How to Scream Sing Safely (Including How to Fry Scream!)

PDF download Download Article
Vocal exercises and tips to protect your voice
PDF download Download Article

Even though the scream singing in Screamo and heavy metal music may sound aggressive, it shouldn’t actually hurt. When not done properly, scream singing can push and put pressure on your vocal cords, leading to potential damage. We're here to show you how to scream sing correctly (and emulate the metal or punk rock rockstars you love) using proper techniques that support your voice and give you all the intensity without any irritation. Follow these tips and steps to scream sing like a pro, all without wrecking your voice.

Things You Should Know

  • Scream sing by inhaling deeply into your diaphragm and pushing out the air on an open vowel like “ah.” Slowly increase power until you produce a supported scream.
  • To protect your voice, warm up with vocal scales, open your throat up with a silent laugh, stay hydrated, and rest your voice as needed.
  • Fry screaming is the most common type of scream singing. Talk in a vocal fry by speaking without projection or breath, then try singing with that same creaky tone.
Section 1 of 3:

How to Scream Sing

PDF download Download Article
  1. [1] Your diaphragm is the muscle located below your lungs. When you take a deep breath to scream sing, move your stomach out while keeping your chest still. [2]
    • If you feel your chest lift a lot when you take in a breath, you’re breathing from your chest and not your diaphragm.
    • Breathing properly through your diaphragm prevents unnecessary wear on your vocal cords.
  2. Take a deep breath into your diaphragm until you feel your lungs filled with air–this should feel like your stomach and sides are expanding, not your chest. Exhale sharply making an “h” sound to clear your throat and open up your throat. [3]
    • Repeat this process but make an “ee” sound as you exhale, slowly letting out air. Remember the way it feels to support and control your breath when you’re scream singing so you can produce a more powerful and healthy scream.
    Advertisement
  3. Remember that you still want to be singing in tune when scream singing. You're not just screaming the words of a song; you're singing the words and adding screams to your singing. Think of it as two layers: your regular singing voice, then your screaming voice. Combine the two layers to create the scream-singing sound. [4]
    • Practice layering your screams over your singing voice by singing normally and gradually transitioning into scream singing.
    • Choose a note and sing it in your regular voice.
    • After holding the note for a few seconds, start to layer a scream over the note until you're scream singing the note.
  4. These different types of screams come from various places in the body. Similar to regular singing, high-pitched screams come from the nasal cavity, and low-pitched screams come from the chest. [5]
    • Listen to a song that has scream singing in it and try to copy the placement of each scream.
    • Don't copy the full screaming noise. Try a soft whisper scream so you can feel where each type of scream should be coming from in the body.
    • The song "Painkiller" by Death features scream singing in the high vocal range. Listen to "Feed the Machine" by Red to hear low-note screams coming from the chest.
  5. Open your mouth and slowly let out a low "ah." Don't project your voice or breathe out as you're doing it. This low-pitched, cracking effect you hear in your voice is vocal fry. Choose a song you like and sing the words with vocal fry. Try getting louder with your vocal fry until it sounds like a scream. [6]
    • Singing using vocal fry can create a distorted, screaming-like effect that won’t hurt your voice.
    • This vocal fry technique is known as fry screaming, which is the most common type of scream singing. Fry screaming is done by breathing deeply into the diaphragm and pushing that air through the vocal cords.
    • Matt Shadows of the band Avenged Sevenfold uses vocal fry to scream sing. Listen to the song "Critical Acclaim" to hear him using vocal fry. [7]
    • Vocal fry is generated from the ventricular folds, which are different from vocal folds. [8]
  6. A trained vocal professional can give you individual help with scream singing. Voice training can also help to make sure you don’t damage your voice, especially if your coach specializes in scream singing or other “aggressive” music genres. [9]
    7. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Scream Sing Without Hurting Your Voice

PDF download Download Article
  1. [10] Warm-ups prepare your voice for scream singing so it’s not as vulnerable to damage. Try to do a few different singing warm-ups before every practice session or performance.
    • Start your warm-up with a simple lip buzz. Close your lips and then vibrate them so they’re rapidly hitting against each other. Hold your pitch for a few seconds and then go up or down a pitch. Keep vibrating your lips and trying different pitches. [11]
    • You can also warm up by singing “mah-may-me-mo-moo.” Using one note, sing “mah-may-me-mo-moo” slowly but all in one breath. Once you finish, sing it again, going one note higher. Continue until you’ve gone all the way up the scale.
    • Sometimes, your voice might seem like it's not warmed up, but you're actually struggling because of something unrelated to your voice like nerves. Work on resolving the emotions that are interfering with your voice rather than focusing on technique. [12]
    • Cooling down your voice is as important as warming it up: try descending scales or slides on a lip trill or gentle vowel like “oo.”
  2. Try silently laughing, producing a silent sob, or inhale on a soft “k” sound. These actions will naturally reduce constriction in your throat and prepare it for a scream or shout. [13]
  3. Engage your back muscles for more power by making a pulling motion with your arms as you scream sing. Bend your legs to center your body before a powerful scream. [14]
    • Stabilize your neck and chin by pressing your fist against your forehead while scream singing. Your chin should not lift or lower while singing.
    • Eventually this posture will become second-nature to you, so you won’t have to repeat these motions every time you scream sing.
  4. Blow out most of your air right before your scream. It’s natural to want to take a big breath before a powerful note. However, more air in our lungs will want to rush out faster, which can lead to vocal strain. [15]
    • Singers can find it difficult to produce the same sounds with less air, but developing good breath control can help.
    • Try this breath control exercise: Breathe in and fill your diaphragm, then push the air out on a whispered “ah.” Repeat the exercise and slightly increase the force of your breath. Narrow your vocal cords to control the sound and pitch. [16]
  5. Scream sing into a microphone to conserve your voice. Scream singing can place a lot of strain on your vocal cords, especially if you’re trying to project your voice. Use a microphone whenever you’re performing (or practicing if you want to sing loudly) so you don’t need to project your voice as far. [17]
    • Be careful not to scream sing too loudly into a microphone. You don't want to damage listeners' ears.
  6. Whether you’re practicing or performing, keep your vocal cords hydrated while you’re scream singing. If you’re performing, bring a bottle of water on stage and take a few sips after each song.
  7. [18] Even with proper techniques, scream singing can wear out your voice. Continuing to sing with aching or damaged vocal cords will only make the problem worse. Listen to your body and take a break so your voice has time to heal. [19]
    8. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Voice

