Merkaba i've read most of your posts and stuff on here and just have a question that's sort of only relative to me. your "hotline" has been really helpful and i've seen a lot of improvement. but i still have a hell of a lot of room for improvement and i really aspire to be a good vocalist. so, my range goes up to a tenor G# and on the very rare occasion an A. but the highest consistently comfortable note is an E. above that it gets difficult to keep my diaphragm and all that isolated. could you possibly give me a rough outline of what a practice for me should be, what kind of work i can do to build up to that A&B area, and strengthen the F&G? that would be so helpful. thanks alot.

Merkaba,

Just to let you know, the only reason I joined this blogring is because I've really liked what you've done for the people here. But it seems like everything hasn't been able to help me.

Eh, you could say I've been "Screaming" for almost a year now (and I've been reading your articles for a couple months now). But until a few days ago, I thought it was decent. I never knew how much of a difference "screaming" without a mic and "screaming" with a mic there was. Until a few days ago, I was mic-less so I tried to develop a Agony Scene/Zaoesque scream and I believed it to be very decent, maybe even exceptional. Then I go to our first band practice, I hook up the PA system, and my "scream" sounds horrible.

It sounds very whispered and like I'm closing off the air coming up, resulting in abrasion in my throat (I tried "screaming" this morning and my throat is sore, for the first time in a while.). I've been told to coat the throat with several things (milk, peanut butter, honey, etc etc etc) but it seems like that doesn't help at all either. And I've looked for vocal coaches around my area (south of Kansas City, MO) and none of them are in this field. So I'm pretty much screwed for vocal lessons.

Is there anything you can recommend? My band is keeping me on the impression that I will become better, and I really don't want to let them down. I can do a recording, if that helps, but I think that you can get the idea, hopefully. Maybe I'm doing the whole "diaphragm" breathing wrong???

Once again, you've done an awesome job helping these people but it seems like it hasn't been able to help me; that's the only reason I'm posting this.

Thanks a lot, even if you can't get back to me.

David

If it helps any, I'm a 16 year old (next week) guy, 130, 5'6, just to give proportion ideas...I've been told that can help...ha...

[QUOTE=i_play_dead]Merkaba,

Just to let you know, the only reason I joined this blogring is because I've really liked what you've done for the people here. But it seems like everything hasn't been able to help me.

Eh, you could say I've been "Screaming" for almost a year now (and I've been reading your articles for a couple months now). But until a few days ago, I thought it was decent. I never knew how much of a difference "screaming" without a mic and "screaming" with a mic there was. Until a few days ago, I was mic-less so I tried to develop a Agony Scene/Zaoesque scream and I believed it to be very decent, maybe even exceptional. Then I go to our first band practice, I hook up the PA system, and my "scream" sounds horrible.

It sounds very whispered and like I'm closing off the air coming up, resulting in abrasion in my throat (I tried "screaming" this morning and my throat is sore, for the first time in a while.). I've been told to coat the throat with several things (milk, peanut butter, honey, etc etc etc) but it seems like that doesn't help at all either. And I've looked for vocal coaches around my area (south of Kansas City, MO) and none of them are in this field. So I'm pretty much screwed for vocal lessons.

Is there anything you can recommend? My band is keeping me on the impression that I will become better, and I really don't want to let them down. I can do a recording, if that helps, but I think that you can get the idea, hopefully. Maybe I'm doing the whole "diaphragm" breathing wrong???

Once again, you've done an awesome job helping these people but it seems like it hasn't been able to help me; that's the only reason I'm posting this.

Thanks a lot, even if you can't get back to me.

David

If it helps any, I'm a 16 year old (next week) guy, 130, 5'6, just to give proportion ideas...I've been told that can help...ha...[/QUOTE]

Blogring should've been forum. I just got done updating my Xanga... :confused: [SIZE=3]stupid[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]stupid[/SIZE] [SIZE=1]stupid[/SIZE]...

Coating the throat with food wont affect the cords...if it did you would choke! You know this. The only thing you can do is learn to relax...and keep the larynx low and work on isolating the cords from the larynx...I'm in a rush to work..so I'll be around later.

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]Coating the throat with food wont affect the cords...if it did you would choke! You know this. The only thing you can do is learn to relax...and keep the larynx low and work on isolating the cords from the larynx...I'm in a rush to work..so I'll be around later.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry about it. And I'll slap my friend for telling me that [coating].

Thanks.

