[QUOTE=tobius;14428502]hello all:wave:

I would just like to borrow a moment of your time and ask for some critique on my singing. Personally i don't think its good at all so if someone out there could give me some pointers it would be much appreciated :)

[url]http://media.putfile.com/These-Colours-Dont-Run-52[/url]

[url]http://media.putfile.com/The-Arms-of-Sorrow-90[/url]

[url]http://media.putfile.com/Detonation-88[/url]

[url]http://media.putfile.com/Aces-Higheh[/url]

thanks in advance :)[/QUOTE]
You have zero support. Go here and look at the threads on coming from the gut. [url]http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219911[/url]

Allrighty, here's my story:
My friends used to have a band. They played hardcore/screamo/grindcore type stuff. They eventually broke up (Which crushed me, I loved going to their shows), but have recently *kind of* gotten back together. The drummer and bassist are out of the picture, and the old vocalist has gone to the bass (And the guitarist is still playing guitar). They found a new drummer, but now they need a vocalist. Since they want to keep the band to a friends only thing, and the old bassist/drummer are definitely not coming back, they have asked me to do the vocals.
I'd love to be in the band. I've never been in a decent band (I was in one before, but it was just for fun. We mostly just covered other bands songs), and I've never really done any singing/screaming. I consider myself a halfway decent singer (I just sing along to music in the car when I'm by myself :thumb: ), but I'm completely lost when it comes to screaming. Since it's still a hardcore/screamo/grind band, a majority of the vocals will be done in a scream. I'd really appreciate any tips I can find.

Most of the tips I've seen consist of "Stop reading about it on the internet and just do it.", so that's what I did. I went out for a drive and turned on some music and tried to scream along to it. And boy, I didn't think I'd be so bad at it. I just couldn't get out a true scream. It was more like enthusiastic yelling. I guess "enthusiastic yelling" could pass in a band like that (Assuming I'm able to get a bit better at it. The passion is there, but it just doesn't sound that good), but I'd like to be able to actually "scream". I'm not too interested in growls (Deep growls seem to come naturally and easily for me, so I figure I can practice those without much instruction.), but I'd like to get some mid and high pitched screams in there.

Some of my inspirations include From Autumn To Ashes (Sounds more like enthusiastic yelling than screaming, but I think it sounds amazing), Saetia (I just love that high pitched scream. The vocalist also has a great presence live. I was able to see him with the band he went to after Saetia at Koo's in LA) and Atreyu (I'm not really sure what to say about them, but some of their songs just have such a nice energy to them).
Yeah, I know, not a very impressive list. I'm just really attached to these bands, since they were the ones that really got me into music. Some people have told me that some of my music taste makes me seem like a 14 year old with no taste in music (Though those people may just be elitist music snobs), but I'm actually a 20 year old with a pretty broad taste in music. I just love listening to music that reminds me of easier and more carefree times :-D

So anyway, does anyone have any specific tips? Maybe some different exercises that focus on screaming? Some people say "Practice, practice and more practice.", but I've also heard people say that if you do it wrong you could just thrash your vocal cords. I'd love to practice, but I'd like to find way to do it without making myself a permanent mute by the time I'm 25 :-D. Also, I'm far too broke to be able to afford any type of lessons (If there are even lessons for screaming. I kind of doubt it, heh.). Oh, I've been told to "scream from the gut rather than the throat". Now, this sounds simple enough, but does anyone have any tips for actually doing this? Or is it just one of those things you have to learn on your own?

Anyway, I'd really love some input. I'm planning on asking the bassist of the band for some help, since he was the vocalist in the old band, but I'm sure extra information can't hurt!
Thanks for reading my lengthy post :)

Edit: Been doing a bit more research and came across "Melissa Cross". So, is she really as good of a teacher as it sounds? Or is it just hype? I can't afford lessons, but I'm sure I can afford a DVD (Maybe >_>). If the DVD is really as good as it seems, it might be a good investment. So, what do you guys have to say about it?

Anyway of collapsing that into a post that people can be bothered reading?

[QUOTE=Grumma;14476729]Anyway of collapsing that into a post that people can be bothered reading?[/QUOTE]

Yea, long post. But I can get long winded too, but usually its describing something, not a situation. :)

Regardless of the story that goes with them, vocal cords are simple and are only capable of about 2 things.

And yes, one of the important things in vocals is "coming from the gut". You have to have that support. That and keep the throat area loose and relaxed. Alot of people tense up the throat in order to get a good sense of pressure because they dont have good pressure from the diaphragm. Once you start closing off the throat youre going farther into no'mans land. Plenty of tips around here. And if youre serious you'll just bookmark and read. You can read a few pages here and there everyday. A general rule of thumb is that you should never get hoarse and never have pain. Either of those and youre not vocalizing properly. You can get a nice sound without pushing too hard and screams in bands dont have to be "I'm about to get hit by a car" true screams. You can get a good scream with about 70 percent max push, or less. Once you push too much your cords will just lose air and not vibrate as much so volume and tone may start to diminish anyway. Go here and get started...


