[QUOTE=metalmaniac87]hi tonight i was singing along to some gamma ray and suddenly i was able to hit those high falsetto sections note for note with power and without tension or discomfort. but the side effect was that i felt like a tiny part of my adams apple was sticking into my throat, even though this was not sore or unfortable it is strange because ive only being trying to sing REAL falsetto stuff for about a month and ive never expierenced anything like being able to sing that high!! now for all the singers out there did you ever get things like this happening when you first started singing??? my voice seems to have gone back to normal now but it was cool being able to do this for a while! something similar happened a few days ago aswell but maybe it is just my voice getting stronger im not sure at all?![/QUOTE]
I've never gone through all of these bizarre sensations that people describe thats for sure. Mostly I would just get hoarse, or lose range for a while. You could be feeling god knows what because frankly, I dont think anyone knows what you mean. If you feel anything in your adams apple, thats your larynx. So you could have aggrivated a muscle, fatigued a muscles, you could be feeling irritation from the winds of singing...who knows. If its not uncomfortable and theres no affect to your speaking voice, its probably just a stepping stone. But I would keep an eye on it. How about giving us a better description?

[QUOTE=Merkaba]Well there's definitely a line to walk here. I just prefer to play it on the safe side. And lets not forget that mucus is created for a reason. Its not a poison. The cords don't care about our agendas or desires to blast this or that pitch. If they are damaged they will produce more mucus, and if they are swollen they wont vibrate properly, which means that further vibrations could, possibly, result in more aggrivation. The mucus is to protect the swollen area from being infected. The pain is from, hopefully, swelling, which will limit activity as the area heals. If you hurry this natural process along you can be doing yourself an injustice. Its not the same as mucus created from dairy or general aggrivated technique. If you suddenly blew something out, you need the protection. No matter what one does the cord won't vibrate properly until's normal, especially if its one side thats affected more than another. Right now...who knows what the issue really was? And if it was hurting mostly on one side, then you really need to watch it. Because sometimes that can be nerve related. Good to see you doing better though Fuzzy. Lets just all be careful, regardless.And yea...I would hold off another day or three from the screaming. Time to practice the clean voice singing. hehe[/QUOTE]
lol my mom is begging me to clean sing. My whole, "Screaming is safe" with her is gone now lol.

:lol: yep... It really can help add strength. Consider it...before she whips that azz!

I have a question. There's this death metal band, Origin, and their singer has this really high screech. I've never heard anyone scream as high as this guy can (I'm talking a non-pitched scream). It almost sounds like he's doing it through his nose or something. If he's using any sort of different technique, could someone tell me what it is and how to do it?

This link leads to some downloads from the band, the very last one (The Burner) has a good example near the beginning.

[url]http://shop.relapse.com/artist/artist.aspx?ArtistID=10076[/url]

sounds like the typical "falsetto" scream to me. Dude probably can hit some pretty high notes. Its definitely not inhaled which is the only other way.

Damn it, heh.. I was hoping for some different technique. I can't do a falsetto scream. :(

[QUOTE=Merkaba]:lol: yep... It really can help add strength. Consider it...before she whips that azz![/QUOTE]
lmao

[QUOTE=Toaster]Damn it, heh.. I was hoping for some different technique. I can't do a falsetto scream. :([/QUOTE]
THeres not much you can do with the cords. REmember that. Justkeep practicing.

Hey Merkaba,

I've been practicing this past month on linking my bridges. I still haven't had any good results. How much time will it take me to start seeing some noticable changes if I'm practicing for 20 mins/day?

Shouldnt take long to get somewhere. Just pay attention to yourself and dont overthink. Its ok to miss notes and if youre gonna miss them, working on transition and bridge breaks is THE time to do it! Back off of the push and volume and go for a feeling of rolling, or flipping. It will be a shift in throat musculature....very minute. And dont search for it. Once you've got it down you'll know why its called flipping or rolling into the next register. Lovely.I'm sure youre glissing...and dont forget to do them from highest to low.

