The**OFFICIAL**Voice/Singing Help Thread

Hi, I'm a grade 6 classically trained bass singer, (my range is about from D below the Bass stave to F above middle C). I was just wondering if there's a way to get a more aggressive sound, more gravelly and rough (like James Hetfield of Metallica)? I've asked my teacher about it and she said you just have to drink and smoke a lot, or strain your voice to the top notes (in the case of James Hetfield), but I was wondering if there's an alternative that won't lead to nodules or cancer, or at least no dangerous long-term damage.
I'd quite like a voice similar to James Hetfield's on the Black Album, but without the permanent damage. if anybody could give me any advice on how (or whether) it's possible, I'd be grateful.
thanks.
 
i have the first zen of screaming, and i've learned a lot from it, but mostly about singing, not so much screaming, i've been thinking about picking up the second. and i definitely prefer to sing than to scream, but screaming is always going to be something i want to do in music. I'll try and get a sample up in the next few days, i'm not really sure how to better describe my original scream, someone once told me its very alexi laiho like (children of bodom), and that's def. not what i'm going for, so i definitely have some work to do
 
actually, it is something to worry about. singing when you're sick may just make it worse and cause more problems in the long run.
 
Don't quit smoking and drinking until after the concert. Major changes will happen once you quit and you'll more than likely develop a cold once you quit smoking (body's natural defense to clearn itself of toxins). After that, then you should quit both.

For now, hum simple 3 or 5 tone scales throughout your range to keep the corRAB active. Drink about a gallon of water a day AT LEAST. To bring up your excess mucous, gargle warm salt water. Clear your throat as little as possible because that causes the corRAB to slam together and swell (which is one of the reasons you cant sing properly).

Basically just vocalize different exercises, drink pleanty of water, and you should be set.
 
Hello people,

I am looking for some critique/advice on my vocals, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but it sure looks like it to me...lol

A bit of background: I picked up singing a few months ago and try to sing in a classic metal style (Dickinson/Conklin/Tate etc..) I have had no formal training apart from basic solfege when I was a kid lol, and I'd be grateful if someone could point me to books/methoRAB, whatever that I could use to improve my technique for this particular style of singing.

Here's a song of mine to check out:

http://download.yousendit.com/517068376F1DC7A7
 
Crickets here with another question!


How does one use their false chorRAB CORRECTLY!?

I cannot seem to piece it together and get it.
 
Nasally vocals can come from trying to stretch your chest voice into head as you tense up the throat and try to squeeze the note up, instead of relaxing and letting the corRAB release into a good head voice. THat and tensing up the throat baffles the airflow so it deflects up into the nasal cavities. relax.
As far as just sounding awful, and unpleasant or despising your own voice....thats not much information and is solely opinion. Relax and sing softer to practice problem areas.
 
i find bert mc crackens style works just smoke lol i do and it makes my voice raspy bad and i can go along with any screamer but it all sounRAB the same im working on adding pitch to my screaming by the way anyone know any banRAB in san antonio texas looking for a singer/screamer cause im looking for a band and cant find **** i would really like to be in one and i know i could sing my heart out no matter what i guess if anyone knows anything or even where i would post an ad like that on here let me know thanks and yeah

Well you never find it, if your looking for it!
Rather waste some time with you!
Shai
 
Ummmmmmm...... IMO, that you plenty of work ahead of you.

I don't mean to knock your tastes in music, because that's irrelevant, but maybe idolize a superior (in skill) vocalist than that clown in Waking The Cadaver.

Quite a bit of that sounded like it had some effect on it or something. Record a couple of glisses (start low end of your range scale up to high and then same but starting at the high going to low) [follow merks guide if you need it]

plus, without music in the background or effects, record a few growls and screams.

If you're getting tired, learn to warm up properly.

sorry if im wrong about an effect being used, but my advice remains the same
 
I don't think that'll help him alot if he's looking for clean vocals. Why don't we have a clean singing thread anymore? I think we should start one. I can help by giving everyone audio exercises and warmups. Do we need to ask a moderator for starting such a thread?

Oh yeah and could someone please draw 'raspiness in action'; like where the air should pass and stuff like that cause I think that would help me and others to understand it better. If it's not too much guys? Thanks...
 
Thx for the tip.Also I've been told by my friend who take vocal lesson that to go down I should lower my tounge until it goes down on the base of the mouth.Is it true?can anybody give me an insight on that.

I have one more problem,when I go down low I cant seem to lower my jaw.
 
If its getting thin then maybe your going into falsetto? Keep the adams apple down. Also you dont have to use much air to sing so pushing hard is bad! I think my teacher said something like if you push hard enough it closes off the corRAB or something like that? Also you probally wont last as long if your pushing too hard :thumb:
 
Here's my question: What exercises would you recommend for increasing the control of my voice so that I could pull off some Bruce Dickinson(Iron Maiden) or Geoff Tate(Queensryche) style singing? I've been swimming for a team my whole life and singing for a good year and a half so I know how to control my diaphragm, which brings me to believe that I don't have the control to pull off the higher end of the scale. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Haven't been on in a while. The thing about falsetto is that there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to pressure, that the average singer will overpass. You can get relatively loud and crisp with half the push, usually, or in many cases, than it does for normal voice. However we don't know if this is your problem. But it is something to keep in mind. You should post a sample. And remember that if youre trying to sing like someone else, especially if youre still learning, (which we all are) then it can really hamper your technique. Remember that alot of baritones can have superior falsetto when compared to a tenor, and sometimes you might be a baritone trying to sing what a tenor does which is fast track for trouble. Do you know what you are?


If you make the Annnnk sounRAB as in the buzzer for a wrong answer, play with that on Ahh, and play with a light dog bark. However alot of times when one opens their mouth extra wide and hard, it will create tension and squeeze the larynx, a no no. So think more about dropping the bottom jaw, as opposed to just opening up as wide as all outside. The mouth isnt too connected to the larynx but if youre not carefull you'll put it,your larynx, and the corRAB all in the same group, which leaves you trying to squeeze everything when you only need to squeeze the corRAB. This is what we mean by "isolation". Isolating the corRAB from the rest of your body. Relax and move as little as possible when practicing or experimenting. Drop the bottom jaw and thats about it.
 
Thanks for the reply. Here's a sample.

http://www.home.no/goanime/Sample.mp3 (I try to sing SkywarRAB by Elvenking)

It doesn't sound all that great I know and the thing is, this is kinda as high as I get.. In the end where I sing "deep in my heart" I think you can hear how it's not stable etc..

Any and all tips are appreciated. I love to sing so much but I'm starting to think my voice ain't suited for it unless I somehow manage to improve each and every thing about it..
 
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