having trouble pushing my scream

[powerstripe]

:confused: right now i read a lot of posts about screaming, it seems logical and easy but i just need an example like *ohh it's like hawking a loogy and singing at the same time* i dont know somthing like that. I read Merkaba's hotline thing but all the clips are gone, maybe its my computer idk but can someone please help me? i raed something about pretending like ur pushing thrugh the temple of your head??

[Vitriolic Rage]

You have to push with your diaphragm.
I can't exactly explain how to do this.

[the_uber_penguin]

Yes. Pushing with your diaphragm feels like breathing from your stomach.

For a scream, in simple steps:

1. Take as deep a breath as you can.
2. Pitch your note, and open your mouth as wide as you can.
3. Push in first from your stomach, and then when you run out of air, from your ribcage. IN THAT ORDER!!!
4. DON'T put too much strain on your vocal chords.
5. You would be suprised how loud you can go with relatively little breath...for ultra long sustain on it.

[powerstripe]

what does pitch your note mean? sorry im such a newb :(

[shayne_122]

what does pitch your note mean? sorry im such a newb :(

No worries, we were all newbs once, and it seems you're doing alright.

I *think* what he means is this...
You know right when you're about to say something, and then someone cuts you off, but you have the word you were going to say in your mind at a specific pitch, along with your throat contracted to that same pitch? (if this makes sense) That would be setting your pitch, or pitching your note.

That's what I got out of it, at least... I hope I can help.

[the_uber_penguin]

what does pitch your note mean? sorry im such a newb :(

It means make sure you're screaming the right note. If you're song is in E, but you just scream any note you might scream a D#, which would sound really discordant.

That might also be what you want.

Otherwise, it's worth thinking in your head about how you want your scream to sound, and try to hum the right note before you scream (away from the microphone) so that when you scream you hit the right note.

I put all this in because screams DO have pitch, but many people forget about it. I've heard many a good scream sound bad because the vocalist forgot to aim for a certain note, and many brilliant screams sound better for it.

I hope I made sense.

[purgatory]

is there any exercises that help work the diaphram so you can sing better?

[the_uber_penguin]

is there any exercises that help work the diaphram so you can sing better?

Yes.

Relax fully, and breath in so your ribcage is fully expanded.

Hold it out, and keep breathing with your stomach (diaphragm).

Set a metronome to about 90-100bpm 4/4 and, without using your ribcage at all - it must stay fully expanded - breath:

In for 1 bar
Hold for 1 bar
Out for 2 bars.

Do this a few times then:

In for 1 bar
Hold for 1 bar
Out for 4 bars.

Repeat over and over. Eventually you'll get to a point where you have to use your ribcage. Remember that point...

To test sustain, include your ribcage and see how long you can go: my best was 64 bars at 92bpm in 4/4.

[Merkaba]

You dont have to worry about strengthening the diaphragm. If you cant get in touch with it then it can be as strong as a god, but useless. You could have a weak diaphragm, it wont matter. Your longevity will suffer first. All your diaphragm does is push up on your lungs or relax. Its naturally going to be decently strong. If you can cough, sneeze or shout, well...thats it. Now for serious singing, yea it takes more, but you get that by continued singing. The motor boat drills are priceless.

[purgatory]

i sound like the lead singer for Six Feet Under. but i want that kinda "middle scream" that Chimaria has. how can i work into something like that?