black/death vocal techniques...huh?

[DCLXVI]

hey all,
let me preface this by stating that up until a few weeks ago I have been a guitar player only, so please excuse the obvious stupidness of my topic because I dont know shit about "singing".
yet.

anyway, I have a drummer and a bassist and a vicious technical black/death set, and in exactly three weeks we are going into the studio to bash out a (hopefully important) demo... the problem is..no vocalist. Ive looked and looked, met some cool people and some idiots, but no one it seems is perfect for the music. I have decided to do it myself yeehaw...except, Ive never done vocals before.
Im writing lyrics and I get all excited and inspired, but then on my way to work everyday Im growling and screaming in my car along to home recordings, and I realize THIS SHIT HURTS, my voice fuckin sucks, I cough so bad I almost hit pedestrians, and I know I must be doing something wrong because I cant believe anyone can barf like this at high volumes for a whole tour.

so..I started thinking, ok, maybe I got the volume wrong, maybe its a subdued technique, using the gut more than the throat right? ok, so my low tones/growls are coming along, my girlfriend gets scared when I do the exorcist voice on the phone, and I THINK I just figured out how that little weasel Dani Filth is able to screech through an entire song getting higher and higher with each verse until hes almost inaudible (which is my goal): inward singing?!!?

is it an inhaling action, sucking air backwards and rasping the shit out at low volume or WHAT? I hope someone can help me out here, because being an obsessive perfectionist and very serious about my music, this singing thing is killing me, and people on the road point and stare...

any tips???

[MotherNorth]

I sometimes growl (but it isn't a professional growl, just something to share with friends) and I think I use the throat to make it; the sound could be cool but I doubt I'd be able to stand a whole night with that kind of voice. Anyway I'd like to learn how to sing in black voice or improve my growls..... so I expect the reply of someone more experienced in the genre

[Ibsen]

Not an expert but the way you start is with phlegm in your throat. That's how i started out. After a while, you can do it with just saliva. The point is to have a shock absorber in your throat. I haven't tried honey with t (a classic for singers) but it might work. Anyway, so long as you maintain that shock absorber, your throat will not suffer too much. Don't expect to get it right away, it may not sound normal but it is stil singing nonetheless, and it requires the same amount of dedication and hard work that any other singing style requires.

[Nicky_M16]

I can't tell better than the 2 guys above, so I won't repeat them.

Anyway I think you need more time, something like 4 months.
You can't get better by working 4 hours long, but 2 hours in 2 days is great because your throat get modified when you're not using your voice.

Also one thing, in 2 weeks your singing ability WILL NOT make you heard well on a recorder, sorry. After more than 4 months you start having polyphony in your voice since your real voice will actually start getting used to pass through the throat sound and then the real voice will ship the throat sound together into the record signal. Good luck anyway

[DCLXVI]

thanks for the tips.I hadnt considered the shock absorber thing but it does make alot of sense. makes you wonder how many death metal singers have seriously damaged vocal cords.

regarding my tight schedule...ack. I know, but Im just going to have to do my best and work with what I have, we put down a deposit and reserved the times.

[Wanderingblade]

Practice makes perfect I found... or getting there. Haven't tried a shock absorber, might have to try it.

[DarkNoise]

My scream/growel isn't the best in the world by any means, but my band seems to like my few songs I've written where I actually use it, and to get it I drink milk or something kinda thick first to get a shock absorber like they were talking about above, get some saliva or phlem in your throat before hand, otherwise it really hurts after a bit. after that all i do is just kinda gargle from my throat for a harsher sound (ala CoB), or flap my vocal chords for a death metal sound (ala Morbid Angel). And to control pitch of the scream, try gargling at different points in your throat... really it doesn't feel too far removed from normal singing, it's just that you're adding rasp.

[WarHead]

im not a vocalist.,..but i do have a lowish growl.,.i rely on phlem mostly.,.which isnt too good because its hard to keep the phlem from going away or piling up and makin you gag.,.,.sometimes a cigarrete gives me some good phlem,.,but you shouldnt really do that because it fucks with you lungs.,


question....
is there a way to get a louder growl? or will it be the same volume.,.

the reason is that our vocalist's growl isnt as loud as mine is.,.hmmm.,.that could be because his is lower.,..but i just wanted to ask anyway.,..thnx

[Soultorn]

ok, long reply coming from a singer.....
Firstly.... if you hurt your throat while screaming... you're doing it wrong. If you need to chug a gallon of milk before you go on stage, you're doing it wrong.
I'll tell you the basic rule, first.... and I know you've all heard this time and time again, but you have to sing from below, deep in you. Easy way to learn how to do this... is try to imitate a commanding god, above all the puny mortals. Try to make your voice boom resonantly. Say "I am God". Try to sound like almighty Zeus or something. Don't CONCENTRATE on volume... don't TRY to be loud... if you're doing it right, it should be naturally loud as hell (and should scare the shit out of whoever, haha).
Another thing to try... is imitate Elmo. Or try and imitate a police siren. Try to wail naturally... using your diaphragm, instead of your vocal cords and throat. The throat and vocal cords are a "last resort". Everything starts WAY deeper than that. Personally.. this is how I think of it. I want to scream all this poision out of me, that has been shrouded within me for so long..... I want it to come from within me... I don't want to be some poser, TRYING to scream... or faking. I am a demon. A monster. So I will sound like one.... not because I'm TRYING to be... but because I am.
See my point here? Reach deep into all that bloodthirsty hell in your guts, and spew it out.
On to tone... now that you've learned how to project your voice....
Sing. Clean. Sing something dumb... or whatever. You'll hear your vocal octave (bass, tenor, alto...etc). You don't need to know what octave it is.... just figure out... is it high? Low? Do you sound like Halford, or Ville Lalhila of Sentenced? Now do a scream. What comes natural? Do you sound like a garbage disposal, or a buzzsaw? Now... try the opposite. If you have a low growl.. try a high screech. Do you see a difference in your ability? Which was easier?
Now that you know how your dirty octave sounds... work on that. If you naturally have a higher scream... that is what you were born with... no changing it... without alot of practice. Work with what you have. Hone your specialty. Sing along with bands that have the same vocal styling. Try and top them.
Remember... you represent the most aggresive and violent, gore obsessed, satan worshipping, corpse raping pig fuckers on the face of the planet. Sound sincere. Let the evil roar from within.

[DCLXVI]

fuck yes, now THAT is what I needed!!
awesome post Soultorn, thanks muchos..

[Ibsen]

Originally posted by Soultorn
Easy way to learn how to do this... is try to imitate a commanding god, above all the puny mortals. Try to make your voice boom resonantly. Say "I am God". Try to sound like almighty Zeus or something. Don't CONCENTRATE on volume... don't TRY to be loud... if you're doing it right, it should be naturally loud as hell (and should scare the shit out of whoever, haha).

I want to scream all this poision out of me, that has been shrouded within me for so long..... I want it to co