Hello everyone,

i have recently be roped into singing for my band........i have developed a decent scream but i found at practise yesterday i wasnt able to find it,

was it just an off day? or do i really need to work on it a lot more?

i still get slightly sore throats from it but much better than when i started about 3 months ago.
also my singing voice, the more i practise will it become better??


thanks

I've been doing a lot of screaming for the past two years in a ton of different local acts (mostly black metal), but more recently I've been doing more variations between gutteral growling and really high pitched shrieking... basically I'm trying to push to a higher range, but I can't seem to do so without closing my throat off... how could I get that little bit higher without damaging my voice?

[QUOTE=peteallen]Hello everyone,

i have recently be roped into singing for my band........i have developed a decent scream but i found at practise yesterday i wasnt able to find it,

was it just an off day? or do i really need to work on it a lot more?

i still get slightly sore throats from it but much better than when i started about 3 months ago.
also my singing voice, the more i practise will it become better??


thanks[/QUOTE]
You cant ask us if it was an off day or if you need to practice more. Time will tell. If you get sore throats, youre pushing too much for your current level....ala the reason why you couldnt "find" your scream. ..... read the next reply:

[QUOTE=Eleventeen]I've been doing a lot of screaming for the past two years in a ton of different local acts (mostly black metal), but more recently I've been doing more variations between gutteral growling and really high pitched shrieking... basically I'm trying to push to a higher range, but I can't seem to do so without closing my throat off... how could I get that little bit higher without damaging my voice?[/QUOTE] This is why I stress clean voice singing. If youre not a "natural" at whatever youre trying to do then overpushing to scream will make whatever tone/note youre trying to aim for become more and more difficult, naturally. Because it all boils down to being able to hold a note at a specific pitch. If you can't sing that pitch, you sure as hell can't sing it hard enough to blow twice as hard to get a "proper" scream sound.

So basically, I don't want to push too high because I'll be f[color=silver]ucked[/color] otherwise?

[QUOTE=fuzzyhair]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.
Edit: I am drinking tea and it helps.[/QUOTE]


For you, and anyone else who reads this. The best cure is to SHUT UP for 24 hours. Absolutely no noise. If something absolutely has to be said, write notes. Tell your teacher/boss what you've done and that you won't be able to speak for the day.

Remember, absolutely NO NOISE. Luckily, the mouth and throat heal much, much quicker than most body parts. So let it sit still for 24 hours, and then slowly and carefully get yourself back to where you were. Strained cords are not fun at all.

[QUOTE=Eleventeen]So basically, I don't want to push too high because I'll be f[color=silver]ucked[/color] otherwise?[/QUOTE]
Well I wouldnt say Fu[I]c[/I]ked, but it will be harder if you cant simple get the hang of going up to hit higher notes. This is way easier to do without the complications of overblowing to get a scream. The tension it takes to hold the cords position is higher for a higher pitch, then it takes even more to hold this while extra air is blowing over them. I would just practice trying to relax and sing normally whatever pitch youre trying to scream first. At least half and half. It doesnt have to be a day long thing. Try it for five minutes or so at least.

I think I finally found my "screaming" voice. I've been doing beginner vocal excersizes (sp) like those lip trills and some stuff off Melissa Cross' video, and I just made my normal singing voice raspy enough so that there's no note in them. It hurts a lot more than the normal growling technique I use, and it's less loud, but I can definitely go higher, and it sounds much smoother.

The thing is, I can't do it every time. Sometimes I try to rasp really hard and it just comes out as a stupid-sounding (and painful) note. The rasp is also helped a lot by phlegm, even though the normal technique I use isn't.

Can someone tell me if this sounds "correct"? I'll post a few clips if it helps.

No, it doesn't sound correct. Don't do it. Phlegm shouldn't be doing anything for sound, and it should not hurt. Don't do itttttt.


You're getting your rasp the wrong way. Remember in the special features for Melissa Cross' video, it shows her vocal cords while she screams, then she shows you how people are doing it the wrong way, and it's nothing but a closed throat with a bunch of bubbling? Yeah, that's probably what you're doing to get your rasp. And it's really, really wrong.

