.

When I sing i get a build up of mucus that will not disapear, not matter how hard i swallow or try to spit it out. I thing this is really affecting my singing quite badly now as it effects the overall quality and volume of my voice. Do you know how I can get rid of this mucus?

[Visti]

First page of the thread under mucus. Basically, quit dairy, caffeine, smoking and meat or at least cut down.

Merkaba, I see you speak alot about diet and recommended fluids and such, so I was wonder.. I drink a lot of green tea, because it's so incredibly beneficial for almost everything else, but will it damage my voice in any way?

[Merkaba]

I dont believe anyone would tell you that it will damage your voice. The thing is to be mindful of your caffeine intake. Keep moderation in key. A glass or two a day wont hurt, but caffeine is caffeine. And it "do what it do". You can always opt for caffeine free. I've been eating a lot of cheese lately! Sue me, ya know? I just don't do it often. Then my girlfriend suggested, try this kind...so now I have two big blocks of some of the worst stuff on the planet...thats just heavenly to eat. So. Just be smart.

[Visti]

Yeah, I wouldn't cut back on it anyway, given the other health benefits of it, but I really don't think it's drying me out or anything like that and the caffeine in green tea works a little differently than for example coffee, but you're absolutely right, it's still caffeine. But it's not like I drink every hour or so, it's just a cup or two a day to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, fight cancer and daily intake of vitamins.


So, anyway, I just got a new mic. If I record a few songs, would it be cool if I post it here for voice suggestions even though it's not screaming, which it seems like you do the most in?

[fuzzyhair]

Hey Merkaba. I think I have a strained vocal chord. I was screaming and it hurt, because I was trying something new. I stopped it after about one minute and started playing guitar and didn't swallow that much during that time. Mainly because of concentration. I did not taste blood at all I don't think. After I was done my throat still hurt and it feels like a light pinch in my upper right adams apple area. My friend who is a screamer informed me that this has happened to him and that it is most likely a strained vocal chord. So right now I am drinking a lot of water and reducing my talking/singing/and definately screaming. It hurts when I swallow and a little bit when I talk. Mainly because when you talk your adams apple moves up and that is when it hurts me. I am almost positive it is a strained chord. Is there a way to make this heal faster? I took an Ibuprofen for the pain and I am drinking water. Anything else that could help?
Thanks
EDIT: Would drinking sleepy time tea help. No caffeine.

[adz_18]

Hey Merkaba,

Not sure if you read the message I posted a few weeks back? It was message #727. If you could just check that out for me and get back to me whenever you can that would be great. If you want me to reupload the single vocal track just let me know and i can do it (the current one has expired now).

Thanks for your time. :)

[Merkaba]

I remember reading it but guess i didnt post a reply.

I like the song...not bad.
Sounds like to me it would have to be head voice or in that area. Some people use the term middle voice, as in between chest and head. Sounds like it's in your proper register. I think it would be way harder for you to sing otherwise and you'd know it easily. You've got nice tone and a rather lighter sound. I'm wondering if you could be a tenor or close when its all said and done.
So be sure to read the "finding head voice" and "singing from the gut" pages back on page one. Its hard to teach someone to access registers over the internet. But I would say dont be afraid of falsetto. It gets a bad rep sometimes because its not used properly in many cases. Especially around your break, youre gonna WANT falsetto because otherwise youre going to try to hold onto head with alot of tension. And your first one or two falsetto notes after your break are relatively indistinguishable when done with the rest of the music, and of course with proper support. Over time you can work on closing it up into true voice if you can. Have you been trying to sing one note scales up and down. Be sure to try them starting on a note that is falsetto for sure and work your way down. THis, when used with the vice versa of starting off in head and going up to falsetto, can kinda narrow down the tension. Be sure to start off on AH vowels. And relax as many muscles in your neck and face as you can.

Now singing from the gut is even a harder thing to get across. The thing I find very useful now is the motor boat/lip trill exercises. In the singing from the gut thread.

To reiterate...the cords are only tools used to make sounds. (And add internal support pressure, but thats another story). So try to sing sometimes without thinking about it much. Just sing the song. Trying to be too technical is like trying to throw a dart when pitching or football. You throw to the area, to the space. Not to the mit or to the hands. So don't overthrow it. Relax. You can sing pretty good it sounds and thinking should only come when trying something new. I can hear that one area where you want to go up and it kinda breaks. I'm more than positive you can get that note cleanly. it just seems to be right at your bridge area. if you need to sing it in a good supported falsetto, then do it for now. It will ease the tension that's causing you to break in the first place. If you can hit it in head, you've got to first let go of the tension or holding on feeling. Or practice that part or word with the AH vowel. That part before colourblind..."my heart...myhi heart" (I dont know if its heart or not) where you try to go up.
You do seem to sing a tad airy in general. could be style or what have you. THats ok. But the thing that helped me the most was when a guitarist at a tryout said I was holding back and to sing harder. Over the next year I was a whole different breed. You could work on that maybe. But the key is to bring it from the gut. Dont think about your throat or cords when you sing harder. And of course dont sing much harder when you start off, if you decide to do such a thing. It can help build strength and stamina, and the muscles you need to close up notes will benefit. I would say practice the song an octave lower to get a feel for keeping the cords together. I still do this alot.

