Tips on singing/growling?

[Arkhangelsk]

This is a two-way thread. Firstly, I've been during a long time thinking of learning how to sing. I've decided recently that I want to at least try it. I've gotten some tips from people I know who've practiced for a long time. But I want to get tips from all possible sources on how to best learn, how to hear yourself, etc.

Secondly, as I'm a huge "melodic death metal" fan and metal-core fan, I will of course start a band with growling. However, finding a good singer is hard. And singers who growl is an even smaller group. So I thought I might learn in case, and who knows? It might be my thing. So anyone with experience on how to growl, how to keep your voice unharmed, how to perform it loud, please give some tips. (If you're wondering what kind of growl I'm aiming at, it's a "new" In Flames-esque growl, and maybe a Soilwork-esque sound.)

So give me all help you can give on this subject.

 

[zen5887]

Try to find a teacher.

Vocal fry is a legitimate technique but if you don't do it right you WILL mess up your voice. Also, I think there's a dvd on screaming, check that out.

 

[ZSF]

This article is wonderful http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Harsh-Death-Metal-Vocals
On the subject of actual tips...all I can say is avoid Melissa Cross, and don't forget to tighten your neck while you're growling.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

I think swallowing a cheese grater might help.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I think swallowing a cheese grater might help.

Not really helping. I'm not looking for jokes. You may joke, but if you're gonna post just for the sake of joking and not add anything real to the discussion, I ask you to leave.

 

[Lord George]

Well I sing for a punk band and occasionally descend into growling, try to bring it from your chest as opposed to your throat or you'll bugger up your voice, drinking before hand helps as well.

Oh and for free singing lessons try and get involved with any musical productions at school/local clubs, thats how I learnt got excellent advice and training from a very nice and eccentric women and remember only real men sing in musicals

 

[Ham_authority95]

Don't drink or eat diary 4 hours before you sing. It makes your throat all gooey and sucks to sing with.

drink warm tea/water

Also get lessons to growl properly, or your throat will become enflamed and you will get a migraine. (I tried growling for a band once, had a headache for a week)

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Well I sing for a punk band and occasionally descend into growling, try to bring it from your chest as opposed to your throat or you'll bugger up your voice.

Oh and for free singing lessons try and get involved with any musical productions at school/local clubs, thats how I learnt got excellent advice and training from a very nice and eccentric women and remember only real men sing in musicals

I hear people say "growl from the chest" but could you describe it more? Should I just tense my muscles and make sure the breathing is lower down?

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Don't drink or eat diary. It makes your throat all gooey and sucks to sing with.

drink warm tea/water

Also stand up straight when you sing.

I got a tip that when you're supposed to do those really long and air-sucking growls, you should bend your body backwards (as you can see many singers do), as it makes you breath better.

 

[xHipaboo420x]

Growls should come from deep in your chest, not from your throat. It's quite difficult to get a grasp on, but when you nail it you'll know. If you do them from your throat you'll just be coughing after every line.

Also, accept that people sound different, and if you're aiming for Corpsegrinder-esque vocals (for example) you might find that you're physically unable to get that guttural sound.

But yes. Best of luck with it!

 

[Ham_authority95]

Don't drink or eat diary. It makes your throat all gooey and sucks to sing with.

drink warm tea/water

Also stand up straight when you sing.

I got a tip that when you're supposed to do those really long and air-sucking growls, you should bend your body backwards (as you can see many singers do), as it makes you breath better.

forget that then lol

 

[TheDaringDragoon]

I think swallowing a cheese grater might help.

Not really helping. I'm not looking for jokes. You may joke, but if you're gonna post just for the sake of joking and not add anything real to the discussion, I ask you to leave.

lol That's you told.

Best piece of advice I can give you is for screaming is to close your throat. For growling, I can't really explain how I do it. If you want a sample go to: www.myspace.com/tsarevichscotland.

Don't drink or eat diary. It makes your throat all gooey and sucks to sing with.

drink warm tea/water

Also stand up straight when you sing.

This is true for clean singing. But drinking milk and eating chocolate actually helps your voice when growling. Many death metal singers have admitted this in interviews.

 

[Lord George]

Well I sing for a punk band and occasionally descend into growling, try to bring it from your chest as opposed to your throat or you'll bugger up your voice.

Oh and for free singing lessons try and get involved with any musical productions at school/local clubs, thats how I learnt got excellent advice and training from a very nice and eccentric women and remember only real men sing in musicals

I hear people say "growl from the chest" but could you describe it more? Should I just tense my muscles and make sure the breathing is lower down?

First try not to tense your muscles as that can a. strain your vocals and b.make your voice scratchy, to bring it from the chest think of when you burp and you can feel it brought right up from your lungs and through your throat, so try and bring your voice through like that building it up as it travels through the body. The breathing is also important but you have to learn to regulate that when you want to change the tone. I'd recommend you try and find someone to teach you in person as its hard to explain with just words (requires lots of waving around of the arms and examples .

 

[Patroclus]

You may have heard this already, but I find that recording myself singing and then playing it back it helps. Might not sound pretty, but it's somewhere to start.

also, you should always breathe into your stomach, not your chest. If your shoulders and chest are moving up while you're inhaling then you're doing it wrong.

That's all I can remember as far as singing goes. Otherwise, I'd see a vocal trainer/coach.

As far as growling goes, I dunno. Don't have much experience in that department.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

This article is wonderful http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Harsh-Death-Metal-Vocals
On the subject of actual tips...all I can say is avoid Melissa Cross, and don't forget to tighten your neck while you're growling.

Avoid Melissa Cross? Seriously? I was about to suggest her. In fact, I am still.

Spoiler: with Angela of Arch Enemy

Angela's technique and diversity of tones is remarkable.

The only thing I can say bad about Melissa Cross is she's taking a lot of wannabes and coaching them into screamo-clones. But when she works with artists who already have their own approach to singing and unique voice her advice is incredibly useful, for avoiding damage and increasing the projection and tone of your voice. A lot of her basic teachings come from traditional voice coaching, which focuses on minimizing the impact on your vocal chords while increasing the focus of tone.

But if you're just starting out, you might want to take her lessons with a grain of salt - unless you really want to sound like these kids [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbdhraRaQXw].

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Don't growl near women in public. Byeee.

That's honest good advice. I had a friend who was developing his growling voice and would just walk around making this "oooorrrrrrrrrrrrr" sound to himself all the time. He got a lot of strange looks on campus.

 

[Berethond]

Well I sing for a punk band and occasionally descend into growling, try to bring it from your chest as opposed to your throat or you'll bugger up your voice.

Oh and for free singing lessons try and get involved with any musical productions at school/local clubs, thats how I learnt got excellent advice and training from a very nice and eccentric women and remember only real men sing in musicals

I hear people say "growl from the chest" but could you describe it more? Should I just tense my muscles and make sure the breathing is lower down?

For singing clean, you use the muscles in your diaphragm and abdomen. If you're singing for real, you should feel it all the way to your groin. That's the muscles you use to get good air. For breathing, you need to breath for your naval, not your chest or shoulders. Do breathing exercises a lot. You can do them anywhere, so do some whenever you have a spare minute.

As far as growling goes, I can't do it myself. From what I understand, you do not close your throat. You never ever close your throat. You want it as open as possible to get decent volume. From what I understand about growling, the noise comes from a combination of vocal cords and upper chest muscles, but I'm not a singer, I'm a saxophonist.