How Long Should it Take to Learn How to Scream?

If you've pondered starting the journey into learning metal vocals, you may have asked yourself the question "how long should it take for me to learn how to scream?"

Maybe you’ve watched countless tutorials, practiced for hours, and still feel like you’re not getting it. Or maybe you’re just getting started and want to know what a realistic timeline looks like.

The answer isn't exactly as simple as saying "a couple weeks" or "a year". The timeline looks different for each individual person BUT with the right resources and dedicated regular practice, there is a clear path towards reaching your goals. At Extreme Vocal Institute, we’ve helped thousands of vocalists worldwide find their scream.

Here’s what you can expect when you approach screaming with the right mindset, consistency, and technique.

Key Factors in Your Scream Journey Timetable:

There are a lot of variables that determine what your starting point is and how that might shape your journey moving forward. A few include:

🎶 Previous musical experience (Singing background, musical instrument that requires learning breath control [ex: trumpet])

🏈 Activities that promote good breath control, goal setting, and practice schedules - like sports

⚡️ Practice consistency - David loves to say "it's not the number of hours, it's the number of days"

🤝 Coaching or guidance (are you working with a vocal coach or trying to teach yourself?)

🏥 Focus on vocal health and building good habits

🩺 Previous injuries or known medical conditions that may affect your voice

Even within these categories there will be a lot of variance between each individual based on your voices, your relationship with your body and your specific habits.

Don't Rush the Process

It can be easy to want to bulldoze your way through the learning process to sound as brutal as possible as quickly as possible but that can leave you with bad habits that are difficult to undo later on and lead to pain, plateauing, or burnout. Focus on the foundations and you will set yourself up for success in the long run.

Mindful, safe progress = faster progress

Think of it like strength training: if you overload before your body’s ready, you risk injury. The same applies to your voice. Controlled, consistent effort always wins out over brute force.

How to Safely Shorten the Timeline

1. Short, consistent practice sessions (10-20 minutes every day is better than 2 hours on one day)

2. Video yourself, watch back practice sessions to identify habits and track progress

3. Get feedback from a coach or your peers to avoid developing bad habits

4. WARM UP

5. Work with an experienced, proven vocal coach who specializes in extreme vocals like David Benites at Extreme Vocal Institute

Extreme Vocal Institute Helps You Find Your Voice Faster

Our approach to vocals at Extreme Vocal Institute is to help as many people as possible sound how they want while promoting healthy, sustainable techniques. Regardless of if you use our free resources, courses or work with David directly, our method is proven at every level from beginners with no experience to professionals touring the world.

If you are looking to:

➡ Build distortion safely and consistently

➡ Develop vocal control and stamina without pain

➡ Discover your unique sound and style

You can benefit from using our resources to achieve these goals—with dedicated time spent and consistent practice—on the fastest timeline for you and your voice.

If you are ready to stop guessing and start growing, consider:

👉 Joining EVI Now: Scream & Singing Courses designed for metal vocalists of all levels

👉 Working with David in Private Coaching Sessions

and as always you can check out our free resources via our YouTube channel.

Your vocal journey is going to look different from everyone else's because YOU are not everyone else. What matters most is that you focus on developing healthy habits so you can scream for years to come without fear, burnout or injury.