Well devin townsend's music has really inspired me to become a singer and I'm looking for some critique and tips. heres a short track i did a while ago of some singing i did over some tracks (Deep peace, and Zen).
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/5/4/1 ... mplete.mp3

I'm particularly looking for tips on screaming. Although I can get a good scream sound (i think) i usually end up giving it my all and having a sore throat after a session. Although when i get in the zone its alot of fun, i'm worried about my vocal cords. I could have sworn I heard from Devin that he doesn't scream "per-se" and uses a technique that doesn't strain your vocal cords too much but when recorded, it sounds like your screaming your brains out...I might have heard wrong, or from somebody else

Im realy impressed, recently ive been working on nile/amon amarth style growls, it seems the more i do it the more i can do without it hurting my throat, drink alot of water whilst doing it and do some vocal warm up, start with humming and then sing along with somthing like deep peace for a while.(not professional advice)

what did you use to record the screams with?

There's this lady who's been giving vocal training to a lot of metal(core) singers. She has an instructional DVD out, called "The zen of screaming". I'd say that should hold a number of tips and tricks.

Im realy impressed, recently ive been working on nile/amon amarth style growls, it seems the more i do it the more i can do without it hurting my throat, drink alot of water whilst doing it and do some vocal warm up, start with humming and then sing along with somthing like deep peace for a while.(not professional advice)

what did you use to record the screams with?

thanks! I recorded with a shure sm57

yea, i can do that kind of growl (sort of) too...http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/5/4/1 ... livtom.mp3

Dude, you're actually really good! I'm impressed.

I'm no pro at singing and screaming, but I can do both fairly well-- regarding screaming, I find there's this certain sweet spot that requires extremely little effort to belt out a monster scream. It sort of feels like you're opening your throat and just barely pushing out the scream-- it just leaps out-- as opposed to clamping your throat and shoving it out painfully, if that makes sense. I sort of get a nice constant vibration in the back of my throat when I'm doing it right as opposed to just a grinding pain. I'm still figuring out how to actually get to that spot consistently, though... I find it to be much, much easier on sentences that start with certain words or contain lots of a certain sound-- that kind of "I" or "oh" sound being one of the easiest for me, I think. There's also that certain spot you have to find in regards to force... like I said, done right it actually 'feels' less forceful than my normal singing voice (which isn't particularly loud or forceful).

I kind of doubt that's much help since I'm still figuring it out as well, but you never know. Nice voice you have, too

~Josiah

I was impressed by your screaming bits, but it doesn't seem like you're as far along in the clean vocals. Of course production would help, too.

Anyway, I'm not a stellar vocalist, but I'm not bad either. I've found that the key to doing harsh vocals is pushing a lot of air very quickly as opposed to forcing a regular airstream out. The shape of your mouth/throat can also be used to get a better sound out of something you wouldn't expect to be great. I usually do my best (regarding quality, consistency, and longevity) "screaming" when I'm thinking about staying relaxed and just letting it go.

Best of luck--you've got some good skills and with some work you'll being wowing crowds left and right.

Sadly, due to a horrible case of stagefright I've never been able to actually do anything live, but I've done some recordings on some projects with friends (mostly just for fun), and all I gotta say is don't hold back when you're actually doing it, put it all into it and you have a better chance at getting that scream to go through or hitting all of those notes than you do if you don't go all out for it.

Dude, you did a great job. I'm a singer myself and I'm trying to scream more like Devin does and less like a standard metalcore singer would. I'd actually like tips on how you did what you did in the Zen recording if you can give any. I haven't been able to simulate anything Devin does, apart from clean vocals. As far as those go you sounded good.

Dude, you did a great job. I'm a singer myself and I'm trying to scream more like Devin does and less like a standard metalcore singer would. I'd actually like tips on how you did what you did in the Zen recording if you can give any. I haven't been able to simulate anything Devin does, apart from clean vocals. As far as those go you sounded good.

Well first of all, I hope you're patient. I usually spend at least 6 hours a day spending time with music including guitar, singing, and even just designating time to listen to music. I practice singing along tracks, sometimes through a mic with speakers and match along. And sometimes if i want to hear what it will sound like recorded with a mic on the computer, i find or make a backing track, or just sing over a repeated section in the original song i.e. Zen! I probably had about 20 takes of trial and error just singing those few bars until i was somewhat satisfied with it. If you have not so great gear/software to record, you might sound worse on the computer than you actually do and get discouraged. My best tip is if you do the trial and error thing, adjust the way you sing a little bit, for example sing more from a different area in your throat, stand up straighter, have better breathing habits, sing more from your gut, or chest, and many other things you can change. Also remember that warming up is essential. You probably won't get the best desired sound right until you warm up singing/screaming for at least half an hour, plus warming up doing stuff like do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, and silly exercises like gradually slurring into your highest note that you can sing. Anyways, i found out a way to scream and not hurt your throat which pretty much ends the thread's original purpose, but you just have to experiment and be patient. Hope that helps!

Dude, you did a great job. I'm a singer myself and I'm trying to scream more like Devin does and less like a standard metalcore singer would. I'd actually like tips on how you did what you did in the Zen recording if you can give any. I haven't been able to simulate anything Devin does, apart from clean vocals. As far as those go you sounded good.

Well first of all, I hope you're patient. I usually spend at least 6 hours a day spending time with music including guitar, singing, and even just designating time to listen to music. I practice singing along tracks, sometimes through a mic with speakers and match along. And sometimes if i want to hear what it will sound like recorded with a mic on the computer, i find or make a backing track, or just sing over a repeated section in the original song i.e. Zen! I probably had about 20 takes of trial and error just singing those few bars until i was somewhat satisfied with it. If you have not so great gear/software to record, you might sound worse on the computer than you actually do and get discouraged. My best tip is if you do the trial and error thing, adjust the way you sing a little bit, for example sing more from a different area in your throat, stand up straighter, have better breathing habits, sing more from your gut, or chest, and many other things you can change. Also remember that warming up is essential. You probably won't get the best desired sound right until you warm up singing/screaming for at least half an hour, plus warming up doing stuff like do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, and silly exercises like gradually slurring into your highest note that you can sing. Anyways, i found out a way to scream and not hurt your throat which pretty much ends the thread's original purpose, but you just have to experiment and be patient. Hope that helps!

Yeah i've been singing for years and i've been taking vocal lessons for a few years too. I'm more concerned with screams to be perfectly honest. I've tried screaming before, but i haven't gotten any feedback. The scream didn't sound what i was going for, but i dont' even know if what i want to do is possible with my voice.