You should be getting your rasp before the vocal cords. Rasp should be air hitting and rolling up your throat, before your cords. You'll know when you get rasp right, because you'll be doing it over and over and over again, and it won't feel itchy, scratchy, or painful at all(unless your throat is dry).

Also remember that you don't need to scream your heart out, because when you're actually screaming, you'll be doing it into a microphone which will make you louder. So when you practise, you should be trying to sound as loud as you would if you were screaming properly through a mic.


Remember that a scream is a yell, with heat and fire. Heat is that crunch, and fire is that woof. Put them together, with a yell, and you're screaming.

When you first learn how to scream, it's not smart to do it for four hours, as although it won't directly be screwing with your cords, I assume you aren't a singer, so your cords aren't exactly strong. So they will get overused, and it will feel poopy afterward.

So, even if you're rasping properly, don't walk around talking to everyone using your rasp all day long, because, come night, it won't feel too nice.

Oh, and one more thing. Drink lots of water or Gatorade while you're screaming. You've gotta keep it wet. It's the same as talking. Nobody likes talking with a dry throat, and eventually it will get irritated. So don't scream with it, either.

And also, there's a really good chance you're going to stress your cords atleast a few times while learning to scream. When this happens, just shut the @#%$ up for 24 hours. It'll heal, then carefully get back to where you were before screwing them up. And don't do what you were doing when you screwed them up. Learn control, and don't be stupid about it.

[QUOTE=Merkaba]I'm sure youre glissing...and dont forget to do them from highest to low.[/QUOTE]

i already have my registers smoothed out....and i always did it lowest to highest and found that humming made it easer to work on...

but why do you say to do it highest to lowest???



extra tip: after you smooth out your registers you'll probably feel good about holding long notes and sliding into notes...but the next step would be to get out a piano/keyboard and just try to hit individual notes without sliding....

right now i can beautifully slide into high notes and hold them...but in my normal range i have trouble just going straight to a note...i imagine practicing scales with a piano accompanment will help???

Okay. This first clip is of me yelling very loudly in an attempt to scream. I love the sound that I get, but I can't do it too often or my vocal cords get very sore.

[url]http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=38IYVNICRWFL121B7G74D8F6GE[/url]

This next clip is of me doing the scream I mentioned a few posts up. It doesn't really hurt unless I do it for a long time (and I've been improving my stamina), but it sounds far weaker, isn't as loud, and I can't do it every single time (unlike the scream above).
[url]http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FGNWNJKHZEPL2AS182F9XVVRG[/url]

Is it possible for me to rasp as hard as I do in the first clip without ripping my cords to shreds? Sorry about all the questions, but I'm getting very frustrated with my voice.

Although it's hard to tell, it sounds like you're closing your throat. Which is the wrong way to scream. I even cringed after listening to them a few times over. I can't tell for sure, of course, but it does sound like more of a closed throat bubbling than a raspy scream. I'd bet if you did that for 15 minutes your throat would end up really sore, and you'd be walking around all day with a pissed off look on your face. I've done this many times in trying to learn.

Basically, you'll get it right eventually, and you will know you are, because you can feel the rasp below the larynx. All rasp is, is the air hitting the back of your throat. The way I think you're doing rasp is by actually closing your throat, and forcing air through, creating rasp by vibrating the throat together and bubbling saliva and phlegm.

You know if you bark like a dog, you can feel the air at the bottom of your throat? That's where you want to be making your rasp. After all, a scream is yelling onto pitch, with a bunch of rasp. Once you learn this, you can yell high, you can yell low. You can growl like death metal, or you can scream the kids from the screamo scene of the late 90's.(Yes, kids. I'm sorry, but Underoath and Alexisonfire is not screamo. =(((( )

Anyway, practice making the same sound you're making right there, in different ways. Since there are only two ways, you'll eventually figure it out. It's all you and your throat. Your vocal cords can only make sound, they can't make rasp. So don't try to force them to.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=Semple]Although it's hard to tell, it sounds like you're closing your throat. Which is the wrong way to scream. I even cringed after listening to them a few times over. I can't tell for sure, of course, but it does sound like more of a closed throat bubbling than a raspy scream. I'd bet if you did that for 15 minutes your throat would end up really sore, and you'd be walking around all day with a pissed off look on your face. I've done this many times in trying to learn.