PDF download Download Article
  1. Try to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. You can also drink warm tea with honey to help soothe your vocal cords if they feel irritated. [20]
  2. Alcohol and caffeine dry out your larynx and vocal folds, making your voice more susceptible to damage when you sing. If you know you have a performance coming up or you’re going to be practicing a lot, limit your alcohol and caffeine intake during the days leading up to it. [21]
  3. Quit smoking . Smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke can irritate and damage your vocal cords. Combining smoking with scream singing will make your voice more susceptible to damage. [22]
  4. While it may not seem like exercising would have anything to do with your voice, regular exercise can improve your lung capacity and stamina, which will help you speak and sing better. Try to fit some cardio into your routine a few days out of the week. [23]
  5. Use a humidifier if you live in a cold or dry climate. A humidifier will work to keep your throat hydrated so your vocal cords don’t get too dry. Turn your humidifier on before you go to sleep every night. Try to keep your living space at around 30 percent humidity. [24]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I want to scream like Tyler Joseph in Car Radio, but I'll be using a microphone. How do I not make everyone deaf?
    Community Answer
    Try moving the mic away from your face as the loudness of your voice increases.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 63
  • Question
    My throat feels irritated like a sore throat after practice but it does not feel painful. Am I doing it wrong?
    Community Answer
    If you feel any pain, stop immediately, as yes, you're doing it incorrectly. However, at first your voice won't be used to the feeling. While screaming, your throat should not hurt, but if it begins to feel a bit sore, take the night off and try again tomorrow. Your voice needs to adjust to this new action.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 71
  • Question
    Should it feel like I've been coughing after singing?
    Community Answer
    No, not at all. That is a sign you are damaging your voice.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 32
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you’re performing for an audience, plan your set to give yourself breaks. If there are certain songs you scream sing in, space those songs out with gentler songs on your set list.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If your throat is feeling irritated, gargle with saltwater . Salt water won’t heal a hoarse voice, but it will alleviate some of the discomfort you’re feeling.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Don’t practice for more than 15-20 minutes at a time when you’re first starting out. Frequency of practice is more important than the length of time you practice for.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

      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.
      • If you happen to have some mucus in your throat, don't cough! Coughing can spread mucus around your throat and make singing more difficult, so drink water or spit the mucus out instead.
      • Practicing all the time can cause swelling, so only practice once or twice a day for short periods of time.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Video

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Do Harsh Death Metal Vocals
      How to
      Develop a Strong High Singing Voice
      Yodeling for Beginners: Teach Yourself to Yodel
      How to
      Harmonize
      How to
      Sing Opera
      What Is Mixing in Singing? A Beginner's Guide
      How to
      Become a Child Singer
      How to
      Scat
      How to
      Develop a Slightly Raspy Singing Voice
      How to
      Scream
      How to
      Lip Sync
      How to
      Sing Screamo
      How to
      Scream Sing
      How to
      Do Karaoke
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQCLwWlDdM&feature=youtu.be&t=192
      3. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-scream
      4. ↑ https://singingisjoy.com/how-to-scream-sing/
      5. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-scream
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwlVxVfQ4CU&feature=youtu.be&t=179
      7. ↑ http://musicaroo.com/scream-sing/
      8. ↑ Jonathan Stancato. Voice Coach. Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-train-your-voice
      1. ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      2. ↑ https://musicaroo.com/scream-sing/
      3. ↑ Jonathan Stancato. Voice Coach. Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.singwise.com/articles/singing-with-an-open-throat-vocal-tract-shaping
      5. ↑ https://www.singwise.com/articles/singing-with-an-open-throat-vocal-tract-shaping
      6. ↑ https://johnhenny.com/62-2/#When_Breathy_Singing_Is_Bad
      7. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-scream
      8. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      9. ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      10. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      11. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      12. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      13. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      14. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
      15. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’re learning to scream sing, it’s very important to do it properly so you don’t damage your voice. Breathe from your diaphragm so that your stomach expands and not your chest. This will help you get the right sound and protect your voice. Don’t scream too loudly, especially at first. Use a microphone to amplify your voice if you need to. You should also warm up your voice before screaming with various singing exercises. Make sure you drink water in between screaming to keep your throat hydrated. If it gets scratchy or irritated, let your voice rest until it feels better before screaming again. For more tips, including how to adjust your diet and lifestyle to keep your voice healthy, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 714,543 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Sabrina D.

        Jan 20, 2018

        "Very helpful article because I have a rather angelic voice, very "cute", and since I like metal it's ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement