Speech level singing for Metal....uh oh

[Snax]

Well, I tried to record something using part full voice and part "head voice" to see if the difference in tone is as bad as I thought it would be. The higher notes definitely sound thin to me and a little like someone pretending to sing and not using any fullness. Love to hear some feedback on what you guys think.

http://files.me.com/muskysnax/i0e8bd.mp3

[xolin]

I guess I have a lot to learn about that because I'm not 100% clear on what the constrictors really are or how to deactivate them (though I get the idea).

[jonpall]

Well, I tried to record something using part full voice and part "head voice" to see if the difference in tone is as bad as I thought it would be. The higher notes definitely sound thin to me and a little like someone pretending to sing and not using any fullness. Love to hear some feedback on what you guys think.

http://files.me.com/muskysnax/i0e8bd.mp3

I think that your bridging is much better than you think. I think you need to work on your pitch accuracy and confidence, that's it. Fix that and watch your fan base grow This is just my opinion and I'm not a vocal coach, just a singer. Thanks for sharing. I think doing so will get you better and I'm thinking about doing the same now I just have to find the best forum to post in...

Cheers!

[jonpall]

Hmm, I just listened to some of the other stuff you've posted on this site, Snax, like the Judas Priest and Thunderball stuff, and that was very good! You do NOT have pitch problems there. In the file you posted here you must have either had an off day or were experimenting with new vocal techniques.

[Matt]

Im practicing relieving the constrictors at the moment. I'm simply taking something from relaxation and meditation techniques and trying to apply it here. A common trick in meditation is to concentrate on one limb at a time and imagine that it grows very heavy, so heavy its just hanging down loose from the body. This gets quite easy after a little practice and so Im doing the same thing with my voice. I register a note and hold it, and while holding it, I feel around for any muscle tensioning in the throat (seems to usually be the left and right side of the throat) and imagine it getting very heavy and just hanging down. I seem to be able to vocalize and let the throat muscles just hang loose, but of course, its a little harder to actually sing a whole song at the same time - but the point is, of course, to influence muscle memory.

[Snax]

Hmm, I just listened to some of the other stuff you've posted on this site, Snax, like the Judas Priest and Thunderball stuff, and that was very good! You do NOT have pitch problems there. In the file you posted here you must have either had an off day or were experimenting with new vocal techniques.

Thanks for the comments. I was experimenting with singing in the voice I usually do and then trying to release any throat tension and place the sound in my head without any chest weight.

I can somewhat still sing the song but it feels like there is no strength in that purely head voice I have. Perhaps that is how SLS technique is supposed to feel?

I have learned to bridge using lip bubbles and other vocalizations but I'm still unsure if that same weightless feeling is how it should feel when I'm singing a song like the one I posted. My chest voice is extremely powerful and if I do the James Kelly "high Mix" When a Man Loves a Woman type of sound as seen on Brett Manning's youtube video.

I realize that I will likely need to have some lessons with a vocal coach (Robert Lunte on Skype) to fully understand those different placements.

[jonpall]

A vocal coach could probably help answer those questions better.

It's great that you want to improve as a singer and be able to sing more relaxed - just make sure you don't lose the awesome voice you already have, which I heard on the files you've posted on the "REVIEW & CRITIQUE MY VOCALS" forum on this web site . Don't forget completely how to sing like that.

[joshual]

like your head voice!!! In my opinion ( noob one) you just have to keep that head voice and add a little weight to it ( or twang) and you will sing everything you want without efforts.. congrats ;-).

[Snax]

Thanks so much everyone! You are certainly encouraging me to keep learning. While I do have an innate musical ability the actual mechanics of singing have never come easy to me. It's only by absolutely pushing myself to my limits that I've gotten to the level I'm at. Now though, I want to build on that ability and gain the correct placement and abduction to make it easier on me. I'm about to have my tonsils examined by an ENT and I'm pretty sure they will either need to come out or at least be surgically reduced. The feeling in my throat when I'm singing around my passagio might actually be from those large tonsils and adenoids and not just from poor placement. Guess I'll find out soon enough! The thought of feeing up my voice gets me so excited!