Basically, you'll get it right eventually, and you will know you are, because you can feel the rasp below the larynx. All rasp is, is the air hitting the back of your throat. The way I think you're doing rasp is by actually closing your throat, and forcing air through, creating rasp by vibrating the throat together and bubbling saliva and phlegm.

You know if you bark like a dog, you can feel the air at the bottom of your throat? That's where you want to be making your rasp. After all, a scream is yelling onto pitch, with a bunch of rasp. Once you learn this, you can yell high, you can yell low. You can growl like death metal, or you can scream the kids from the screamo scene of the late 90's.(Yes, kids. I'm sorry, but Underoath and Alexisonfire is not screamo. =(((( )

Anyway, practice making the same sound you're making right there, in different ways. Since there are only two ways, you'll eventually figure it out. It's all you and your throat. Your vocal cords can only make sound, they can't make rasp. So don't try to force them to.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

I can't thank you enough for this post.

I can confirm that in those clips, especially the second, I am indeed closing my throat and using saliva to create rasp in my vocal cords. I know how to rasp my voice like you described (I think), it's painless and it's at a high volume. The only problem is, I can't rasp high notes using it, I can only do the death metal grunt. When I try and scream using that technique, I basically pull off a death metal grunt with my mouth wide open, which sounds chunky and disgusting.

I hate to beat this topic to death, but just for the sake of thoroughness, I've uploaded a few clips of me using my normal rasp (remember, the death metal one without pain), and also two of me trying to scream using this type of rasp (see: chunky and disgusting). I just want to know whether working on this kind of scream will eventually give me a good-sounding, high-pitched scream or if I'm totally on the wrong track.

[url]http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?
id=279DJ1NXCGUZ00D87GBCWUHELL[/url]

[url]http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?
id=33TV97ZKTUWOJ16ISHBYB55XZM[/url]

[url]http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?
id=3PNOD5AVUFYYG13EKMH8WF8QDF[/url]

Well, what I did when learning was screamed lower. The vocal cords need to tighten to make higher notes, and when you make higher notes while an assload of extra air is coming through at a higher force, and whatnot, it's harder to hold them. What you need to do is scream low for now, and work at strengthening your cords. When they're stronger, it'll be a lot easier to hold a high note, right? RIGHT!



So, you've gotta do exercises, and work on those cords just like you would if you wanted a six pack set of abs or massive arms. It's no different.

When I started screaming, I started screaming lower. Not grunting, but I wasn't hitting the high notes. The more and more I worked on it, the more and more I could hold those high notes.

Basically, you won't be screaming high notes like Billy Werner right away. You need to be dedicated to screaming if you want to hit those high notes, too. It takes longer to teach yourself to scream high notes than it does to sing high notes. Why? Because when singing, you use your true cords. When screaming, you use your false cords. But don't worry about that, it's too technical.

So, just scream deep for a while every day. The more screaming you do, the easier it'll be to move around your range and through the notes. Sooner or later you'll be able to hit whatever notes your voice will allow you to. Don't forget that you might not be able to hit the high notes. But if you can sing them, I believe you can scream them. It's just more difficult. I know when I first started I couldn't get up high at all.

Basically, just scream more where you're comfortable, and start doing some exercises to strengthen your cords. I know there are a bunch of exercises posted around here.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=Semple]Good luck![/QUOTE]

Thank you very much, you've answered all my questions. I guess I'll start practicing then.

Antares auto tune
 

[QUOTE=Rocket_Science]I am trying to improve my singing--specifically my pitch. Does anyone know of any videos or preferably something interactive, like software that can help?[/QUOTE]

Try using antares auto tune to smooth out pitching problems. or failing that double track the songs vocal and see how it goes. ok

recording vocals.
 

