26 replies to this topic

[Lefty9878]

Does anyone have any tips on screaming like Scary Kids or Underoath?

I developed a way, but afterwards I can't sing as well. Is there some secret to this?

[billy16]

Yeah, don't scream. Not only does it sound like ######, you can do a lot of damage to your vocal cords if you aren't careful with that. Somehow I guess that seems to sound good, but it really doesn't. Invest your time into trying to actually sing.

The only real advice I'd give you is to warm your voice up really well. Grab a guitar and play out a major scale and sing along with it or do something to get things going. That should help out some and help to avoid some injury you may get.

[imadique]

Consult a singing teacher. I don't like that style so I have no idea how to do it, but I do know that it's not a matter of simply screaming at the top of your lungs - there is a technique to it and if you do it wrong you can damage your vocal chords.

[Lefty9878]

I knew this was a bad forum to put it on haha. I was just talking about singing in a topic and it reminded me, but thanks anyways!

[Hare5]

Usually in a band there is a one person that screams. Like UnderOath only the lead singer screams and the drummer sings. Its uncommen for people to do both but the singer from Silverstein does.

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

You have to be very careful with screaming, it can damage the vocal cords - you're putting them under a lot of strain. This doesn't just mean having a sore throat for a few days, you can actually do permanent damage.

It's essential that you warm up first. Like an athlete about to take part in a race will stretch and warm up his muscles so they are ready for the strain, you need to do the same for your voice. Check the FAQ thread for links to vocal sites.

[kooldood1]

Im not trying to be a smart ass but why do people enjoy screaming? I mean you cant understand what theyre saying, it sounds like complete crap, and it just shows me that you have no talent so you scream. I mean if you want to be a heavy band its one thing, but screaming like that doesnt make you any heavier, to me. And its always whiney....

[ledhendrix711]

lol i agree.

[billy16]

Kooldood, that's exactly the point I try to make to people. I don't get it. It just sounds like utter ######. Screamers don't have talent. I can scream too. Everybody can scream. Metal nowdays is bleh. Death metal has some good riffage and talent in the guitarists. Some of those singers aren't bad. It's the lower, growly singing, but at least you can tell what the lyrics are. Garbage like nu-metal and hardcore/grindcore I just can't stand to listen to.

One time I got drawn into a conversation about screamo stuff and someone tried to tell me that screamers had just as much talent as guys like Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Bon Scott, etc. He said they scream, but they're not considered screamo, so why should he be. Sure, they might've done a little scream or yell in a song, but they didn't try to scream a whole part of a song and in any event, the "screaming" of those older singers is much different than todays screaming. Plus, guys like those could really sing. They didn't need to scream, they had their own voices. Screamers today try to scream whole parts of songs and when they do sing, they have that whiney sound to them. If people want to scream, just let them. Maybe in time they'll destroy thier vocal cords and we won't have to hear them anymore.

[digiti]

I heard a really awesome band .. then the screaming started, and it ruined the band IMO

[KaZu]

I heard when you do it it can be great for your vocal chords but if you dont do it right you can really f them up so definatly consult a teacher.

[thrAsher***X]

i know were u guys are comin from i used to hate screamers but since id fallen in love with the guitars in the background i kept listening and it got better. the thing about screaming is that its really hard to do well enough so that u add to the songs but a few people can do it. like the singer from killswitch engage howard jones is amazing not only can he sing extremely well but he can also scream in a way that adds to the songs already amazingly brutal rythms n riffs. see the thing about this kinda metal is its like the guitars play the melody and the vocals kinda punch rythms over the top....................another great group whos vocals i like are children of bodom and if u dont beleive me listen to these songs

killswitch-when darkness falls,rose of sharyn, fixation on the darkness, or numbered days

bodom-angels dont kill, sixpounder, needled 24/7, chokehold(coked n loaded), um thats enough

[Spooksie]

Screamo's a much mocked and overdone genre, most of which is crap. I'd invest your talents in better things.

[demeyes]

amm, don't tell him not to do it if he wants to- its his choice.

its the same as people like robert plant and david coverdale and ian gillian with their high vocals really- some people think it sounds crap, it can potentially damage your voice.

i think screaming in the right places can really be effective, most of the time you can make out what people are saying- no harder really than someone with a bad accent,

i'm glad people try different things like screaming in music- otherwise all we'd have is 3 chord tripe,

have a look at opeth for one of the best singers and screamers all in music- does it all live the same too. they've only one guy doing the vocals.

someone asked why do people do it.. to try different things to vary things up, they think it sounds good, stupid question, why do people try anything? f uc kwit

there's some seriously narrow mided people on this forum

ohh also, i don't listen emo, or screamo. i listen to metal, rock and blues and all sorts really, i appreciate a good singer

[ConductingOnFire]

fo all yo dudes that think screaming takes no talent grow some balls and honestly try it go into a mic and scream u cant can u want to know why cuz your yelling not screaming

screaming takes more talent than singing cuz singing is natural screaming is not

the way you want to scream is by whispering but listen u hear that raspie sound

make it as loud as you can and it will sound pretty bad but u can make out the screaming now practice for about 3 years till u can make it go as loud as

when u yell

yeah thats how u actually scream

sincerely,

Conducting On Fire

Goodday

Edited by ConductingOnFire, 10 August 2006 - 02:11 PM.

