Vocalists and their "scratchy / harsch" voice abilities...

[jonnyc]

Vocal coaching will help but a lot of it is kind of a natural thing. Some people can, some can't. A lot depends on your actual vocal ability in the first place.

 

[RAMI]

Vocal coaching will help but a lot of it is kind of a natural thing. Some people can, some can't. A lot depends on your actual vocal ability in the first place.

I agree. The thing is, alot of people might have it naturally without knowing it, but it might take years and/or a vocal coach to develop it so that A) It sounds convincing, and B) Is done properly so that you don't damage your throat.

 

[TragikRemix]

actually, i think behringer makes somthing that will transform your voice.

the UltraVoiceMaximizerScratchySmokingThingy PRO II.

 

[dreamache]

actually, i think behringer makes somthing that will transform your voice.

the UltraVoiceMaximizerScratchySmokingThingy PRO II.

DUDE, I HAVE to get this... !@2

 

[Middleman]

actually, i think behringer makes something that will transform your voice.

the UltraVoiceMaximizerScratchySmokingThingy PRO II.

Totally forgot about this device. That's the one with the alcohol knob where you can select your brand i.e. scotch, whiskey, Sour mash etc.

Also you can chose your brand of smokes i.e. Camel for that close to cancer gravelly sound. Marlboro Light for a smoother sounder.

 

[jonnyc]

I agree. The thing is, alot of people might have it naturally without knowing it, but it might take years and/or a vocal coach to develop it so that A) It sounds convincing, and B) Is done properly so that you don't damage your throat.

Yeah that's true, but you can damage your vocal chords by singing any style if you don't know what you're doing or you don't properly warm up.

 

[FALKEN]

really, you have to smoke un-filtereds. and white owls are for smoking grass. just in case you were actually smoking those. really though if you are going to try to do this voice the key is not to strain yourself. I know at first straining your voice is the only way to get it to sound like that but in reality that approach is 100% wrong. keep at it and concentrate on doing it without straining. then you'll have it.

 

[Dani Pace]

Thirty + years of trying to be heard with a too small pa in smoke filled bars did it for me, there has to be an easier and faster way.

 

[Neeps]

I didn't say you are born with the sound, I said you either have it or you don't. That it is learned is some times true. But unless you want to smoke, drink and scream your way into that type of sound, you are not going to get there in a single session of recording.

I'm scottish mate.

I don't think smoking and drinking has anything to do with it. Perhaps if you are drunk then you won't mind screaming till your throat is raw and sore but other than that it's all technique. And basically the technique is screaming so I agree with that one. There is no way to do it other than with practice and even with practice you may not be that good at it. So basically it's the same as everything else in life.

 

[jonnyc]

I'm scottish mate.

I don't think smoking and drinking has anything to do with it. Perhaps if you are drunk then you won't mind screaming till your throat is raw and sore but other than that it's all technique. And basically the technique is screaming so I agree with that one. There is no way to do it other than with practice and even with practice you may not be that good at it. So basically it's the same as everything else in life.

Are you stereotyping scotsmen? How dare you!!!!

 

[Middleman]

I'm scottish mate.

I don't think smoking and drinking has anything to do with it. Perhaps if you are drunk then you won't mind screaming till your throat is raw and sore but other than that it's all technique. And basically the technique is screaming so I agree with that one. There is no way to do it other than with practice and even with practice you may not be that good at it. So basically it's the same as everything else in life.

We're all good here. Just a little misunderstanding. My apologies for calling a Scottsman a Brit. I owe you a beer.

Not that I don't like brits by the way, just don't want anyone to be insulted for their heritage. I'm a hard headed German with Russian influence, mixed in with a bit of Irish blood. So basically I'm a very grumpy artist who can drink his way through a bar.

 

[jaihu]

try writing some lyrics you REALLY mean, and then scream them

 

[Zed10R]

No. Practice.

That really is the only way. You have to find where that sound comes from for you, and how to control it. If you want to do it well...and do it right...there is no quick and easy way. But then, we are all seeing more and more people who only want quick and easy, and don't give a shit about doing anything well...or right...so..it's up to you. You can fake it and sound like you are faking it, or you can practice it, develop it, and find YOUR voice.

It's not really that hard and it doesn't take that much strength. Lots of gravelly growler types don't get much louder than you would be if you were talking to someone in a crowd. Go easy and FEEL what you are doing as well as LISTEN. Push from the diaphragm and ever so slightly tighten you throat. But first, you need to know what is to be totally open and relaxed. So practice....or find a vocal coach.

