This article is a mix of advice from several people who consider themselves "screamers". Many of them probably use different techniques. The purpose of this article is to teach you how to become a "screamer" without getting hurt. If you are already good at singing "growl" (= guttural; typical death metal voice timbre) try screaming, so you will demonstrate that you have skills in various types of metal music, from death to grind-core. You can also practice other types of singing.
Screaming for a musical performance does not mean screaming at the top of your lungs! Although it may seem that some singers do. The musicality of screaming consists of using the false vocal cords to produce screaming-like sounds. If you learn to sing this way, you won't have to worry about losing or damaging your voice, and you can be a "screamer" in a band.
Steps
Step 1. You need to know which category your voice type belongs to (baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo-soprano, etc.)
). If you don't know, look for the necessary information on the different voice timbres. Find an instrument to practice with, such as a guitar or piano, find the middle C, the third octave C in the piano keyboard (256 Hz), and try to figure out which tone best suits your vocal key.
Step 2. Warm up
Any self-respecting screamer practices several times a day, before a performance. It's not about screaming, it's more of a warm-up exercise. People like Lamb of God's Randy Blythe, God Forbid's Byron Davis, and All That Remains' Phil Labonte practice traditional warm-up exercises before a concert. These exercises should also be repeated before rehearsals. This is very important for your voice; try to practice, do not skip the exercises. Find a routine exercise, such as singing the vowels -Eh, Ee, Ah, Ah, Oo- Up to the fifth above.
Step 3. When you start learning, you have to take into account that you will make a lot of weird noises
From emulating a growling cat to talking like Marge Simpson. It is important to create scratching sounds that start from the top of the nasal region, above the throat, not the lower part of the throat. If you start the sound from the throat below, you will hurt yourself. Try to hear the difference between Marge's voice and the one coming from the bottom of her throat, they will sound like gargling. You should be able to create Marge's voice without hurting yourself. Use these two points of reference. Remember that scratching sounds must come from the top (the nasal region) so as not to damage your voice. If you do it badly, you will feel bad. If your singing is wrong, you will understand it from the beginning, because you will feel pain.
Step 4. Use your diaphragm correctly
Don't keep the air in your chest! You should breathe and fill your stomach, not your chest.
Step 5. As you learn screaming, if you don't know how to use your diaphragm, flex your abs, a bit like you're about to be punched
After you've done that, talk. If a squeaky sound comes out, you have done it correctly.
Step 6. All you have to do from now on (over the next few weeks) is practice
Even after a long period of practice, keep practicing getting the air out.
Step 7. The more you push the air out, the sharper your screaming will be
When you "scream" exhaling from above, open your mouth as wide as possible and scream as your diaphragm flexes.
Step 8. It is likely to hurt you at first, but after a while you will learn how to do it correctly
If the pain persists, or you bleed, you are really hurting yourself.
Step 9. You can take a different method using the diaphragm by lowering the tongue and opening the mouth
For high tones, raise your tongue and allow the scream to hit the top of your throat.
Step 10. For future reference, in most screaming sung genres, they use studio distortion effects to give the sounds a better effect
Method 1 of 1: Inspired Screaming
Step 1. You will only feel pain if you do it the wrong way
Try to alternate, in order to give the other vocal cords a chance to rest.
Advice
- Practice screaming on your own for a while! It may be embarrassing to shout in the midst of others who already know how to do it. Once ready, let him hear your screaming and ask him to give you an honest judgment.
- Be patient. Learning to screaming safely can take about a year, and for the first few months, many often do it badly. Don't give up, it will get better.
- Have an understanding of what the so-called "head resonance" technique is and how to use it. It is very useful when you are learning to scream. The easiest way to learn this is the Melissa Cross method: put a pencil in your mouth and sing over and under the pencil. Think of singing over the pencil as you project your voice towards a distant wall. This should teach you what "head resonance" is. (Melissa Cross also has instructional DVDs that can be purchased).
