Learn Screaming Vocal Techniques Safely
- Extreme Vocal Institute
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Extreme vocals have become more popular than ever across a wide range of genres extending far beyond metal and hardcore. More and more people are starting to recognize that it is not "just shouting" but a respected vocal style that actually takes time and skill to develop and wield into music. At Extreme Vocal Institute, we are proud to be part of the process of opening the door to these type of vocal techniques to people who are interested in unlocking these expressive sounds for themselves.
Whether you're a beginner looking to find your scream for the first time or a professional working to refine your skills, Extreme Vocal Institute has what you need to get to the next level of your vocal journey.
Where to Start Your Screaming Journey - Tips for Beginners to Learn Screaming Safely
Figuring out where to start learning how to scream can be intimidating but it doesn't have to be. Building a strong foundation is the key to developing good technique to prevent strain and injury. Here are some foundational tips to get you started safely:
False cord or fry scream? Picking which form of vocal distortion you're interested in working on a is a good first step. The two forms of extreme vocals most commonly used are the false cord and fry screams. This will help you streamline your practice routine.
Warm up your voice: Just like any physical activity, warming up is an important part of preparation. Using melodic warm ups like lip trills and humming can help get your body prepared for the task of working on extreme vocals.
We have full warm ups for all voice types available in our EVI Now program or you can check out these videos from our YouTube channel for a good place to start:
Breath control is key: Extreme vocals require sustained air pressure to maintain distortion. Learning how to properly breathe and control your airflow will help you keep your voice healthy, improve your endurance and help you reach your goals faster.
Start slowly: Focus on activating the distortion for 5-10 minutes at a time then put it away. You can gradually add more as you find consistency in the sound.
Hydrate: Drink water before, during and after your vocal sessions. Chugging a bunch of water right before you start won't help you, proper hydration requires staying on top of it throughout the day.
Rest your voice: Give your vocal cords time to recover, irritation is normal in the beginning as you work to find the right balance of air pressure control, placement and shape.
By following these tips, you can build a solid foundation for your screaming vocals without risking damage.
Learning basic terminology: a quick vocab rundown
Learning the vocabulary for these types of vocals can be a little challenging if you're just getting started. There are a lot of made up names for the same things. "Extreme vocals" are also referred to as "screaming", "harsh vocals" or "metal vocals". Here are some other terms that you may come across when you're doing research on your own:
False cord scream: One of the two most commonly used techniques for screaming; uses the false vocal cords (also known as the vestibular folds) to create distortion. Characterized by the low "rumble" distortion
Fry scream: One of the two most commonly used techniques for screaming; characterized by the high crackling "tv static" distortion created with the vocal cords
Growling: A generalized term that typically describes a low, guttural vocal style often used in death metal – typically refers to a false cord scream that is low in pitch. *Note that this is different from the "growl" that is talked about in relation to singing, this is why we don't tend to gravitate towards using this term at Extreme Vocal Institute to avoid confusion
Screaming: A generalized term that encompasses all false cord and fry scream techniques but is often used on the internet to refer to any high pitched extreme vocals
Fry Vocal Register: The lowest register (place) of the voice; exists below your standard speaking voice; different from vocal fry
Vocal fry: the "creaky" sound (think valley girl or Kim Kardashian voice) that happens in speech when the voice is under-supported with air pressure; different from the fry vocal register in that vocal fry can exist in any part of your range
Tips to Improve Your Screaming Vocals
Improving your screams extends beyond just practicing accessing the distortion regularly. Here are some ways you can improve outside of your extreme vocal practice sessions:
Focus on breathing and good air support
Learning how to breathe fully and deeply without sucking air in and applying it to your daily activities and speaking is something that can be done quietly and throughout the day without bothering your neighbors, family members, roommates or pets. Shallow breathing will limit your endurance, make sustaining consistent distortion in your screams more challenging and put you at a higher risk for oxygen deprivation making you feel like you're going to black out!
Maintaining good lifestyle habits - hydration is key! 💧
A lot of us fall short on making sure our bodies are properly hydrated throughout the day. Drinking a lot of water right before or during your vocal practice won't help you keep your voice healthy, this is an all the time thing! Set yourself up for success by drinking water throughout the day so that your voice is primed and ready to go when you want to use it.
