Tips for Harsh Vocals....anyone?

[Left Shoe]

we have a thread on it, but no tips being given out. id like to have some since im aware im doing it wrong, and apparently its killing my voice

[Steerpike]

I mostly practice with trying to achieve it at low volumes. It really makes it a lot easier to keep going. You also learn to become less dependent on volume to achieve the rasp, and that gives you better breath control.

[AA-12]

My tips:

Use your gut

Never drink cold water/liquid

Always warm up

Don't stress your throat at all

Use your lips to control/keep the tone you want

If you start getting to tired or hurt, stop for a while and figure out what you did wrong

[masada]

My tips:

Use your gut

That's never really worked for me. It only makes it worse.

[AA-12]

Trust me, it's the only way you'll ever get good with harsh vocals.

[Steerpike]

Tightening the abs won't work. You just have to rely on your diaphragm entirely. The throat does absolutely no work. That's what it means to use your gut.

[AA-12]

Yeah, that's what I was meaning. You basically want to push a TON of air out of your lungs.

[Peg Dizzler]

Whoa whoa whoa. Way too much misinformation in this thread. I think most of the posts here are totally wrong.

I suggest heading over to the Jam Session and reading some stuff on vocals there. Rasp is created by scraping air off the back of your throat, similar to the "annnk" sound you make, as if someone on a gameshow got the answer wrong. That's the best way to explain it in text.

And what people mean by "use the gut" is to support it all with your diaphragm. Pushing with the throat will get your nowhere and you'll tense up, even if you don't know it. You need to push a decent amount to get the rasp, especially at first, but after awhile you'll realize you don't have to constantly belt it out to get that sound, depending on how quickly you pick up on the technique.

If you're serious about it, buy that one book on harsh vocals by Mark Baxter. I can't think of the name of the book. He has another vocal book called "the rock and roll singers survival manual", which I have.

[crazyguy832]

Pick up Zen of Screaming by Melissa Cross. Problem solved.

[Peg Dizzler]

Pick up Zen of Screaming by Melissa Cross. Problem solved.
Do you own that? I've been wanting to get that for awhile.

[peon]

relax a bit before before you start singing

[Crumbumonkey5]

Be more Breathy. It might not sound amazing but it will be in key.