[url]http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219911[/url]
Merkabas Voice-Help Hotline - Music & Musician Forums

I have the melissa cross dvd. hmmm. it wont teach u to scream. I actually learnt to scream and growl properly from a few minutes of a radio interview that she did. I would advise you to learn the technique of screaming first, then getting the DVD to help you stay strong. Basically what you have to do to scream is:
1. make a tiny kitten noise, or a frog noise. This should be easy and natural. Just try and talk as low and quiet as you can and you should feel the gentle rumbling in the roof of your mouth.
2. try and either put falsetto or a yawn underneath the rumbling sound. This is the hard bit. You will find that you can unite the rumbling and yawn, but only for a few seconds. Learn to find the balance and sustain it.
3. Once you can balance and sustain, build volume by pushing more noise out and using the diaphragm (thats the muscle that you pull when you try and exhale forever).

Hope this helps.

That's actually a really good description, well put.

yallo
 

hey guys im new to this
my friend is in a band
[url]www.myspace.com/signalthefiringsquad[/url]
he said not to inhale when you do squeels
so ive sterted doing them exhailing
the only thing is that it doesnt sound like a clean brreeeee
its brroiii haahahah
weird aye
anyways i was wondering if anyones got any pointers?
cheers :chug:

I do exhaling squeals. The trick is not to say bree. You should say briiihh, and stick your lips out. It might also help if you press the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Record the sound on your phone and you should hear a high pitched whistling noise which means your doing it right.

I kind of go, "quee."

lol. that might work. I find when I use an ee noise, I lose that magic whistling noise.

:) Does anybody on this thing exhale when they squeel?
i think im the only one ahaha
if theres anyone that does could you give me somepointers?

I used to, but it's so harsh on your voice that you have to be completely rested for like 2 weeks after doing it for like one show.

Inhaled pigs are the way to go sparingly.

Also, don't try to do stuff like Bear from See You Next Tuesday, unless you want your voice cracking constantly.

inhales dont feel right to me. I find them more incomfortable than exhales and I cant hold them for nearly as long.

You're probably not doing them right then. Just go from the top of your mouth/pharynx region, and push down, it's not actually completely, "inhaling," why a lot of people call it, "inward," instead.... true inhales would be:
[url]http://www.myspace.com/synt[/url]

But whenever I do that, it makes my voice crack.

What can I do to improve my exhaled growls?
[url]http://myspace.com/parvulusatrum[/url]

Work on getting that, "gutteral," sound.

Keep your mouth closed more, focus more on ahs and ohs, push your tongue to your teath and such.

[QUOTE=Eleventeen;14502401]Work on getting that, "gutteral," sound.

Keep your mouth closed more, focus more on ahs and ohs, push your tongue to your teath and such.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Will do!

Yeah dude, np.

Also, it helps if you don't try to enunciate and just sort-of say things.

[QUOTE=Eleventeen;14506874]Yeah dude, np.

Also, it helps if you don't try to enunciate and just sort-of say things.[/QUOTE]

Haha it does actually have lyrics, but I will try to enunciate more.

Well, the trick is, you don't need to have actual lyrics, it just needs to sound like you're saying things. My biggest problem previously was that everything I screamed came out as, "Yaah yaah yaah!"

Hey I have a couple of questions on melodies and singing. Bear with me though, I'm trying to teach myself how to sing until I can afford a teacher so these may sound ridicolous/obvious.. or not. :p

But anyway, question 1: If I write a song that goes for example.. D-E-G.. when I'm playing D, do I HAVE to sing D? the D chord (as you know, but..) has: D, A and F#, so can I sing F#? can I hold an A note while playing a D chord? or is this wrong? And even on a farther strech.. if my song goes: E-A-B , do I have to sing according to the chords at all if I'm singing notes in the key of E? Because.. what if I have a melody line that sort of hits a lot of notes of the scale, and they may or may not be included in that particular chord during the progression? Or should the progression follow the melody wherever it goes?

Question 2: Now, say I move that up with a capo. I move it up to say the 4th fret.. so now "D" is: F# , C# and A#.. is it still a D? can I still sing the same melody as before and just play the chords up there? I know this is more of a theory one I guess..