[Merkaba]

Yeah, I wouldn't cut back on it anyway, given the other health benefits of it, but I really don't think it's drying me out or anything like that and the caffeine in green tea works a little differently than for example coffee, but you're absolutely right, it's still caffeine. But it's not like I drink every hour or so, it's just a cup or two a day to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, fight cancer and daily intake of vitamins.


So, anyway, I just got a new mic. If I record a few songs, would it be cool if I post it here for voice suggestions even though it's not screaming, which it seems like you do the most in?
Well tea in general has less caffeine than the same serving of coffee. About half usually...if I remember correctly. Depends on style and method of course. I have some decaf green tea. Think I might make a cup now!
Remember you can get the same affects and nutrients from spinach, broccoli, etc. Just had to throw that one out there.

[adz_18]

Cheers for the reply Merkaba. I appreciate it.

What you said was quite helpful and also reinforced some things that other people have told me aswell. A couple of band members as well as my dad (who used to be a lead singer) have said I need to "let it go more", just like you have said. I've tried doing this before, trying to get more power and fulness into my voice but whenever I do this my throat gets tired and sore and then i end up losing tone, and pitch tends to get a bit off as well. Perhaps this was a result of trying to over do it. You do mention trying to sing harder but only a little bit at first. I suppose that's the key, and work up from there. I'll reread your 'singing from the gut' posts.. as i'm pretty sure i'm not doing that properly and we'll see how it goes.

Also, i'm 99% i'm not a tenor. I can't sing any higher than G# above middle C without releasing into falsetto (at least at this stage anyway - maybe once i get the gut technique going better i will improve my full voice range), whereas I've heard so much about the infamous 'Tenors C' where a tenor should be able to sing the C above middle C. I try to sing along to many Queen songs (Mercury having one of the best voices I've ever heard and a range to match) but once he goes into those higher regions still in full voice i just have to sing it in falsetto. Oh and for the record I do love falsetto. Muse are my favourite band who probably have never released a song without falsetto in it. Falsetto with heavy guitars backing it just sounds really cool, ala Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson & at times daron and serj from system of a down.

[golfguy]

does anyone know if this guy is singing in
reinforced falsetto or head voice? cuz he sings some
really high notes with some good power behind them.
http://www.oxdrive.com/files/01/sf.mpeg

[adz_18]

golfguy, you really should make your files a lot smaller than that! it's almost 50mb! Even those on cable may not be bothered downloading it. Merkaba is on dialup so don't expect him to listen to it. Also if you're gonna post something that's 4-5 mins then at least specify the areas (ie. what time of the song) you're referring to.

[Merkaba]

Haha...I got dsl a week ago. Me likey....but something is either suddenly up with my comp or with that link because its taking forever and a day to download or play.

[adz_18]

Merkaba, just out of interest, what is your overall vocal range, and your individual range for chest, head and falsetto? Sorry if this has been asked, but i don't recall someone asking.

It would be pretty cool if you uploaded an audio clip of yourself demonstrating your vocal range - to show us how things should be sounding in the extremes.

Also, I thought of something that might be able to help you show people the difference between the registers, because a lot of people are asking 'is this in head or falsetto' or (as in my case) find it hard to distinguish between chest and head. So here's the idea...

What I think would be a good idea would be for you to post an audio clip of yourself singing the same note in all three registers, and then state which of these registers would GENERALLY be the correct one to sing that note in. So, for example, you could do something like "this is what D4 sounds like when sung in chest voice.... now this is what D4 sounds like when sung in head... and now falsetto etc." That way I think it would illustrate how the different registers sound when doing the same thing. If it's too hard to find a note that is possible to be sung in all three registers, then maybe choose one note to show the difference between chest/head and then a higher one to show the difference between head/falsetto. What do you think?

[Visti]

Merkaba, would it be too much trouble if you could post a clip of you singing with some music maybe? My voice is completely different and relaxed when singing to music, but when I do excercises and such, it's strained and my range feels a lot smaller. I'm guessing that really shouldn't be the case.

[Semple]

I hope it isn't too much to ask, but I need a few suggestions.


Okay, I just recently started screaming. Now, I'm almost 100% sure that I'm not doing it the wrong way, because I warm up, I don't close my throat, and I make the rasp by air rolling up the back of the throat, before the chords.


Anyway, for some reason, I still experience some pain and discomfort during and after screaming, followed by increased mucous production after stopping all vocal activity. It doesn't last any longer than 12 hours, but it's a bitch.


Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks.