[QUOTE=Knifeboy;15883878]When you're practicing, and you've done something wrong, and is now feeling discomfort in the throat, what then?
Just warm down and call it a day? Or is it okay to start up again after the discomfort goes away?[/QUOTE]

when youre in that position just call it quits for a bit and eat a lot of fruit

[QUOTE=i am the robots;15923158]when youre in that position just call it quits for a bit and eat a lot of fruit[/QUOTE]


I generally drink some warm water and warm down, then have some more warm water and my voice is fine. Although by the time my voice would hurt, it would be after yelling, not singing/screaming/rasping how i normally would be and I would have been done for the day.
After show fun does that =P

To screamin demon auz (or anyone else who can help)

i've been working with all the techniques you gave me, but i really can't get anything going, i can still scream the way i know (which is definitely not a good way), but when i try the downward push and everything i can't get anything which i consider a scream. Do you have any other advice? Also, you mentioned getting my entire soft palate to vibrate how would i go about doing that? i can do the pidgeon thing, but not when i'm actually singing, should i be able to do that when singing?

This is just a start up technique for most people (some use it for screaming though). Whats really important is that you just scream as you do now, meaning that sound, but apply the good technique habits little by little. When you breathe, your stomach comes out, your floating ribs at the bottom come out, and you lock down like your using the rest room. This all habits in no more than a second; if you draw it out too long your just building up too much unnecessary air. Thats what you really want to focus on first; get that breathing and support coordination down. Then try the scream again. Pay attention to where you feel it. Does it feel like your uncomfortably pushing your throat? If so, do it again with the attention on making it feel like it coming out of your mouth. When you can get it to that level, you can start playing with the tone to make it feel like its coming from the palate (whether it is or not is a style issue), sinuses, or back of the head. The sound isnt really coming from the places, but the resonance is causing the vibrations,and when you feel the resonance you know your doing it right. Its just a slow process really of experimenting. Unless im working with someone in person or through internet lessons with files/video being sent, its really hard to explain but you'll get it if you use enough focus.

Anyone know any exercises for gaining control of the larynx?

My larynx is always very high, and the only way for me to lower it is by yawning. I had some exercises that just involved saying "fffff" while descending in pitch, but that never really helped me, even though I worked on it for a couple of months

[QUOTE=Knifeboy;15955475]Anyone know any exercises for gaining control of the larynx?

My larynx is always very high, and the only way for me to lower it is by yawning. I had some exercises that just involved saying "fffff" while descending in pitch, but that never really helped me, even though I worked on it for a couple of months[/QUOTE]

I used to be able to just have it down on low notes, then I realized what muscles were controlling that and applied it to higher singing. I've been singing like 1 year and a half with a year of singing lessons, also I did stuff with that brett manning singing success course, which gets rid of breaks in your voice and shows you how to use head voice, which is part of your full voice and isnt falsetto when your larynx goes up.

I think :p

[QUOTE=Knifeboy;15955475]Anyone know any exercises for gaining control of the larynx?

My larynx is always very high, and the only way for me to lower it is by yawning. I had some exercises that just involved saying "fffff" while descending in pitch, but that never really helped me, even though I worked on it for a couple of months[/QUOTE]

Do exercises with a yawning sensation. Do vowels like "OO" and "OH" and keep them very dark and hollow sounding. Also, there are non vocal exercises that you can do to fix that. One of them is called The Bullfrog, and its something Jaime Vendera came up with. Its extremely hard to describe, so its best to just get the Raise Your Voice 2 book. You can get the ebook version cheaper than the regular print one on getsigned.com. If you already have it, just look for the bullfrog section.

I'll check it out, thanks

[QUOTE=kidthatplaysguitar91;15958434]I used to be able to just have it down on low notes, then I realized what muscles were controlling that and applied it to higher singing. I've been singing like 1 year and a half with a year of singing lessons, also I did stuff with that brett manning singing success course, which gets rid of breaks in your voice and shows you how to use head voice, which is part of your full voice and isnt falsetto when your larynx goes up.

I think :p[/QUOTE]

Yeah, sounds about right, the problem is that my larynx stays high, even though I go as low as I can go!..
I guess I have a lot of tension around that area.. Hehe
it's a shame, my tone vastly improves when I manage to lower it

[QUOTE=Knifeboy;15959774]I'll check it out, thanks



Yeah, sounds about right, the problem is that my larynx stays high, even though I go as low as I can go!..
I guess I have a lot of tension around that area.. Hehe
it's a shame, my tone vastly improves when I manage to lower it[/QUOTE]

Well w/e you do to lower it, do that so it gets used to being low.

[QUOTE=Xero09;15817991]Hey guys, I was wondering on ways I can improve my vocals based from this example: [url]http://labeledloser.googlepages.com/Mookies.mp3[/url]

It's a small part from the song "Mookies Last Christmas" by Saosin (tenor vocals, high tenor original vocals) I was wondering if my vocal range was cut out to sing this song, but I hear that baritones/baritenors can hit some tenor notes so I'm wondering whether I'm a tenor or not. This sample is just me waking up, with the taste of coffee in the back of my throat. No warm-ups or anything.[/QUOTE]

Hey guys, I was wondering how I can improve my vocals from here.

[QUOTE=Xero09;15975203]Hey guys, I was wondering how I can improve my vocals from here.[/QUOTE]

Well punk vocals generally arent very technique filled. But the way you said words sounded like you were adam sandler doing the water boy voice. Your voice cracked on high notes too.
My advice would be to learn to sing without the nasality in your voice, then when you get better, apply it to the singing. Also punk singing is generally very high, so range is where you wanna focus a lot on.

alright, so i've got the whole breathing thing down, as far as screaming goes I can pretty much emulate all different kind of metal screams (or at least all the one's i would ever want to use), but i'm still looking for that more hardcore sound (Glassjaw, the used, blindside, deftones, etc), and I just can't figure out how to develop this in any way, shape, or form. any advice from anyone would be very, very appreciated. Are these two styles of screaming using the basic same principles or are they completely different? I'm finding it very hard to believe that they would involve the same techniques

[QUOTE=Xero09;15975203]Hey guys, I was wondering how I can improve my vocals from here.[/QUOTE]
Push with your gut, not your throat! It seems that you're really straining to get loud or high some times. Practice breathing, too, it seems that you don't have much control over your voice. Use your gut!

[url]http://media.putfile.com/Vocal-Test-67[/url]

I just recorded myself singing what, to me, was a quite challenging song and was wondering if someone could give me some honest critique (no sugar coating please :)). Also if i could get some tips on how to hit those notes that i was clearly struggling with it would be much appreciated.

Thanks :)

I have an original song, the vocals are kind of high. I sing it, and i can hit he notes fine, but I dont want the notes to sound like they're are the top of my range.
Would the answer to this just be, practice singing the song a whole step higher so when I play it regular its not a problem?

Need Feedback
 

on vocal demos I have up at

[url]http://www.bandmix.com/tom211/[/url]

Trying to get into a local band, covers mostly, not that experienced with rock vocals....

Any and all feedback on these samples would be greatly appreciated. I've gotten to where I can make these recordings pretty quickly so what I need is to know specific areas to improve. I'm still experimenting, trying to 'find a voice' that sells itself, even if just in the glamorous city of Dayton OH.

So Randy, Paula, and Simon (especially Simon).... please have your say....

Thanks in advance!


THANKS ANYWAY, but I already got some feedback on problems I hadn't noticed, from another source, and decided to redo the demos before I ask the experts here to listen. So they may have been taken off by this time.
OK I

I was wondering if anyone can give me some links to read up on on recording vocals for a noob? I started reading around some of the recording threads in the forum and they are talking about stuff I have no clue about. Everything that is included in the recording process would help and what I need to do to set it up and get a good sound out of it. I'm completely new at this, so it would help a lot.

Thanks.

[url]http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_record_vocals.htm[/url]

Read through all 3 parts, its covers about everything you could need

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz;16044616][url]http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_record_vocals.htm[/url]

Read through all 3 parts, its covers about everything you could need[/QUOTE]

Covers about everything you need for recording ANYTHING.



Is it weird to wake up with an extra half an octave of a range? And keep the range?

Need Feedback on Demos
 

Please anyone at all that has time, listen and comment on my home-produced demos at

[url]http://www.bandmix.com/tom211/[/url]

I have been at this a while but I find it has been difficult to record a good demo. For one thing it's hard for me to hear flaws and be objective about my voice (if I was too critical of it I would probably have given up a long time ago) :-D I tend to compare myself to how I used to sound and be positive about my improvements. But anyway, I need some objective, no-holds-barred feedback beacuse I want to continue to improve. For example, are there any 'pitchy' parts, problems with timing, tones that could use more resonance, and in general are they intense/emotional enough (or as Simon would say are they too 'boring'). But really, I'm not trying to get signed I just want to be in a local cover band for fun. I know, I still need to learn to introduce more rasp, and am gradually trying to work that in. If anyone has time it really helps to have an example of where you heard something you didn't (or did) like. THANKS in advance. -Tom211

Sorry man, but you need work. I can say that without feeling too bad about it because I'm in the same exact boat.

Issues we are both dealing with...
1. Lots of pitch problems.
It seems so easy to listen to someone else and hear the pitch problems, but it's very difficult to judge yourself. You better be able to record yourself in optimal conditions (headphones, instrument levels just right, hearing yourself very clearly, etc, basically studio conditions) and have it come out near perfect before you think about fronting a live band. I've just recently got the nerve to go out and do a few open-mic nights after feeling like my home-practice-demos where acceptable, and you know what, the live stuff SUCKED BALLS. It's tough, unless your one of those naturaly-pitch-perfect freaks, which I aint. That doesn't mean I'm giving up, nor should you, but there is need for quite a bit of practice. There's lots of advice on the web for improving pitch. Dude, I'm trying too man.

2. Support.
Sounds more like yelling or talking loud rather than singing. I think this is what everyone says when they talk about support. I'm just now learning that you MUST use a certain amount of "resistance" when singing. Pretend you're pushing out a "deuce" and then sing it, even the softer notes. Anyone please correct me if I'm at all wrong here. I think this helps with pitch too.

I'll try to post some of my stuff too....

[QUOTE=BagONickels;16095445]Sorry man, but you need work. I can say that without feeling too bad about it because I'm in the same exact boat.

Issues we are both dealing with...
1. Lots of pitch problems.
It seems so easy to listen to someone else and hear the pitch problems, but it's very difficult to judge yourself. You better be able to record yourself in optimal conditions (headphones, instrument levels just right, hearing yourself very clearly, etc, basically studio conditions) and have it come out near perfect before you think about fronting a live band. I've just recently got the nerve to go out and do a few open-mic nights after feeling like my home-practice-demos where acceptable, and you know what, the live stuff SUCKED BALLS. It's tough, unless your one of those naturaly-pitch-perfect freaks, which I aint. That doesn't mean I'm giving up, nor should you, but there is need for quite a bit of practice. There's lots of advice on the web for improving pitch. Dude, I'm trying too man.

2. Support.
Sounds more like yelling or talking loud rather than singing. I think this is what everyone says when they talk about support. I'm just now learning that you MUST use a certain amount of "resistance" when singing. Pretend you're pushing out a "deuce" and then sing it, even the softer notes. Anyone please correct me if I'm at all wrong here. I think this helps with pitch too.

I'll try to post some of my stuff too....[/QUOTE]


Wow, if that's true how do you improve without always having to make recordings and get people to give you feedback? But it does seem to be true in my case. So, can you give me any specific examples of where my pitch is off -- (as opposed to sliding up or down to it, which I CAN hear myself doing). I have been told I slide up and down but get to the right pitch eventually. Is this what you're noticing, or am I just plain not getting some pitches at all ('cause I sure don't hear that and I listened to these quite a bit before I posted them).


Can you send me any links of good pages you've found?


Thanks for the feedback and sharing your story. Maybe we could help each other out (or would that be like the blind leading the blind :-)

Blind leading the blind...LMAO. You hit the nail on the head man.

If you put your recordings of those songs aside for a couple weeks don't listen to them at all, then listen to the original artist's recordings a few times then you go back to your recordings, you should be able to hear all the problems. This is how it usually works for me anyway.

Here is avery good site I found with a ton of vocal help.
[url]http://www.vocalist.org.uk/index.html[/url]

Yes, I think you do have to record yourself constantly. At least when you're just starting out like we are.

So, to be fair, here's a couple recent practice recordings I did. Mistakes and all. Lots and lots of mistakes.
[url]http://www.shrednet.com/thc/extra/practice_NothingLeftToLose.mp3[/url]
[url]http://www.shrednet.com/thc/extra/practice_SheWillBeLoved.mp3[/url]

Musical style is completely different from what you are working on, but I don't think that really matters here. Go ahead, give em a listen and feel free to slam me.

Thanks for the link -- I had been to that site before but not for a long time. I find it's helpful to re-read vocal advice/techniques months or even years later, since it has more meaning after having gone further down the road of developing vocal technique. The advice you gave about not listening for a while, then listening to the original, then seeing if I can hear my mistakes will be useful I'm sure. Yeah I think a lot of it is I just get so used to hearing the way I'm singing something that I'm immune to whatever might be wrong with it. I also find that not doing a song for a while -- like months -- is useful because you can then unlearn the bad technique -- muscle memory has a chance to forget.