[billy16]

To actually sing takes more hard work and time than screaming. I really don't believe talent has a place in terms of musical ability. No one really has a natural talent for anything musical. Maybe they have something that will help them out some, but no real talent. Talent is earned.

I know people who have been singing for a very long time. Some who have had vocal lessons, some who haven't. They have amazing voices and that's because of all the work they've put in. According to some, any idiot can sing. True, but not everyone can sing really well. Then there people I know who are in those screaming bands who haven't ever sung at all, and they're out there screaming their heads off. I really don't think screaming is something that is all that hard. Sure, it obviously takes some practice to do that sort of thing, but screaming can be attained much sooner than a good singing voice.

Screaming really doesn't sound good. It's almost become a trademark of ######ty modern music. Honestly, I really do hate modern music. The whole modern metal scene just makes me think what the ###### are these people thinking. I don't get what's so great about screaming out lyrics, or way detuned guitars and super high gain. I'd like to hear some interesting songs with someone who has a good voice, guitarists who can blast out good riffs and melodys, just an overall turnaroud. Metal should make people go what the ###### was that. I don't mean what the ###### as in, that was ######ty, but what the ###### as in wow, that was cool. I really don't care if I do piss off some modern metal folk. That's what I think and I'm not going to act like I like it or say it's just not my thing, ###### is ######, whether or not you like it.

[kooldood1]

fo all yo dudes that think screaming takes no talent grow some balls and honestly try it go into a mic and scream u cant can u want to know why cuz your yelling not screaming

screaming takes more talent than singing cuz singing is natural screaming is not

the way you want to scream is by whispering but listen u hear that raspie sound

make it as loud as you can and it will sound pretty bad but u can make out the screaming now practice for about 3 years till u can make it go as loud as

when u yell

yeah thats how u actually scream

sincerely,

Conducting On Fire

Goodday

Yeah, ok. Id like to see 3 of these moder screamers sing a 3 part harmony. They cant, because they cant sing so they revert to screaming. Its like saying oh i cant play guitar so ill throw on loads and loads of distortion and make noise!

[Will_Wood]

To sing is to create melodies with your voice. Screaming is more rhythm work than anything, I've noticed. I do not disagree that screaming takes a lot of hard work to get right. But I also think that it takes far, far, far more work to become a good singer. (Unless you are one of the blessed few) Why? Because a singer has to learn to pitch, and a screamer does not.

[nyhm]

ok guys really, i read this whole thread and i am flabbergasted at how much you guys are not getting this... screaming and singing are NOT the same thing, nor should they be compaired as such...

its like comparing Hendrix to Van Halen, wich is better? well neither cause they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

now, i am the "screamer" of a metal band, and i can say its not easy at all, first off after a gig i get to chug about a gallon of water just to keep my speech alive at all. screaming is very very hard to make sound like it should belong in any form of music.. yea anyone can do a raspy loud ass scream into a mic but can you do it through 20 songs in a night and still get the same sound? and you actully pronounce words while screaming? and all the while jump around stage an a venue that is prolly 80 degrees hotter than youd like? those are just some of the challenges of any type of screaming you do in music.

clean vocals on the other hand are just as damned hard, you have to be in key and hitting the right notes, wich can strain your voice just as much as screaming. now i also do back up sining for my band and in my experience its just as challenging.

so please everyone, stop trying to compare screaming to clean vocals, they are two very different things and should be treated as such.

NOW to answer the question posted in the thread to begin with. Warming up is the most important thing you can do, also if your at a gig sit a bottle of water off the stage so between each song you can chug some. also as with any form of vocal dont drink any carbonated drinks the few days before you want to scream (goes for singing too) it kills your voice. as for breathing, screaming takes alot more breath than sining so breathe in deep before a scream if you can, also dont push it out, youll scratch your vocal cords and then well, you wont be able to scream or even talk much for a few days/weeks

thats just about all the advice i can give, as with anything in art you need to practice until your doing it in your sleep. then again having a screamo attack in your sleep may cause your significant other to freak a little bit..

peace guys, my band is called falling face down, check out the myspace and hear me scream!

Edited by nyhm, 07 August 2008 - 12:58 AM.

[multistyle810]

i messed up my voice permanently from screaming.
but drink a lot of water and practice a lot. if you know the sound your going for eventually youll get it just by trying.