I don't know if this is the right place, but

[antispatula]

it seems to fit the best here in the mic section. I just got Freak Show by Silverchair yesterday. I'm used to their older stuff where his voice is all high and smooth, but in this earlier one, he screams like there's no tommorow, and he screams well. I'm not really into metal or anything, but I find it interesting and curious that some people have the ability to sound as soft and smooth as possible, but are also able to yell and scream in a grainy scratchy and good way. Now my style does not include sreaming in any way, but I was wondering how in the world people scream like that! Isn't it bad for your voice to be doing that? And is it something you're born with, or does it take them practice to get such a smooth voice to be so rough and stuff. Just wondering what you all thought, I'm curiouse.

 

[Slowjett]

I scream some stuff in songs. Its really tough to controll your tone so it sounds smooth.. I practice in the car, so theres no chance of anyone getting it confused with someone being murdered.

=]

 

[cpc]

i believe both... if you ever listen to mike patton he's able to switch between crooning and screaming effortlessly. also, ive noticed that i am able to sing smoothly, and also sing scratchy rock songs by simply changing something my throat that makes it sound like screaming effortlessly without hurting or straining my voice. i dont know if its something you're born with or not..but it seems there's definitely a right and a wrong way to do it.

 

[ahj]

it definitely takes a lot of practice. when i first started recording random grindcore stuff i made up, my scream sounded terrible, but after being in various bands and doing it for a while, my screaming and singing is much better

 

[kid klash]

I practice in the car, so theres no chance of anyone getting it confused with someone being murdered.

=]

 

[FALKEN]

for me the trick is actually to not strain at all, just let it come 'naturally'. which isn't very hard after a day of work.

 

[ahj]

for me the trick is actually to not strain at all, just let it come 'naturally'. which isn't very hard after a day of work.

yeah, you can definitely tell a scream sounds much better if there's some sort of emotion involved.

 

[antispatula]

if there's a right and wrong way to do it, how do you do it right?

 

[j-boy]

if there's a right and wrong way to do it, how do you do it right?

Easy... just put your nuts in a vice and tighten quickly. The scream will have the right quality to it, guaranteed.

 

[SuicideNote]

First I don't think that you can scream without damaging your voice in some way. Even singers who are classically trained lose some of their elasticity in their voice after years of singing. Screaming puts intense strain on your vocal folds, there is no way around that. To produce those sounds your chords vibrate like mad.

To minimize the damage proper singing techniques still apply. Breath support, posture, warming up, etc.

 

[cpc]

dont try to just close your eyes and yell as loud and crazy as possible, thats how you can strain/hurt your voice.. act like you're still singing a regular note. maybe start with a clear loud powerful note, then gradually add grit to it, until you feel comfortable doing it on the spot. thats the best way i can think of/describe. for me it always just came naturally.

 

[antispatula]

haha I've tried singing along to a few rough songs, it definitely doesn't come that naturally to me.

 

[deibid]

might be worth checking out this dvd - THE ZEN OF SCREAMING :

http://www.melissacross.com/vocal_training_products.php

 

[jonnyc]

First I don't think that you can scream without damaging your voice in some way. Even singers who are classically trained lose some of their elasticity in their voice after years of singing. Screaming puts intense strain on your vocal folds, there is no way around that. To produce those sounds your chords vibrate like mad.

To minimize the damage proper singing techniques still apply. Breath support, posture, warming up, etc.

Exactly, I can name countless bands that either stopped screaming(LimpBizkit) or just don't exist anymore. I remember when the guy from Disturbed was on when his first album came out talking about how screaming was a special technique that wouldn't ruin his voice then several weeks later he was out because of his voice. I just never see a screaming lead singer ever make it deep into their thirties and hold that type of singing style, most either disappear or chage to a real singing style.

 

[stevey j]

Exactly, I can name countless bands that either stopped screaming(LimpBizkit) or just don't exist anymore. I remember when the guy from Disturbed was on when his first album came out talking about how screaming was a special technique that wouldn't ruin his voice then several weeks later he was out because of his voice. I just never see a screaming lead singer ever make it deep into their thirties and hold that type of singing style, most either disappear or chage to a real singing style.

mike patton has been doing the nastiest screams his whole life and he can still sing as smooth as ever. there is a way to properly controlled scream. i scream in bands all the time and never hurt or lose my voice or anything.

 

[dkelley]

I personally think that some people are just lucky and can handle it better than others. It sure seems that way to me.

We're all built differently, including our vocal cords.

Cheers,
Don

 

[stevey j]

I personally think that some people are just lucky and can handle it better than others. It sure seems that way to me.

We're all built differently, including our vocal cords.

Cheers,
Don

yeh it's weird. some people can scream constantly and not have a single problem. others sing like frank sinatra and have nodes and lose their voice

 

[1ply]

If you really wanted to learn to scream, you should visit my family of origin for a day. The only problem is that you would need to get hearing aids for noise induced hearing loss if they make them.