[url]http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/pendingdemise.htm[/url]

Here. This might sound better. At the very beginning it was more of a head voice rasp, then I went into a falsetto scream. I've read everything there is in these forums on screaming (at least everything written by Merkaba-1) and I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right. I warm up, practice screaming, warm down, and do it almost everyday. Doesn't hurt at all.

[QUOTE=CDoasis][url]http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/pendingdemise.htm[/url]

Here. This might sound better. At the very beginning it was more of a head voice rasp, then I went into a falsetto scream. I've read everything there is in these forums on screaming (at least everything written by Merkaba-1) and I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right. I warm up, practice screaming, warm down, and do it almost everyday. Doesn't hurt at all.[/QUOTE]
Yes that sounds way better. Technique wise it sounds good. Keep working

Thanks! :D
A week ago I decided I would exercise, run, and practice vocals everyday, as well as guitar which I play everyday anyways.... so I'll definitely keep it up. :)

[QUOTE=CDoasis]Thanks! :D
A week ago I decided I would exercise, run, and practice vocals everyday, as well as guitar which I play everyday anyways.... so I'll definitely keep it up. :)[/QUOTE]


Yeah man... exercising really does help your voice. I've gone to the gym 4 times a week for the past month or so and I'm singing a LOT better.

Hey, I was just wondering how the singer from Isis can scream so loudly and for so long, wouldn't doing that mess up your throat in someway?

Thanks if you know what I'm on about :)

[QUOTE=deadinlove]Hey, I was just wondering how the singer from Isis can scream so loudly and for so long, wouldn't doing that mess up your throat in someway?

Thanks if you know what I'm on about :)[/QUOTE]

practice???????? it's the same with any instrument.
and no, it won't mess up your throat if you do it right.

What's the correct way?

[url]http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83073[/url]
[url]http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166901[/url]

I have a question regarding where middle, and head voice are for me..

My range, as of now, is D2 to E4 (E above middle C). I can gliss/legato into the E, but it is not very comfortable or clean for me to sing in yet. Also, I am using a considerable amount of power, and have much tension (which I am working on eliminating) when I am going from A3 to E2. I am curious as to where middle voice, and head voice would be for someone in my range...

also I am curious as to what sensation I should be feeling as I transition into middle, and head voice. I am trying to maintain a strong chest, and mouth resonance when I go up in my range, but doesn't this sensation transfer over somewhere as I hit middle?

Thanks!

[QUOTE=deadinlove]Hey, I was just wondering how the singer from Isis can scream so loudly and for so long, wouldn't doing that mess up your throat in someway?

Thanks if you know what I'm on about :)[/QUOTE]
The thing about working out is that it increases blood flow to your cords becuase it increases blood flow to every part of your body. My coach always recommended warming up with jumping jacks, pushups and sit ups and stuff like that before warming up vocally. I'm a personal trainer and i go to the gym about 5 or more times a week.

You know me...I always stress nutrition and fitness....Take a whole body approach to this stuff if youre serious about it.

It was brought to my attention that maybe its the pa system that is making my scream sound bad...I had done some screaming via phone and it sounded very well to several people, but then over the pa system, it sounds whispered, like I said before. Could it be the PA system (Hollinger PA-120 four channel) or maybe I'm too close to the mic? Or should I still concentrate more on diaphragm breathing?

Sorry if I'm a bother.

x/x David x/x

a phone pick up will make anyone sound good. Its just the mic. I have no clue when it comes to pa's but i will say that you just very well might not have a proper scream. you should post a sample here. Too close to the mic or the pa system...I'm 99 percent sure its neither one of those. If youre screaming properly nothing will really mess it up or alter it that much unless its some freaked out effect or eq. You should always be sure youre coming form the diaphgragm..but feel like youre singing the scream like any other note.

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]a phone pick up will make anyone sound good. Its just the mic. I have no clue when it comes to pa's but i will say that you just very well might not have a proper scream. you should post a sample here. Too close to the mic or the pa system...I'm 99 percent sure its neither one of those. If youre screaming properly nothing will really mess it up or alter it that much unless its some freaked out effect or eq. You should always be sure youre coming form the diaphgragm..but feel like youre singing the scream like any other note.[/QUOTE]

I don't have a good enough Mic to record anything like that on here...

I'm pretty sure its the fact that my scream isn't good enough. Just talking to someone else who helps with this kind of stuff made me realize that. So I think I'm going to take some lessons, if I can find the rides...

Man, this sucks. lol. Before all this, I thought it sounded good. How loud should it be without amplification to sound even decent?

