For singers out there

[White_Howler]

For singers out there

I am an aspriring singer on top of my writing. I was just wondering if there are any people who sing... well not screamo in particular but more metally kinds of sounds. Mushroomhead for example.

Since I dunno how to embed youtube videos yet I'll just post a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu6KpvgQipk

Also, any beneficial singing exercises other than the regular up and down the scale kind of stuff?

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Re: For singers out there

Practice in private. Getting into the metal singing zone is embarrassing.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

Oh I know... At first it doesn't come out right, but after a while it gets better after warming up slightly.

But basically, I can do the gorlws and stuff, but I have a hard time making my voice come out in it as well. It ends up mostly just being sounds... sometimes I can get my voice in there too but it's iffy.

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Re: For singers out there

Once you've practiced enough show a metal listener. Your voice sounds different to other people compared to what you hear.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

If you cup your hands around your ears, from behind, to kind of create a funnel to your ears you actually can hear how you sound. I was more looking for specific advice and stuff though...

 

[Firis]

Re: For singers out there

Practice practice practice, I am a 'scream artist' and though my normal singing voice is good, I often do heavier vocals, so that is where I could help. Another thing: Don't make the same mistake I did: Thinking that if in two months you aren't an Oliver Sykes, then you aren't good enough, it took me four months of screaming when I am home alone, or when I am showering, to be descent. It will take me another year or so to be really good.
For me, higher screams (False chord, scream, etc) are easier, growling is harder, NEVER pig squeal, it destroys your voice quick.

Try to model yourself after:
Corey Taylor
Oliver Sykes
Bastian Sobtzick
Gelar
Shagrath
Nergal

Depending on what you are looking for.

I modeled after Bastian and Nergal for my sounds, for clean I modeled myself after Ville Valo and ICS Vortex.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

I've been singing for about 5 years now. My experience with growls/screamo is only about 2 of those years, and I've only just begun to be able to do it even decent.

 

[Firis]

Re: For singers out there

I've been singing for about 5 years now. My experience with growls/screamo is only about 2 of those years, and I've only just begun to be able to do it even decent.

Some are slower than others, I am not nearly good, just enough to sing along without feeling the fool. I edited that last post with more info, re-check it. As for making it sound better, breathing exercises galore. Also, diaphragm control is important, it would be easier to look up a diagram or video.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

I tried pig squealing ONCE... and never again after the pain it caused. Ironically enough, my growls are better low and tend to have a lot of... attitude in them, and my singing is better in a baritone/tenor.

I'll go check some of those out right now tho thanks.

Edit: I wanted to mention. Slipknot's singer Corey Taylor is one of the growls/screams I can't seem to nail.

Edit 2: I also wanna mention that although I don't like Dimmu Borgir... he is an awesome singer in noth clean singing and growls... I kinda wanna do that and Corey Taylor a bit.

 

[Firis]

Re: For singers out there

^Shagrath does not do the clean vocals for Dimmu usually, it is mostly ICS Vortex, Corey doesn't really growl so much as he yells and throws rasp onto it, so to mimic Corey yell then throw a growl over top of that.

 

[droded]

Re: For singers out there

Although I am mainly a classical/theatrical singer, the diverstiy of my voice knows no boundaries and thus I am able to both pig squeal and growl as well as sing within any of the 5 octaves my voice is accustomed to.

And yes, I can give you an autograph if you'd like.

 

[TRA Rotid]

Re: For singers out there

I want an autograph, droded.

You want to know the secret to singing: relax your throat. As far as I know, there's not a genre this little advice won't help you with.

 

[Firis]

Re: For singers out there

I want an autograph, droded.

You didn't say you wanted HIS autograph, and johnny is a nice guy.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

I want an autograph, droded.

You want to know the secret to singing: relax your throat. As far as I know, there's not a genre this little advice won't help you with.

I've figured this one out X3 It was when I began learning my growls that I realized I was pushing too much and not just... letting the sound flow freely. I will never, ever pig squeal... as I have no wish to destroy my voice. How about operatic singing people? How the hell do I do that???

 

[TRA Rotid]

Re: For singers out there

It's the same really. The sound comes from within you, not from you throat. They widen and relax their throat, it's as if you were yawning.

It's also important to let the sound/air flow freely, forcing it does no good, because you have no control over your voice. The same goes for inhaling - the correct way to inhale is just to relax yourself completely, letting the air "come to you" so to speak, not forcibly filling your lungs with air.

