False cord scream vs fry scream: which one should I learn first?
- Extreme Vocal Institute
- Dec 8
- 4 min read
If you're new to extreme vocals, the question of whether or not to pursue learning false cord scream or fry scream is one of the first you'll ask yourself in your vocal journey. These are the two base techniques that can then be shaped in many directions to make a plethora of wild sounds.
You’ve probably heard strong opinions on both sides. Some people say fry is safer. Others say false cord is more “natural.” Beginners are left confused, sore, and second-guessing every noise they make.
There is no clear-cut right answer and at the end of the day, it comes down to your preferences and your voice.
Let's break down the differences between these techniques:
FALSE CORD SCREAMS
• Lower rumbling-like quality to the distortion that comes from the larger extra tissue (false cords) being used to create the over/undertones
• Can be characterized as "darker" sounding
• Volume tends to be slightly above speaking level when balanced appropriately*
• Can require a greater amount of air pressure to produce
• Can be manipulated into low, mid and high screams with particular strength in the low and mid ranges
FRY SCREAMS
• TV static-like distortion that tends to sit "above" the base pitch
• Can be characterized as "brighter" sounding
• Volume tends to be at or just below speaking level when balanced appropriately*
• Requires less air pressure to produce than the false cord scream
• Can be manipulated into low, mid, and high screams with particular strength in the high and mid ranges
*This varies greatly from person to person.
So… Which One Should You Learn First?
There's no right answer to this.
You could take the path of learning the technique that comes to you the most naturally and continue to pursue that to fit your needs - OR - you could pick one to focus on based on the characteristics you like about them.
If you love the explosive, deep rumbling sound of the false cord scream, then go ahead and pursue that. If you love the piercing qualities of the fry scream, then you have your path.
The important thing is regardless of which direction you choose, know that not everyone is starting from the same place. How you manage airflow, how stable your speaking voice is, how your body handles tension and how often you practice will all affect the learning process.
David has created this "Things Beginner Vocalists Need To Know" series to help you find your path to sounding the way you want.
The Biggest Beginner Mistake (And Why People Get Hurt)
Most vocal damage doesn’t come from fry or false cord—it comes from trying to force the scream to happen instead of balancing into the distortion.
Common issues we see:
Pushing more air to “make it louder”
Trying to do too much at once - jumping into trying to scream along to songs too quickly
Skipping over warming up and building good foundations
Trying to match someone else's voice that is drastically different from your own
Pushing through the pain because someone said you have to
That’s why two people can do the same technique and get wildly different results.
Across all our content on the Extreme Vocal Institute YouTube channel, our extensive EVI Now course program and in private lessons; David talks about the Big Three when it comes to all forms of extreme vocals.
The Big Three is the balance between:
Air pressure control The amount of air you're using to create a sound
Placement Where you're directing the sound
Shape How you're manipulating the exit point to change or enhance overtones
How Extreme Vocal Institute Approaches False Cord & Fry Screams
At Extreme Vocal Institute, we don’t treat fry and false cord as competing techniques and crown one better than the other. We treat them as tools—and not every tool fits every voice the same way.
David teaches false cord and fry scream to students and clients of all levels; from complete beginners with no experience to touring professionals who have been on the road for decades. Some choose to pursue just one of these techniques while others choose to add both to their arsenal for maximum flexibility when creating music, dialing in a character voice or whatever context they're using these extreme vocals in.
Our EVI Now program includes an equal number of courses for those pursuing both the false cord and fry scream as it's important to emphasize that one is not better than the other.
Our programming is built to help you:
Test both techniques safely to help you decide which (or both) to pursue
Create a healthy foundation and relationship with your voice
Give you structured progressions instead of guesswork
Help you pivot activation techniques if one isn’t working for your voice
With over 40 in-depth courses, EVI Now is designed so you’re never stuck forcing something that doesn’t feel right.
Want a Personalized Answer? Work Directly With David
If you're looking for the maximum amount of progress in the least amount of time, private lessons with David are going to help get you there.
David crafts all of his one-on-one sessions based around you, your experience and your goals.
In a one-on-one session, David can:
Diagnose your airflow and coordination issues
Identify whether fry or false cord is the better starting point based on your voice, your preferences and your goals
Help you avoid common beginner pitfalls
Customize exercises and practice plans to your voice, tendencies, and goals
This is especially valuable if:
You’ve tried learning before and hit a wall with YouTube videos
You've had a vocal injury and want a personalized approach
You want that real-time feedback and clarity that you're on the right path
To start the process fill out the form here and we'll get back to you with David's availability ASAP!
It's not about determining whether false cord or fry scream is better. It's about determining what is the right choice for your voice and your preferences.
✉️ Join our email list and get our free start guide to extreme vocals here.
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