I recorded mine with a computer mic, just keep a distance from the mic or don't blow air straight into it... then you can hear the "real" scream. It might sound that great but it worked okay for me.

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]WIth a little practice you learn how much you need for your singing and style. But its the feeling youre looking for. If you check out my samples i have a rasp lesson where i start off a rasped up falsetto scream and i remember doing the begining pressure a few times so that you can hear what it feels like, so to speak.[/QUOTE]

Hi. Noticed in this reply you mentioned you had some samples, do you have the link handy, Merkaba? Thanks

[QUOTE=uninvitedm]Hi. Noticed in this reply you mentioned you had some samples, do you have the link handy, Merkaba? Thanks[/QUOTE]
Its in the first page of this thread

Just a little help
 

Hey man... you might(but probbaly wont) remember me from a while ago, and I have a few questions for you. I am a 14 year old- fully matured 'kid'. I have a pretty deep voice. One thing that I'd really like to do is sing like the singer(s) from taking back sunday and my chemical romance, and they have some semi-high notes that you have to hit... I am the lead guitarist in my band, and i would really like to become a backup singer too, and i want to be able to sing in the acoustic band im in too. I was just wondering if there was any way that I could kind of... hear the notes im singing? If you need a better explanation ill tell you, but the notes i sing dont sound like the notes that come out of my mouth, and sometimes i cant really find the notes when im singing with music. I was just wondering if there was any way i could be bale to hear the notes and stuff(with the least amount of practice, because i get embarassed when people hear me sing...)

Thanks in advance

lol...at fourteen, I wouldnt call it fully matured regardless of what you feel or sound like. Its just way to young to know where your voice will end up as a male. Just because its deep now doesnt mean it wont get deeper. You could be a bass which would make somethings just impossible. We dont know yet...

As far as hearing what you sing...I think youre basically saying that youre singing out of key or hitting wrong notes. Theres no magic pill here if you dont have it naturally. Youre just gonna have to practice scales and intervals. YOu can do this on guitar or piano. But Its just gonna take some time and experience for you to get into muscle memory the amount of energy you need for each note youre trying to sing. If youre like me and you just cant practice around anyone, then youre at a lost because youre either gonna have to get over it or find some place where you can be alone. Being 14 your choices are limited. As i said, my car is my refuge and I wouldnt be able to sing a lick if it werent for it.

Hey merkaba....I started screaming like last november and I'm only 17 and not exactly a fully matured adult yet. When I scream it hurts but as I get better at it I get worse at normal singing. Is this normal or is there a way round it? Also should I wait untill I have my full adult voice before I start to scream again? My music teacher in school told me that screaming at this age will stop my voice maturing to the stage that it would do if I didn't scream.

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]Its in the first page of this thread[/QUOTE]
I can't find the audio samples either. I'm probably just being really ignorant here but on the first page, I see the links to the other various singing guides but no audio page.

[QUOTE=Alustle]Hey merkaba....I started screaming like last november and I'm only 17 and not exactly a fully matured adult yet. When I scream it hurts but as I get better at it I get worse at normal singing. Is this normal or is there a way round it? Also should I wait untill I have my full adult voice before I start to scream again? My music teacher in school told me that screaming at this age will stop my voice maturing to the stage that it would do if I didn't scream.[/QUOTE]
edit: aha, i just saw in the other thread he already talked to you about it.

Uninvited and Newm1ke....

yea thats my bad. Its inside the rasp instruction link...but now I've added a seperate link directly to the samples. Its kinda old stuff and I havent had a chance to update. Maybe I will soon, but its still the same principals. heres a link directly to the soundclick site...
[url]http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/merkabastarmusic.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=Merkaba-1]Uninvited and Newm1ke....

yea thats my bad. Its inside the rasp instruction link...but now I've added a seperate link directly to the samples. Its kinda old stuff and I havent had a chance to update. Maybe I will soon, but its still the same principals. heres a link directly to the soundclick site...
[url]http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/merkabastarmusic.htm[/url][/QUOTE]

That's some good stuff, Merkaba thanks, got the chino stuff down. Do you have any samples for singing as well? Like I'm having trouble singing from my gut, would be great to have stuff to hear like that.

merkaba can you critique this quick little scream i did. I read some of ur stuff, and listened to your screams, and I tried to emulate that sound.

[url]http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1Q56JFJEX65EK2B7DB9Q05MBQE[/url]

Bump.

*I like this thread* :)