This is a pretty basic information, but trust me, I've worked with professionals and I know it's the truth.

Also, when I had a vocal training, we did yoga. Breathing exercises in particular. They helped me a lot. Rhythmic breathing; stretching out your body, slowly inhaling, holding breath until you can't anymore, then continue holding even more, then relaxing, letting the air out freely, stuff like that.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

I'll definitely look into yoga breathing exercises. I've only begun to be able to inhale correctly. Unlike many people probably here, I only took chorus in high school for two years which certainly taught me the basics and how to read music, but it didn't teach me anything that I needed to become a good singer. I mostly gained a good understanding of music and how it works. I've still a long way to go, especially seeing as I've had virtually no vocal training.

I'll try and work on opening my throat as I sing... I've been slowly starting to do that anyway but the knowledge will help me consciously do so.

 

[TRA Rotid]

Re: For singers out there

Glad I could be of assistance.

My experience comes from singing in a choir, but, again, I think genre is of no significance if you can master your voice like that.

Also, my vocal training didn't last for a long time, too, but even more so I can say it helped a lot since the difference was significant.

Another thing (which I kinda mentioned in my last post) is that you sing with your entire body. So doing some excercise before singing is another good way to loosen up (though this can also be linked with yoga). From your face and your head to you fingers and toes, everything needs to be cleared.

I see what I'm saying might sound a bit silly, especially for a metal singer, but I myself believe it and, well, it just sounds logical to me.

Another thing I remembered is that when practicing the so called "opera voice", it's easy to overdo it. It happens when the sound gets "stuck" in the much widened throat. Then, the sound is dampened, a bit too... I don't know, "round" maybe. It is important to know that the sound needs to echo beyond your own mouth. It's as if the pinnacle of the sound is just beyond your front teeth. A good excercise to prevent that is to do nasal sounds. Such as the "n" in fang. At leas I think the "n" should be nasal.

Deja vu moment, I'm sure I've already said that in another thread.

 

[White_Howler]

Re: For singers out there

First off, I don't want to just sing Metal. I want to do some metal sounds, such as growls, but my biggest inspiration by far is Mushroomhead. He sings kind of operatically at certain points, then metal at others. He's got a great singing voice, and while I like growls, I like to sing as well.

Second, singing is my own way of expressing my emotions in a healthy way. I've got a lot of anger, and a lot of sadness, among many others, that I need to let out in a positive way. I'd rather be good at it though, heh.

And no, none of what you've said sounds silly, though it may to one who does not sing. I get what you mean by a lot of it. There are some things we're all good at and others not so much I suppose! At the very least, I know what sorts of information to look for now so I should have a much easier time.

Thanks for your tips I appreciate it!

 

[Firis]

Re: For singers out there

First off, I don't want to just sing Metal. I want to do some metal sounds, such as growls, but my biggest inspiration by far is Mushroomhead. He sings kind of operatically at certain points, then metal at others. He's got a great singing voice, and while I like growls, I like to sing as well.

Second, singing is my own way of expressing my emotions in a healthy way. I've got a lot of anger, and a lot of sadness, among many others, that I need to let out in a positive way. I'd rather be good at it though, heh.

And no, none of what you've said sounds silly, though it may to one who does not sing. I get what you mean by a lot of it. There are some things we're all good at and others not so much I suppose! At the very least, I know what sorts of information to look for now so I should have a much easier time.

Thanks for your tips I appreciate it!

No problem, have fun with it, singing is a good outlet, I have extreme anxiety issues, my cure is singing and time with my dog :blush:

 

[TRA Rotid]

Re: For singers out there

First off, I don't want to just sing Metal. I want to do some metal sounds, such as growls, but my biggest inspiration by far is Mushroomhead. He sings kind of operatically at certain points, then metal at others. He's got a great singing voice, and while I like growls, I like to sing as well.

Second, singing is my own way of expressing my emotions in a healthy way. I've got a lot of anger, and a lot of sadness, among many others, that I need to let out in a positive way. I'd rather be good at it though, heh.

And no, none of what you've said sounds silly, though it may to one who does not sing. I get what you mean by a lot of it. There are some things we're all good at and others not so much I suppose! At the very least, I know what sorts of information to look for now so I should have a much easier time.

Thanks for your tips I appreciate it!

Ah, well, that's nice. I like singing too. I usually sing out loud when at home, too. People have already gotten used to it.