How do I scream correctly?

Question

How do I scream like those heavy rock bands? I did some google research on it but I didnt really find what I need.

Answer 1

Very good question. Ever notice how some singers scream a lot (James Brown, David Lee Roth, Bon Scott, Tina Turner, etc.) while others are almost always singing in a clean tone (David Bowie, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, Sting, Neil Young, etc)? That's because it's just easier for some to do it than others. And that has to do with genetics--how your throat was constructed. Singing is the only form of music making in which you kinda have to already have something to bring to the table, as opposed to playing an instrument in which you can practically be taught and learn almost everything (other than musicality and imagination).

If you really want to explore your voice's ability to scream I have some suggestions:

1) Do what your favorite music idols did to improve--imitate others.

a. Imitating your favorite music artists is fine. Find some of the licks of your favorite artists' that you'd like to mimic and stand in a room (or outdoors) by yourself, and try to do it. Practice like this constantly. Don't be discouraged if you don't sound exactly like them...that's not the point. The point is to get better and through such trails, errors and exercises discover your own voice.

b. Find someone who's better than you and who you may be a little envious of and instead of hating, suck up your ego and learn from them, ask questions, and try to do to the best of your ability some of what they do.

2) More than anything you should also do this tip that many of your favorite figures in rock music have already discovered. Listen to and mimic the vocal gestures of black gospel singing. This may actually be the standard against which you practice as I've never heard anyone scream like I have in church while their singing a solo or ending a sermon. Again, don't get discouraged if you don't come out sounding identical to what you're hearing as the point is not to clone them but instead to improve your own vocal ability. Find a local church at which you think gospel music is being performed and visit a few times. Visit several churches. But while you're doing this there's a few things your should keep in mind.

Consider the church not being too large as to make you feel unnoticed or too small as to make you feel that you're on display (there are exceptions to both of these, which is why you'll probably have to visit several before you find what you're looking for). These are awful generalizations, but for what you're looking for you may not find it in most Methodist or AME churches. Pentecostals (i.e., C.O.G.I.C., Holiness, Pentecostal Holiness, etc.) will be more along the lines of what you want, but may be very....involved or theatrical for a lack of better words. Baptist are the most variable. You'll find some that hardly make a noise, and then some that try to outdo Pentecostals. There should be a lot of singers screaming in these venues (and many of them have services all during the week other than Sunday). Try to imitate the growls and howls that you'll hear. It really is quite ravishing. Some screaming gospel artists that you could check out are: Rev. James Moore, Shirley Caesar, Rev. James Cleveland (though, it's more of a lower scream), Jon P. Kee, The Mighty Clouds of Joy (the lead singer does a lot of gravelly screaming), and maybe the Clark Sisters. In general these artists growl and scream a lot.

It's common for rock guitarist to imitate black blues guitar giants, and you could probably do this for vocals as well. But, as far as the screaming and squeeling that you're trying to get, I really think black gospel is the way to go.

3) Record yourself and listen back to it. As uncomfortable as it might be, you need to be your own worst critic. This way, you"ll avoid some of the specific criticisms that others will dish out at you throughout your life because you would've already ironed them out in your personal time. This is actually the point of practicing.

End of outline...

Keep in mind that when you're practicing these vocal ideas you probably won't be able to do them softly, so practice someplace where you're not worried about others hearing you. (May be common sense, but I had to learn it the hard way.) At the end of this journey I would strongly advise you to embrace whatever vocal style you discover you have.

Answer 2

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Answer 3

Dig deep bro. Let it flow.

Answer 4

Practice makes perfect.
Just do what they do, but add something of your own.