When recording vocals it seems a lot of singers forget the obvious when recording.
They tend to click on record and sing.
Recording is a different process to a performance. you can sing a line at a time and have many takes of the same vocal and then pick out all the best vocal sections to compile your main vocal.
Double/tripple tracking in some instances is also another usefull tool.
Record the songs vocal 2 or 3 times for the main chorus for instance. it works far better than applying a chorus fx. sounds more natural. be sure to pan the second and third vocal right back in the mix and far left and right so they are hardly noticeable yet when the chorus kicks in you get this natural rich warmth from the vocal takes as they all gel together to lift the songs chorus etc.
Johnny

[QUOTE=rockbrigade]i already have my registers smoothed out....and i always did it lowest to highest and found that humming made it easer to work on...

but why do you say to do it highest to lowest???



extra tip: after you smooth out your registers you'll probably feel good about holding long notes and sliding into notes...but the next step would be to get out a piano/keyboard and just try to hit individual notes without sliding....

right now i can beautifully slide into high notes and hold them...but in my normal range i have trouble just going straight to a note...i imagine practicing scales with a piano accompanment will help???[/QUOTE]
sometimes going from high to low will help smooth transisitions because it takes the opposite coordination. Just a way to be "well rounded" and to keep the larynx honest. If you already have them smoothed out then there's no need to practice that.

[QUOTE=Toaster]Okay. This first clip is of me yelling very loudly in an attempt to scream. I love the sound that I get, but I can't do it too often or my vocal cords get very sore.

[url]http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=38IYVNICRWFL121B7G74D8F6GE[/url]

This next clip is of me doing the scream I mentioned a few posts up. It doesn't really hurt unless I do it for a long time (and I've been improving my stamina), but it sounds far weaker, isn't as loud, and I can't do it every single time (unlike the scream above).
[url]http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FGNWNJKHZEPL2AS182F9XVVRG[/url]

Is it possible for me to rasp as hard as I do in the first clip without ripping my cords to shreds? Sorry about all the questions, but I'm getting very frustrated with my voice.[/QUOTE]
The first sample, first scream sounds a bit tight. You got it right...more like yelling. The second one seemed better technique wise. The second sample was definitely "weaker". I think its because you didnt close up that note as tight. which is a good way to learn how much you need for the tone youre going for. I would start off with that type and try to add more of a note behind it. But of course the more tone you add, the more stress it is on the cords. So slow and steady wins that race. You will have to build up this strength over time like any other strength. There are no magic bullets. Work the same tone as the first sample, second scream, but just with less push. Try to see how quiet you can get it but still have tone and rasp, and you'll be on your way.

But so far it sounds like youre doing ok. Be sure that its your cords that hurt and not your throat. Many people cant distinguish the two. The back of your throat will hurt due to the extra wind pressure rubbing you raw. This shall pass. If its your cords then they will hurt when you do real high head voice notes, with even a small push, and they will hurt with low notes. They will hurt at mid range. Do notes to find out if its your cords and not your throat. And if your speaking voice gets hoarse then you need to reevaluate your approach/time/push, etc because your cords are then swollen. You dont want to sing with swollen cords. Be sure to warm up and warm down! Reread that last sentence just to be sure.

-------------

If youre using saliva to make rasp, then just do it without the saliva. Same area though.

Your last group of three links didnt work for me.

Here's just a small concern, Is it normal to have a really weak voice in the morning, then later it becomes strong? Or do I have a vocal node or something.

And Merkaba, how do you warm down? Ive heard of warm ups and what to do, but warming down just completely flew over my book of knowledge.

[QUOTE=Merkaba]...

Your last group of three links didnt work for me.[/QUOTE]

I think, like that helpful person said back there, that during the second sample I was simply closing my throat and getting rasp through saliva, which is obviously the wrong way. I'll just try to get the feel of the first scream but (for my throat's sake) at a lower volume. I'm a bit confused though, because during all those clips I wasn't using falsetto.

[url]http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3439KU75Q1PVD2VWCMN3KBB40T[/url]

[url]http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1M1XRK7N4FTY51DTVXML28OOX9[/url]

[url]http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=31IRZOSTH08M91J7OHKACVQY9I[/url]

I re-uploaded those links in case you're interested in what I meant.