How to Sing Screamo

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Screamo is a subgenre of post-hardcore emo that was popularized by bands like 'Thursday', 'Alexisonfire', 'Silverstein', 'Poison the Well' and 'The Used'. However the screamo technique of screaming/growling has been used by singers across a wide variety of genres, from heavy metal to jazz. Screamo singing can be very hard on the vocal chords and can potentially cause permanent damage to your voice, therefore it's important to learn how to do it safely and correctly.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Getting the Right Technique

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  1. One of the most important things to learn when practicing any singing style is how to breathe from your diaphragm.
    • This allows you to take in more oxygen, helping you to hold notes (or screams) for much longer and avoid getting out of breath while performing.
    • When you breathe from your diaphragm your stomach should expand as you inhale and contract when you exhale. Learning how to breathe correctly and naturally from your diaphragm takes practice.
    • Therefore you should start doing daily deep breathing exercises to improve your technique.
  2. You will have different levels of tension in your vocal chords depending on how high or low you sing or scream.
    • For example, when you sing in a low voice your voice box will move down, making your vocal chord tension loose. When you sing in a high voice your voice box moves up, making your vocal cords tight.
    • Good screamo singing is all about control, and in order to have control you need to be aware of how vocal cord tension works and how you can manipulate it. Once you can control vocal tension, you will easily be able to move between high and low registers, even while screaming.
    • A good practice technique is to hum along with the sound of your car engine as you rev it up -- this warms up your vocal chords and allows you to practice moving from high to low registers.
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  3. Many inexperienced screamo singers damage their voices by trying to scream too loudly -- however, one of the best kept secrets of successful singers is that they actually scream kind of quietly (as weird and contradictory as that sounds).
    • Don't try to scream at the top of your lungs on your first attempt, start at a low volume and as your voice gets stronger you can gradually increase the volume. [1]
    • The beauty of screamo is that you can let the microphone do most of the work while you're performing. Even a "quiet" scream can rattle your audience's teeth when amplified by a good sound system.
    • You can also produce deeper sounds by cupping your hands around the microphone or by moving your mouth in specific ways as you sing. The best thing you can do is just to play around and experiment with it until you find a sound that you like.
  4. One of the best ways to improve your screaming technique is to record yourself singing and then watch it back later (no matter how awkward this might feel).
    • This can help you to pick up on things like poor posture or pitch-problems which you would never have been aware of otherwise.
    • Recording yourself allows you to really hear what you sound like and become aware of where you need to improve. The first step to improving your singing is to recognize your mistakes.
    • A headphone microphone is usually a pretty decent microphone to record yourself. It picks up the voice pretty well , especially if you hold it right in front of your mouth.
  5. Vocal coaching and screamo singing may not sound like two things that should go together, but screamers can actually benefit hugely from some professional training. [2]
    • In fact, famous frontmen Randy Blythe, Corey Taylor and Robert Flynn have all improved their screaming technique and learned how to properly care for their voices thanks to professional vocal training.
    • A vocal coach will work with you to train and strengthen your voice. Even a couple of sessions can be worth the money, as your coach will teach you some breathing and warm-up exercises which you can practice at home.
    • Alternatively, you could try to get your hands on a book called "The Zen of Screaming" by Melissa Cross, which is pretty much the definitive guide to safe yet awesome-sounding screamo.
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Part 2
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Protecting Your Vocal Chords

