The "Cornell" vocal sound...

[staticsound]

I'm sure this topic has prob been brought up before, but I figured what the hell. I know this guy is a monster, but I cannot replicate "his" sound. I can do Soundgarden covers all day long, but they never sound right? I think maybe I've got Cornell's voice stuck in my head...that's prob why I'm never satisfied with any covers I try.

To my ears, a lot of his stuff sounds "heady" but still with a lot of chest overtones. I'm not talking about the Cornell "scream", but his singing voice in general. Any tips would be appreciated! :D

[Duchi]

Can you upload some Soundgarden covers that you did? Cornell is a favourite of mine, I think that his voice tember is specific and hard to replicate, otherwise the way he sings - he has eaither this soft tone for ballads, like Fell on black days, Wooden Jesus, its like you are talking to yourself, not really projecting with energy. Anything else that sounds powerfull and raspy is support and twang and adjusting of the way you do the rasp, otherwise I start sounding like axl roses rasp(if I put the rasp to the front, it gets nasaly axl). His screams on the other hand, I think he uses mixed voice (or call it head voice without letting go of the chest voice, this is what i feel/sensation) for the notes up to D5, anything above, like in the songs Four walled world or Say hello to heaven (the last part where he goes up to G5), this is some sort of a loud head voice, where he engages the false chords, I pulled that off a couple of times, but recently, because I haven't been practising for months, I discovered that I have forgotten what exactly Ive been doing. I think when I used to do it, I had some gurgling ot vibrating sensation in my throat or palate and it did NOT hurt. But when I did mess up it kinda can hurt your throat...

[ronws]

If you figure that out, you will have lots of people contacting you. One can use some of the same techniques another singer uses and never sound like them.

[Vocalist Dad]

My son Gabe is a huge Chris Cornell fan and loves to cover him. I had the opportunity to watch Gabe record this. He feels Chris Cornell makes is seem effortless but in reality, it takes a really strong core to get close to him.

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11389332&q=hi&newref=1

[staticsound]

Yeah, if I could do Cornell, I would be golden. I can hit the end of 'Say Hello 2 Heaven" when I'm having a VERY good day.....that G5 is a b*tch! It usually comes out distorted, which is not intentional. I think I'm pushing too hard to get those notes out. The best I can do consistently is "Hunger Strike".....and that's even a pain at the end. For those that have listened to my covers, my goal is to sound as close to the original artist, and Cornell is a really tough one to do. He just has one of those voices that's hard to replicate.

@Vocalist Dad - Seriously?.....that sounds just like Cornell.....is that for real?!.....I'm envious.....very...

[jonpall]

I suggest you take a private lesson from Daniel Formica, who can do this and teach this. Here he is:

And Vocalist Dad's son does a very great Cornell also, I must say.

[ronws]

I agree with jonpall. Vocalist Dad's son is able to sound like so many singers. In this one, he sounds very much like Chris Cornell. Amazing.

[jonpall]

What about Vocalist Dad's son's brother in law's cousin? Can he do Cornell?

[ronws]

What about Vocalist Dad's son's brother in law's cousin? Can he do Cornell?

I don't know, as yet. Maybe, one day, we can converse with the son of Vocalist Dad. See if there is any questions he has about singing or technique or maybe he can share with us how he does what he does.

Me, I have been singing for as long, probably, as the son or his son's brother's-in-law cousin has been alive and I am still learning things. Then, again, I am probably a slow learner. I do know, for a fact, that I learn things the hard way.

:D

[staticsound]

Lol

Thanks for that link jonpall