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

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

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.

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

That may be what your dad was talking about UsefulIdi0t

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]Hehe...I'm forever at your mercy now, Thanks![/QUOTE]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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! :)

I'd say so too. No problemo

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:

^ 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:

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.

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.

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?

Voice
 

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
[url]www.myspace.com/euphoriavis[/url]
any other comments on the music are welcome to.

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?

[QUOTE=CDoasis]^

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:[/QUOTE]
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.

[QUOTE=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:[/QUOTE]
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.

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE] 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.

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE] 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.

[QUOTE=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?[/QUOTE]
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.


[QUOTE=Herbert_da_fish]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?[/QUOTE]
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.

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

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:

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. [url]www.wintervilleonline.com[/url], 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.

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz][url]http://www.melissacross.com/news_detail.php?articleID=12[/url]

That may be what your dad was talking about UsefulIdi0t[/QUOTE]

here's the link i just found it!

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

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

[QUOTE=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:[/QUOTE]
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.

[QUOTE=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. [url]www.wintervilleonline.com[/url], 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.[/QUOTE]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.

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

Have you read this thread?

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

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.

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.

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.
[url]http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UYW0C43HRF6Q0ZUS07FEVJJH6[/url]
p.s. im 16 and am kinda working toward a norma jean styled scream like in memphis will be layed to waste.

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]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.[/QUOTE]

ok thanks Merkaba