Any help is greaaaaaty appreciated :)

-Chase

[QUOTE=CKYhellview;14520702]Hey I have a couple of questions on melodies and singing. Bear with me though, I'm trying to teach myself how to sing until I can afford a teacher so these may sound ridicolous/obvious.. or not. :p

But anyway, question 1: If I write a song that goes for example.. D-E-G.. when I'm playing D, do I HAVE to sing D? the D chord (as you know, but..) has: D, A and F#, so can I sing F#? can I hold an A note while playing a D chord? or is this wrong? And even on a farther strech.. if my song goes: E-A-B , do I have to sing according to the chords at all if I'm singing notes in the key of E? Because.. what if I have a melody line that sort of hits a lot of notes of the scale, and they may or may not be included in that particular chord during the progression? Or should the progression follow the melody wherever it goes?

Question 2: Now, say I move that up with a capo. I move it up to say the 4th fret.. so now "D" is: F# , C# and A#.. is it still a D? can I still sing the same melody as before and just play the chords up there? I know this is more of a theory one I guess..

Any help is greaaaaaty appreciated :)

-Chase[/QUOTE]


If the chords are a half step higher, your singing will have to be also. The melody will be the same just a half step higher. When you solo over a E power chord, do you have to play just E and B? No. Its the same with singing. Just go with whatever sounds good. But if its in the right key it should be all set.

Hey Chase, you don't need to sing only the notes that are ringing on the guitar!

Normally, it sounds good to sing in the key, but using your example: D-F#-A (D tryad)...you could sing an E, G, whatever, you'r eprobably going to move.

As said above, stick with what you think sounds good and matches your melodic intention.

Take care.

Thanks! :)

Okay i have a question. I'm the singer and guitarist in a band. I can do both pretty well. The thing is, i am considering of buying a mic. To practice at home. So my questions are:

1. Is practicing with a mic at home really that useful? Will there be a big progress in my voice? Note that i only practice with my band for about 1 hour per week. The other time i'm singing without a mic.

2. I will be connecting the mic to my laptop. Will i be needing an amp or something?? I will be going for cheaper models. Cheaper than SM58..

Any other suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

Oh and my vocal style is a bit like Randy Rampage on Alison Hell i.e dirty-clean most of the time with occasional screams.

I'm also getting into screaming a lot lately. Still learning it though.

I have a question, not sure where to post it so I hope this is the right place.

Before singing i've been told to do vocal exercises, particularly;

Breathing in, holding it in my lungs for a while and then slowly breathing out.

Go through scales.

Octave work, as in singing a note, than singing its octave. Doing this going up a scale.

What I want to know is, what is the actual affect of each of these excercises? What is each one actually helping my voice/throat/lungs with?

The breathing is working to increase your breath capacity, which is important but focus more on release the breath steadily without too much pressure. To do this, just make a hiss sound, and hold it out as long as possible, and as consistently as possible (meaning the sound of the hiss isn't shaking or changing at all).

The scales help to warm up your voice because they are very isolated; they are usually vowels which makes it much easier on your cords than actual songs which contain consonants/emotion/and many other things that can affect your voice. It also helps with muscle memory in terms of learning the different intervals and stuff which will help your pitch out so its good to drill this stuff.

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz;14582305]The scales help to warm up your voice because they are very isolated; they are usually vowels which makes it much easier on your cords than actual songs which contain consonants/emotion/and many other things that can affect your voice. It also helps with muscle memory in terms of learning the different intervals and stuff which will help your pitch out so its good to drill this stuff.[/QUOTE]
So I take it the octave work is to mainly help with the muscle memory thing?

Well people do things for different reasons, but yeah thats a big use of it. Its also just a good interval to use when doing warm ups and other exercises to get the blood flow going to your cords.

[QUOTE=meteor_47;14562490]Okay i have a question. I'm the singer and guitarist in a band. I can do both pretty well. The thing is, i am considering of buying a mic. To practice at home. So my questions are:

1. Is practicing with a mic at home really that useful? Will there be a big progress in my voice? Note that i only practice with my band for about 1 hour per week. The other time i'm singing without a mic.

2. I will be connecting the mic to my laptop. Will i be needing an amp or something?? I will be going for cheaper models. Cheaper than SM58..

Any other suggestions welcomed. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=meteor_47;14563807]Oh and my vocal style is a bit like Randy Rampage on Alison Hell i.e dirty-clean most of the time with occasional screams.

I'm also getting into screaming a lot lately. Still learning it though.[/QUOTE]

Why isnt anyone helping me??? :confused:

[QUOTE=meteor_47;14588242]Why isnt anyone helping me??? :confused:[/QUOTE]

Practicing with the mic isn't really going to help anything, unless you are using it to record yourself and listen back? If your just using it to amplify your voice to practice though its not going to help you progress.

Mics need PA's/powered monitors. You can also use a keyboard amp, but never a guitar amp. It will more than likely damage the computer speakers so don't use them.