I got a lot of good feedback at [url]http://forum.bandmix.com/[/url] (general chat) -- you should check it out too because this board gets very little traffic now I think.

You have a very relaxed voice and seem to have very nice tone in the upper part of your full voice (probably because it is so relaxed). Pitches didn't sound bad but I was only familiar with the second song (was the first an original?). (I think I'm just not as picky about pitches being a little off as some people -- my ears might not be as sensitive to minor pitch variations -- which is unfortunate for my singer aspirations....) You maybe could apply more power at times (but it could be just the songs you were doing didn't call for it). With more power though, you could then do some of the falsetto parts in full voice (unless you like the effect of falsetto, but personally I like it used more sparingly). I'm sure the real critics on here and other places can and have given you better feedback.

I wish it was an original I'd done, but it's a song by Matt Kearney.
Thanks for the feedback and I'll check out that link.

I've been toying with the idea of getting lessons, but it just seems so expensive, and the places I've talked to want you to lock in to like 6 months worth. Hard to justify the cost to the old lady when it's supposed to just be a hobby ya know. EVERYONE says it would be so beneficial though, and I'm sure they're right.

Anyway, back to practice...

There are always other options for lessons. A lot of coaches do online lessons now, using webcams and Skype...might be something cool to look into. One of my personal coaches, Jaime Vendera, does this and people seem to like it.

Other teachers do different things. Some record video lessons specifically for you, some do phone lessons, etc. All of these things are better than not taking lessons at all, and you can buy lessons as you have the money so you might want to look into it.

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz;16104466]There are always other options for lessons. A lot of coaches do online lessons now, using webcams and Skype...might be something cool to look into. One of my personal coaches, Jaime Vendera, does this and people seem to like it.

Other teachers do different things. Some record video lessons specifically for you, some do phone lessons, etc. All of these things are better than not taking lessons at all, and you can buy lessons as you have the money so you might want to look into it.[/QUOTE]

DUDE, Jaime Vendera is the guy who can shatter a glass with his voice. I might be going to Mark Baxter this summer.
Is Jaime's dvd/book or w/e it is a good buy? What kinds of things do they go over?

The book covers pretty much everything you'd ever need to know. The new edition is 460 pages long, with 20 some articles from coaches like Baxter, Cross, Robert Lunte, and singers like James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Tony Harnell of TNT, Russell Allen of Symphony X and other big time people.

The technique he teaches is based on 3 main exercises, with different variations of them all. The techniques called the Isolation Method, and is definitely the way to build up a huge range, but you gotta commit to it.

You also get the password to his members section/forum. The members section has 8 hours of video I think, and 70+ audio files to help out.

Definitiely work with Baxter though as soon as you get the chance. Hes my favorite vocal coach i've ever found, and knows his stuff better than anyone else ive come across.

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz;16122880]The book covers pretty much everything you'd ever need to know. The new edition is 460 pages long, with 20 some articles from coaches like Baxter, Cross, Robert Lunte, and singers like James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Tony Harnell of TNT, Russell Allen of Symphony X and other big time people.

The technique he teaches is based on 3 main exercises, with different variations of them all. The techniques called the Isolation Method, and is definitely the way to build up a huge range, but you gotta commit to it.

You also get the password to his members section/forum. The members section has 8 hours of video I think, and 70+ audio files to help out.

Definitiely work with Baxter though as soon as you get the chance. Hes my favorite vocal coach i've ever found, and knows his stuff better than anyone else ive come across.[/QUOTE]

Wow i'll definetely get the book then. I work on my singing every day i'm home alone which is at least 5 days a week. Also James Labrie and the Symphony X guy are amazing singers, plus Dream Theater is one of my favorite bands.

One of my friends is getting lessons with Baxter and theyre pricey of course, but it seems to have helped.

[QUOTE=Screamin_Demon_Auz;16122880]The book covers pretty much everything you'd ever need to know. The new edition is 460 pages long, with 20 some articles from coaches like Baxter, Cross, Robert Lunte, and singers like James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Tony Harnell of TNT, Russell Allen of Symphony X and other big time people.

The technique he teaches is based on 3 main exercises, with different variations of them all. The techniques called the Isolation Method, and is definitely the way to build up a huge range, but you gotta commit to it.
[/QUOTE]



I ordered the book 3 days ago, and i'm just wondering how long it will take for it to come in. I'm sure it depends where you live but how long did it take for you?

And when you say 3 main exercises, are any of those the lip rolls? If so, then I should probally work on being able to do those.