 

[crosstudio]

I've been attending the stereotypical black gospel church all of my life. i sing the songs, i clap to the beat, i do the occasional strut down the aisles while the bass, drums, and organ syncopate the um... hell out of a tune while the lead vocalist belts it out like he/she smacked the devil right in his face when jesus saved his/her soul.

yet...

i can't sing that way. my voice isn't that type of voice. if you want a quiet christmas/easter song i might be the right vocalist, but if you want them rolling down the aisles with their tithe, I'm not going to be able to get it done for you.

now, i can hit it for a note or two. maybe even a whole phrase. but not the whole song.

practice or no practice some of it is learned and some of it is the instrument (vocal chords - shape of mouth - size of tongue) itself.

 

[Nakatira]

No. Practice.

The man said it all here.

I`ve been siging for some time now, Mostly Rock.

I`ve allways wanted more Hoarsh and growl in my vox.
Later I realized that singing with a clean voice (not talkin about stayin in tune) has its advantages.
So I learned to take what I got.

But then...... Now lately as I`ve been singing a lot with my new band wich is the steadiest thing I`ve ever done.
I`m starting to develop some growl, not from bein hoarsh or feelin pain to my throat.
It just came to me little by little it still does.

So Practice Is damn well put, much better than my drivlle

 

[ajenkz]

TC Helicon has a few processors that can add grit to your voice. The Antares AVOX kit also does the same thing. The only problem with this is that they will always be not only artificial sounding, but it won't have much depth to the raspy tone.

First off, don't drink or smoke to achieve the rasp. That will just do more harm eventually and cause all kinds of problems (listen to singers who smoke in the beginning of their career and compare it to today, no one is ever the same).

There are techniques that you can use to get this grit. Go to getsigned.com and get Mark Baxter's Secrets of Screaming mp3 download. It will show you the basics of adding grit to your voice.

What you need to realize is you have got to apply proper breath support, and then utilize that breath properly. When you breathe in, your stomach should come out, as long as your lower ribs (called your floating ribs or intercostals). When you add rasp, push down like you are taking a dump and try to place the tone towards your soft pallate (the soft part of the roof of your mouth). By doing this, you are;
1)breathing correctly by expanding the lower stomach and ribs
2)managing that breath pressure by applying a dump sensation to avoid throat tension
and
3)placing the excess breath in the correct spot (soft pallate) to get the tone.

Get the lesson, apply what I just said in the last paragraph, experiment with different amounts of rasp, and your good to go.

 

[pouxhawk]

Just a quick point from an old sound guy.

Ballet dancers, concert pianists, professional athletes, and even computer workstation operators, are all highly trained in their fields, have safety and ergonomic policies to protect them, and all still suffer from career threatening injury. These people, have to perform at the ragged edge of physical breakdown, for an extended time, under less than hospitable conditions , doing things to their bodies that are just not natural. Most if not all the musicians I've worked with have a different voice in the forth set than they had in the first. Whether or not they realized it. Voice training I'm sure, is a smart way to extend one's career. Having a proper PA has a lot to do with it also.

As a curmudgeonly but caring old fart, who's seen and unfortunately heard a lot of gifted voices get ruined, I beg you all to please be careful when you find yourself straining your voice. Especially if you're trying to sound like the guy on the record. He probably had several takes to choose how broken in his voice would be, keeping the one with the right amount of hoarseness. He wasn't trying to hit those high notes during the forth set at a smoke filled biker bar, six nights a week. Don't ruin your tools. Buying another guitar is easy. Buying a new larnyx is something else.

I need a nap
dino

 

[TerraMortim]

I've noticed nearly every successful rock group has a vocalist who is able to (or at least sounds like it) get that scratchy / harsch vocal sound going especially during choruses and such. I've been dabbling with my own vocals for the past couple weeks and I find that it's very smooth / clean and I end up almost spitting my guts out trying to force out that harsch voice sound...

I've been listening closely to several bands out there and what initially appears of singers singing *like that*, I'm wondering to myself if perhaps some of them really are singing clean, but some sort of vocal effect is applied to make it appear as though it has "that sound"... know what I'm saying?

I'm wondering if there's a way through plugins alone that could help simulate this effect as close as possible?

Thanks.

believe it or not, but whiskey from a shotglass can fuck your voice right up. Wouldn't recomend it for your normal singing voice tho!!!