Yeah the only thing it'd help for is if you had bits that are louder than others so you can move the mic away from you as you sing those bits . . .
Maybe lol

Okay, I'm new on here. But I have to say before I ask for help, that I can't afford singing lessons. I want to know how to belt. I'm the best male vocalist in my town. But I want to belt. Vocal belting. I play guitar too. I want to learn to incorporate my singing with guitar. I WANT TO BELT. Bad. Singing is about passion, and I belting makes me feel the best. I've tried and sometimes it happens, or so I think. When it happens I can feel the music. I'm also having trouble with creating melodies for songs I write. If I do, then I can't think of something that goes good for the music when I sing it. Also, people tell me, that my songs sound too "monotone"... I need some Real help. Thanks.

[QUOTE=tacrae;14622730]Okay, I'm new on here. But I have to say before I ask for help, that I can't afford singing lessons. I want to know how to belt. I'm the best male vocalist in my town. But I want to belt. Vocal belting. I play guitar too. I want to learn to incorporate my singing with guitar. I WANT TO BELT. Bad. Singing is about passion, and I belting makes me feel the best. I've tried and sometimes it happens, or so I think. When it happens I can feel the music. I'm also having trouble with creating melodies for songs I write. If I do, then I can't think of something that goes good for the music when I sing it. Also, people tell me, that my songs sound too "monotone"... I need some Real help. Thanks.[/QUOTE]


Define your definition of belt please. It's different to a lot of people, so before you can get advice you need to be a bit more clear.

With vocal melodies, usually it just comes with having a good ear. I always listen back to the instrumental about 5 times, and start humming something along with it, and it will fit. You need to make sure you know the melody of the instrumental like the back of your hand before you can come up with a good vocal melody. You could also start by forming a vocal melody that copies the guitar part, then start to break up the melody so that it still goes well with the guitar part, but doesn't follow it exactly; just change the way you phrase each word.

I know you said you can't afford singing lessons, but please at least buy some type of product so that you can have something to work with that will keep you on the right track. Let me know the max you could spend on a 1 time purchase for a vocal technique book or cd program,plus the type of music you do, and i'll suggest what will fit you and your style best.

Vocal belting, you know like, singing from your chest, it sounds like falsetto but it isn't and Aretha Franklin, Chris Cornell, Christina Aguilera to name a few can do it perfectly. That's the type of belt I'm talkin' bout. Thanks. As for the purchase, right now 0$ cause I have NO money. Also, my goal is to bring back grunge music. I don't mean wannabe either, or "post".. I mean REAL grunge. So I'd like to experiment with belting to see how I like that.. and my upper registers as well. thanks.

I've decided I'm going to learn how to sing.

For good.

No pussying out after the first song I try and sing or the first recording I make this time.

I need to be able to do backing vocals, and I need to be able to sing a few songs of my own. I don't want to be Pavarotti, but if I can sing some campfire songs and rock standards that would be fantastic.

Thing is I really, really don't know where to start. I have this DVD
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Can-Sing-Seven-Steps-Singing/dp/B0000CDUWW[/url]
(lol) and I don't know, maybe its too advanced too basic or in the wrong genre for me (but singing is singing, right? gotta be able to do pop stuff...) but I never get anywhere with it.

Are there any really basic rock'n'roll vocal books/DVDs out there?

I mean for starters I just want to be able to do 'oohs' and 'ahhs' in the chorus of songs, surely that can't require the biggest workbook of all time?

Reckon Johnny Cash would be a good starting point? As a guitarist I never really pay much attention to how 'technical' the vocals of songs are. I'm thinking trying to start with T.Rex would be a bad idea though.

lol jon

whut

[QUOTE=Jon;14630336]I've decided I'm going to learn how to sing.

For good.

No slightly confuzzled sea lioning out after the first song I try and sing or the first recording I make this time.

I need to be able to do backing vocals, and I need to be able to sing a few songs of my own. I don't want to be Pavarotti, but if I can sing some campfire songs and rock standards that would be fantastic.

Thing is I really, really don't know where to start. I have this DVD
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Can-Sing-Seven-Steps-Singing/dp/B0000CDUWW[/url]
(lol) and I don't know, maybe its too advanced too basic or in the wrong genre for me (but singing is singing, right? gotta be able to do pop stuff...) but I never get anywhere with it.

Are there any really basic rock'n'roll vocal books/DVDs out there?

I mean for starters I just want to be able to do 'oohs' and 'ahhs' in the chorus of songs, surely that can't require the biggest workbook of all time?

Reckon Johnny Cash would be a good starting point? As a guitarist I never really pay much attention to how 'technical' the vocals of songs are. I'm thinking trying to start with T.Rex would be a bad idea though.[/QUOTE]


Get Jaime Vendera's Raise Your Voice. The ebook is only 20 bucks and you get access to the member section of his site which has everything you'll need. You can get it on getsigned.com I believe