Screaming is a well-known technique used in vocalizing and many other musical genres, but if you scream incorrectly you could damage your larynx and ruin your throat. Read on to learn many of the different techniques you can use to learn how to sing scream.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: The Simple Musical Scream
Step 1. Listen to any of the singers scream
Imitation is often the fastest way to learn the basics of something, and yelling is no exception. Look for a singer who doesn't always scream during their song, but who instead uses the scream within the song to understand its principles.
As you practice your yelling, you can vary the style to suit your voice or the style you want to use. For now, however, just focus on producing the basic sound and worry about shaping it to your taste later on
Step 2. Drink something hot
Screaming feels less heavy on your throat if you moisten it first. Something warm or warm is preferable to something cold, as hot fluids soften the throat, while cold fluids can cause muscles to stiffen and end up irritating them more.
- Hot tea with honey is one of the best choices, but you can also use lukewarm water or room temperature juice.
- Avoid cold drinks.
- Stay away from drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, as they will only dry your throat.
Step 3. Whisper the sound "a"
Throw out a lot of air as you whisper, but make sure you keep enough air to make the sound last for 15 to 30 seconds.
- Breathe in deeply through your nostrils before starting to fill your lungs as much as possible. The more air you start, the longer you can sustain the sound.
- Throw the air out of the diaphragm. The air must be let out from the bottom of the lungs, making it come out in a controlled and continuous way instead of throwing it out all together.
Step 4. Close your throat and apply more force
Close the throat so that there is only a small space for air to pass through. Provide more energy to your "a" until you hear the sound between your throat and chest.
Your throat should be as closed as possible, while still leaving room for air to pass through
Step 5. Practice
If you take your time, it can take several weeks of constant exercise to get a grip on this scream. You have to practice slowly to avoid ruining your throat, though.
- If your throat starts to ache while exercising, stop immediately and have a hot drink. Again, hot tea with honey is perfect.
- Continue with your exercises only when the throat is completely in place.
Method 2 of 3: The Pterodactyl Scream
Step 1. Drink something hot
You can keep the sound clearer and better protect your throat if you make sure it's moistened before starting. Warm and hot drinks are preferable to cold ones.
- Hot tea with honey is one of the best choices, but lukewarm water or room temperature juice are also fine.
- Avoid cold drinks.
- Stay away from drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, as they will only dry your throat.
Step 2. Keep your mouth in the shape of an "i"
Hold your mouth like you want to make a long "i" sound. You don't really have to make that sound, though.
Breathe out gently before the next stage. This screaming technique produces sound as you inhale, so your lungs need to be emptied before doing it
Step 3. Squeeze your throat
Close the throat so that there is only a small space for air to pass through. Basically, you have to make this passage as narrow as possible while still managing to produce a sound in it.
Put your tongue close to the palate, but without touching it. Moving your tongue in this way will make it easier for you to narrow the space for air
Step 4. Inhale deeply
Put strength in the inhale, while activating the vocal cords. You will find yourself producing an inhalation scream or pterodactyl scream.
Note that, as with the basic scream method explained above, this will produce a single scream throughout the song. You will not be able to use it to scream the lyrics of the whole song
Step 5. Practice
You will need to practice several weeks at a steady but gradual pace before you can perform this scream well.
- Notice how this technique can be more difficult to learn than the basic one, and that not everyone can do it. If you still can't quite grasp it after several weeks, you'll want to stick to a more traditional yell.
- An inhaled scream like this does not irritate the throat like an exhaled one, but it is still best to take breaks during the exercises and drink hot tea with honey, or another hot drink, to soften the throat.
Method 3 of 3: Advanced Scream Chant
Step 1. Sing the "a" sound in falsetto
Pick a note that you can easily sustain by choosing one that is high enough to be falsetto. The note must be the highest you can sustain when singing without tension.
- The falsetto scream is generally easier to learn than a normal vocal range.
- With this technique, you can learn to insert single screams into a song or to scream the lyrics.
- To help you with this step, you can play the note with a modulation wheel, keyboard, or guitar.
- There must be no tension in this note. If you have to force yourself to do it and sustain it, lower one tone and try again.
Step 2. Sustain the note for as long as possible without effort
Once you've found the right key, try to sing it as long as possible without straining your throat. Ideally, you should be able to sustain it for at least 30 seconds.
Keep practicing until you can hold this shade steady for a full 30 seconds. Keeping it constant means it shouldn't crack, sway, or have any other variation in pitch or sound quality
Step 3. Gargle the water while making the "a" sound
Take a sip of warm water, but instead of swallowing it, start gargle making the same "a" sound you made earlier. Keep the same note and key.
- Pay attention to the vibration in the uvula. The uvula is that extension of the palate that hangs at the bottom of the mouth.
- This vibration is what you will need to rely on when creating a distorted scream.
- Continue to gargle with the "a" sound until you can learn this vibration and become familiar with it.
Step 4. Switch to the "oo" sound
Essentially, you have to create the same sound that you made while gargling - without doing it. Make the "oo" sound by passing the air over the fine palate of the mouth. Breath pressure is applied to the upper middle part of the mouth.
- The fine palate is the soft tissue found on the top of the mouth.
- This action causes the uvula to vibrate as it did before. The resulting sound should resemble the cry of a pigeon.
- Make sure you use the same key as before, and that you can sustain it for 30 seconds without variation.
- This technique teaches you to place the tonality on the fine palate, essential if you want to sustain a long shout during a song.
Step 5. Go back to the "a" sound using the new technique
Sing the "a" sound at the same pitch and note as before, making sure the note remains constant. Direct more air towards the fine palate to activate the uvula, creating a distorted "scream" note.
- You can direct as much air as you like on the palate, as long as it doesn't make you strain.
- Manipulate tongue, throat and breath using the same technique you use to produce different vowels, consonants and sounds.
Step 6. Practice
You will need to practice little by little over a couple of weeks before you can handle this yelling properly. Take the time not to damage your throat.
- If you take your time, it may take several weeks of constant exercise before you master this yell correctly. However, you need to practice slowly to avoid ruining your throat.
- If your throat starts to ache while exercising, stop and drink something hot, like hot tea with honey. Only continue exercising when your throat is completely okay.
- With enough practice, you should be able to create scratchy scream tones without relying on the uvula. You should also be able to apply this technique to your entire vocal range, rather than just the falsetto.
Advice
- When you learn how to sing by screaming, first try to learn the basics of vocal techniques well. You need to know how to breathe and how to sustain a note.
- Stay hydrated even when you're not practicing this technique. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
- Not smoking. Smoking damages the lungs and throat, and screaming singing with this damage can only increase its deterioration.
Warnings
- Screaming can damage your vocal cords. To avoid long-term damage, practice screaming at short intervals of 5 minutes or less per day. Increase the time gradually, but always stop when your throat hurts.
- If you sing screaming for too long, causing damage to your larynx, you may end up in need of surgery.