- This is the most important thing to achieve the screaming effect rather than just screaming, it is necessary to drink plenty of water before, during, and after the screaming to ensure that the vocal cords are well hydrated at all times for the sound and not to cause any damage. Drink water at room temperature, or warm. Adding a little lemon can stop mucus from forming. Water at room temperature with a little honey is very effective as it coats the throat and keeps it hydrated.
- Don't scream using all your strength at once. Moderation is the key, if you use everything at once, you will get hurt and the sound will be poor.
- Don't yell too much. It can damage the vocal cords. If you do, try to rest your voice afterwards! Holding the microphone too close to your mouth is not helpful in improving the sound. Eventually it becomes a habit and the recording won't be good. It distorts the voice too much and some people consider this method a deception. If you want respect, don't hold the microphone like this. Take notes from masters like Kyle Monroe and Phil Bozeman.
- Try to keep screaming for as long as possible, without wavering. The introductory screaming of some Atreyu songs is good practice, but be warned, their style is very hard and requires a lot of practice. Also, try practicing screaming in the highest pitches possible without harming your voice. "Spirit Crusher" is a nice exercise for these purposes.
- Warm up your voice before and after with screaming. This will allow you to avoid damage to the vocal cords.
- If you have trouble breathing with your diaphragm, put your hand under your navel and push as you scream this should help a little.
- If you get hurt while screaming there is always the possibility of vocal rest. Don't scream for a while, don't sing and don't talk or hum, and especially don't whisper. When your throat hurts, any form of vocalization can delay the healing process. Whispering is the worst, as it closes the vocal cords together, causing an effect similar to an improper technique. If you have to speak, use your voice fully while you speak. It is the least harmful option. Most of the time, your voice should return as before after resting your vocal cords for a day.
- To avoid further damage to the vocal cords, do nasal screams. Imagine that the sound is constantly rising from the nose. This aids in the healing process and sound.
- The best way to practice is to pick some of your favorite screaming tunes. There is no need to play them just like your idols try to develop your sound! Uniqueness and creativity will increase your success.
- You have to think "I am the best screamer in the world!" everytime. To combat the nervousness of the shows. Take it easy!
- If you are interested in more tips, buy "The Zen of Screaming". This is a DVD by Melissa Cross on how to scream. To avoid some damage to the vocal cords, add a slight 'yeh' to the sound before each syllable. Hence, 'attack' would sound like 'attyack,' etc.
- Death metal singing (growl) skills can be a great start to learning screaming. Listen to screaming in different types of metal. Like that of Deathstars, Lamb Of God. Choose your style.
Warnings
- Crying out too loudly can cause a short-lived headache (no more than 10 seconds). While harmless is debilitating, enough to make you miss the next sentence. By continuing to scream all the time the headache will extend.
- Make sure your throat doesn't hurt too much after screaming. If this happens, you are putting too much stress on your vocal cords.
- Slow down and breathe. When you start screaming, your throat will be a little sore, this is natural. After a while if you have followed all the advice, you will be able to sing for hours without damaging your throat.
- You may have a cramp in your mouth if you are inexperienced. Don't continue screaming if you have a cramp! You won't be able to scream / growl or sing for weeks.
- When screaming, be sure to use good diaphragm support. Breathe out with your diaphragm and abs tense. As Melissa Cross explains, it is necessary to balance the air pressure that is used with the work of the vocal cords, so as not to stress them too much.
- Don't let your body be helpless. You can take inspiration from some band photos as an example of poise, the ones that usually show the entire metal band standing side by side.
- Most of these photos show the band members with threatening expressions etc … This is just a fringe aspect of metal, but if you look closely at their posture, you will get a glimpse of the band members standing up straight … This is what the your bearing.
- Singing in screaming can be tiring at times so make sure you are breathing correctly and don't use the top of your lungs.
- Don't move too much from one side of the stage to the other, remember that excessive air is bad for your vocal cords and can lead to hyperventilation, dizziness, and strain.
- Make sure you breathe continuously, and breathe in between screams. Over time, you will develop stronger and more powerful lungs, which is simply a positive side effect of this amazing art.