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  1. It's a good idea to drink slightly warm water before rehearsing or performing. [3]
    • The water helps to clear and lubricate the throat, while also keeping you hydrated. Warm water is better than cold water as it warms up your vocal chords.
    • You could also drink tea or coffee, but remember not to add any milk or cream. Dairy products coat the throat and increase phlegm production, making singing harder. [4]
  2. Using a throat spray moisturizes your throat and helps to prevent your vocal chords from becoming damaged.
    • The most popular throat spray for singers is called "Entertainer's Secret" as it is a non-medicinal spray which relieves pain and irritation without numbing the throat.
    • It is available for purchase online.
  3. It's a bad idea to use any numbing sprays or lozenges, even if they help to relive vocal pain.
    • Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong, so if you're numb to that pain you can do serious damage to your vocal chords and potentially ruin your voice without even realizing it. [5]
  4. When singing screamo, one of the most important things to remember is not to push yourself too hard.
    • If you start to feel any pain, burning or irritation you should stop immediately and wait a couple of days for your voice to recover. [6]
    • Trying to sing through the pain (however rock star that sounds) will only hurt your voice more and potentially cause irreversible damage.
    • Do not sing at the extremes of your range a lot. Just like athletes don't run at 100% all of the time, you shouldn't sing at 100% all the time either.
    • For the most part, you should sing between 25% to 75% of your full potential.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I sing safely?
    Tanisha Hall
    Vocal Coach
    Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.
    Tanisha Hall
    Vocal Coach
    Expert Answer
    Give yourself time to rest and recover! For instance, if you have a very intense training session or a very intense gig where you're maxing your voice out and singing at a full belt, you need to give yourself an 1 hour of shut-up time to rest and recover your vocals.
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  • Question
    Is it any different for girls?
    Community Answer
    Somewhat. Girls can have a harder time learning to scream if their voice is higher pitched. This can be fixed if you learn how to sing or speak in your lower register. This allows your voice to be deeper, which is necessary if your voice is pitchy. If you were blessed with a lower voice (like me), screaming will be easier.
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  • Question
    I'm sixteen and aiming for a Gerard Way/Chester Bennington style of vocals (My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park).
    Dankfrance
    Community Answer
    Gerard Way (since I'm most familiar with MCR) has a bit of a mixed singing style, I guess you could say. His voice sounds fairly rough, especially in older songs, and the screaming/louder parts are often not much louder than the music (though they probably get toned down in editing a bit). Anyways, to go for a Gerard Way style, mix your singing with a softer, more gentler voice, a more regular volume, and then finally you can add in your screamo lyrics. It's quite the mix, but if you listen to him and really listen for it, you should be able to see what I mean by this.
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 25
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      Tips

      • Make sure to keep at least a bottle of water with you on stage if you're performing.
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      • Screaming, after getting used to the feeling, should come up to about the same level as your usual singing voice, the mic does the rest of the work. Remember you're using a mic, so you don't have to scream as loud you'd think, you can also cheat and "cup" the mic with your hands to help with the volume and sound.
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      • Before screaming, warm up the vocal chords.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Try taking everyday sounds and turning them into screams. Like if you huff or grunt when you're frustrated, try to push your air out harder when you make those noises to see how it feels to scream sing.
      • Avoid caffeine before singing, as well as any acidic beverages like orange juice.
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      Warnings

      • Singing screamo incorrectly can permanently damage your vocal chords, so remember to always warm your voice up first, to use proper singing techniques and to stop immediately if you feel any pain.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about singing, check out our in-depth interview with Tanisha Hall .

      References

      1. ↑ https://singwithpower.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/how-can-i-do-scream-or-screamo-vocals-in-my-singing/
      2. ↑ https://www.becomesingers.com/techniques/how-to-properly-scream-sing
      3. ↑ https://www.becomesingers.com/techniques/how-to-properly-scream-sing
      4. ↑ http://bigredcandle.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/how-to-screamo-scream-for-beginners/
      5. ↑ https://www.thenakedvocalist.com/create-vocal-effects/
      6. ↑ https://www.thenakedvocalist.com/create-vocal-effects/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before you can begin screaming like a pro, take time to learn to breathe properly, as this will improve your technique. To begin, take a deep breath into your diaphragm, the area just below your stomach, and exhale slowly. Then, when you’re ready, begin screaming, quietly at first, while focusing on controlling the tension in your vocal cords. You can easily practice this tension control by humming along to a car engine as it revs. As you improve, try gradually getting a little louder, being mindful not to injure yourself. To learn tricks for keeping your voice healthy between screaming sessions, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Wati Sykes

        Nov 25, 2016

        "It was tough, but because of these tips, I can now scream like a pro. Thank you for your help."
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