Work on pitch control
Spending time in different parts of your speaking voice will help you access more range and dynamics with your extreme vocals. If you're someone that speaks very monotone or exclusively in one part of your voice, challenge yourself to explore other areas. Focus on keeping things comfortable, you don't need to aim for the stratosphere or reach for the lowest notes possible, just start defining what is natural and comfortable for you.
Articulation and Diction
Focusing on pronunciation in your every day speaking can really help when you transition to extreme vocals since every movement is exaggerated for clear articulation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Screaming
While extreme vocals can be performed in a safe way, many vocalists make mistakes that can harm their voice or get in the way of progression. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:
Screaming without warming up: This can cause immediate strain and long-term damage.
Using throat tension: Screaming requires less effort than you'd think, managing air support in combination with a relaxed vocal tract is the key to healthy extreme vocals.
Ignoring pain or discomfort: Pain is a sign of irritation and inflammation. Ignoring pain can lead to injury and lasting damage. Stop and rest if you feel discomfort.
Over-practicing: Excessive screaming without breaks can lead to vocal fatigue. Limit practice sessions to 5-15 minutes when you're just starting out. Try to limit practice sessions to an hour if you're at a more advanced stage.
Not hydrating: Dry vocal cords are more prone to injury.
Avoiding these mistakes will help you maintain vocal health and improve your screaming ability over time.
How to Care for Your Voice After Screaming
Taking care of your voice after screaming is just as important as the technique itself. Here are some post-screaming care tips:
Cool down your voice: Use gentle humming or soft singing to relax your vocal cords.
Stay hydrated: Continue drinking water to soothe your throat. Hydration is an all the time thing.
Avoid irritants: Try to avoid things that can dry out your vocal cords right before, during and after your vocal session (this includes smoking/vaping)
Rest your voice: Give yourself vocal breaks. Think of the voice like any other muscle in your body.
Use steam inhalation: Breathing in steam can help moisturize and soothe your vocal cords (use a personal nebulizer or simply use a cup with hot water or shower if you're able to)
Taking Your Extreme Vocals to the Next Level
Once you are able to produce relaxed, even distortion consistently and without strain, you can proceed to move on to shaping your sounds into words and begin playing around with different tonalities and characteristics.
Record and analyze your practice sessions so you can track your personal growth.
Use resources like the Extreme Vocal Institute YouTube channel, EVI Now course program, or work directly with vocal coach David Benites for personalized feedback and accelerated growth.
Mastering extreme vocals is an exciting challenge that requires patience and care. By following these screaming tips and exploring professional resources, you can unlock your full vocal potential and deliver performances that captivate your audience.
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About Extreme Vocal Institute Vocal Coach David Benites
David Benites is a vocalist and vocal coach specializing in vocal distortion and the owner of Extreme Vocal Institute. He has taught vocalists of all levels from all over the world, working in the studio and on tour with some of the most prominent bands in metal and artists in rock, country, rap, K-pop, musical comedy, acting and voice acting. David has been a guest clinician at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and The New York Singing Teachers' Association as an expert on extreme vocals.
David’s approach to teaching vocals comes from a combination of his background as a classical musician, knowledge of the human body from his experience on a powerlifting and bodybuilding team and passion for physical fitness, insight as a member of the metal community, and research of speech pathology and singing styles from a wide range of cultures and genres. His goal is to present information in a simple and clear way for others to understand and be able to replicate for themselves.
Energetic and enthusiastic, David’s optimism is contagious and apparent through his lesson videos posted on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok earning millions of views. His love for this craft is infectious and his personality shines through his instructional videos. Meet David and you’ll find that he’s exactly the same way, always smiling and ready to talk vocals.
David’s devotion to music started as a child and only grew with age. He has a jazz, classical, choir and theater background and attended Berklee College of Music before leaving to pursue touring and vocal coaching full time. Beyond vocals, David is a multi-instrumentalist and excels in songwriting, engineering, production, mixing and mastering.