Q&A for How to Growl

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  • Question
    How do you growl properly?
    Amy Chapman, MA
    Voice Specialist
    Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
    Voice Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Make sure the growl doesn't hurt or irritate your throat or cause you to cough.
  • Question
    Can I give myself vocal damage by going from low to high pitched growls?
    Community Answer
    If you don't prepare, it may well cause pitch and vocal damage. If you would like to try these high and low vocals, it would definitely be a good idea to warm up your voice by doing vocal exercises and preparing to sing. You can find lots of vocal exercises on YouTube.
  • Question
    Then why are you teaching us inhaled growls if it's bad for you?
    Community Answer
    Growls can stress your voice; if you don't want to take that chance, don't growl.
  • Question
    How can I growl like a wolf?
    Community Answer
    Listen to them - a lot. They have different tones, but it must be kind of deep and at the same time high and rounded.
  • Question
    My first try failed because I don't know what to do. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Produce a sound from the back of your throat. Keep practicing and you'll get it.
  • Question
    Why doesn't my growl come out smoothly?
    Community Answer
    Growling shouldn't really be smooth; it's meant to be gritty and rough. Don't try to force a growl though, and always warm your vocal cords up before singing.
  • Question
    Does breathing from the diaphragm tend to hurt along the breastbone and spine, as if being stretched?
    Community Answer
    It shouldn't, as all breathing is actually controlled by the diaphragm. If it is hurting you, take a break from what you're doing and consider seeing a doctor.
  • Question
    My throat immediately dries out whenever I try to hit a low growl. It sounds good briefly, but then goes dry and quiet. But it doesn't hurt much. Also, sometimes I feel sick after doing low growls. Why is that?
    Community Answer
    Chances are, you're stressing your vocal chords too much. Be sure to keep your voice healthy, especially when growling.
  • Question
    How warm is lukewarm water?
    Community Answer
    Lukewarm water is tepid or room temperature. Neither hot nor cold.
  • Question
    Does physical fitness affect my growling?
    Community Answer
    Having abs can make your growl louder. Also, being in shape will enable you to put more power behind your growls which will make them louder.
  • Question
    Will tightening my abs help with growling?
    Community Answer
    Your abs help you make the growl deeper and louder.
  • Question
    Will hot milk and turmeric powder help with my voice?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but tea is a better choice for your voice.
  • Question
    How do I get a low guttural growl like Phil Bozeman?
    Community Answer
    Phil Bozeman does false chord scream, which is basically growl with more energy/higher diaphragm pressure, a bit higher tune (change shape of your lips and oral cavity, lift up your tongue) and more open mouth. It takes years of practice to get to Phil's vocals.
  • Question
    Is this the same scream that Corey Taylor used?
    Community Answer
    Corey Taylor didn't use any conventional "safe" screaming technique. After the self-titled and Iowa albums, he ended up wearing his vocal cords due to the pressure on them.
  • Question
    How do I determine the best type of growl to use for my character?
    Community Answer
    Listen to a lot of material you don't usually listen to as well as the usual stuff. I was into symphonic metal very much, but funeral doom metal type vocals really fit my voice. Listening to different singers in your area of lyrics/tone can really help you identify yourself.
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