Vocal tutorial: Black metal vocals

[Illnathftfw]

lol, why are you moving around so much? ; - D anyways, pretty decent video

[jmania21]

How to do black metal vocals: Swallow a dying cat.

[H2Zman]

This technique works well for me when I do death growls, but for some reason trying it at a higher pitch sounds and feels awkward. Should there be such a big difference?

[Khalis33]

the lyrics: EEEEERRRRYYRYYYYYYUUUUUUUUCKKK­KKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!

[c0mpiled]

this will work very well with burzum/nyktalgia/sterbend-styl­e songs

[moisessreyes]

Stop movin where are u going

[wilmaggot666]

You can do a text with all that you speak in the video? because I'm Brazilian, and not understand anything of what you said in the video, and I want to learn this kind of vocal, sends to my email: wiil-15-2010@hotmail.com or add me on msn, email is the same thank you. Sorry for bad English

[ControlledChao5]

Put down the effing camera

[seqament]

2:58  bwahahah nice one.

[Danielklicka]

Thank you! youre awesome! This is the best guide so far :)

[okamideon]

I thought this was for death metal...silly me.

[okamideon]

My*

[okamideon]

I already knew how to do vocals but I highs sounded so bad but thanks to you that problem is solved.

[okamideon]

That really fucking works I can do high vocals now...THANKS!!!!!!

[ProPipesCodClan]

after doing all these vocal tutorials i lost my voice lmao

[dityperi]

while i was a child i never cried - i always screamed like satan

[andrewcairns11]

it will do well for Unblack metal

[Blixish]

@andrewcairns11 Hmm... If you watch my Burzum collaboration cover, I think you'll agree that it works fine for Black Metal. This approach works well for any extremely distorted vocals though, it's a versatile technique.

[andrewcairns11]

@Blixish yeah i know i was just having a joke, yeah it works really well man thanks for the tutorial

[6Melo6death6]

Yeah, I thought it was exactly that way that we supposed to do it, but it kills my throat each time.. and it isn't supposed to if I'm not wrong, right? Well i'll keep practising.

[MRtavoperez]

at 1:03 sounds like hi said if your not able to masturbateXD

[blackenedshoegazer]

best black metal vocal's i've heard is from velvet cacoon.

[turgore]

Dark Funeral is looking for a vocalist. Get ready guys.

[ExhumedRemains]

@turgore Not anymore, Nachtgarm from Negator took over on vocals which is awesome!!!

[KadeshLeMort]

Norwegians know their black metal

[Adam1349]

I really have to thank you actually, I watched this video, and your latest edition, and you been the most helpful instructor by far. Everything else I would watch or read about would just say to sing a note and tighten your diaphragm and push, but that hurts my throat after awhile; with this baby technique I can already feel a difference and I'll only started doing it today! In short, you're awesome man!

[Blixish]

@Adam1349 Glad I could help! :)

[missinglithium]

Will this technique help me how to sing like Chuck Schuldiner in proggresive like flesh and the power it holds? plz help!

[Blixish]

@missinglithium This question has two answer. Yes, the technique is the same, but no. Every voice is different, and you should not seek to imitate.

[Blixish]

@missinglithium This question has two answers. Yes: The technique is the same. No: Every voice is different, and you should not seek to imitate.

[Arthemesic]

@Blixish

But Chuck Schuldiner used fry vocal screaming, it's easy to distinguish from death growls even when there's so much power that they sound almost identical.

[Blixish]

@Arthemesic I think the so-called "power fry" is a myth. Technique-wise, it is very different from the classic, horrible sounding, weak fry - it is a lot closer to what I call false cord. (Which I demonstrate here.)

Therefore, my terminology might be a bit different than the terminology you normally see out there.

[Arthemesic]

@Blixish

Yeah I don't believe in power fry either. People have this misconception that fry vocals are those weak grudge-sound squeaks, and power fry is supposed to be a loud version of it. The error here, in my opinion, is the divide; the REAL fry vocal scream is loud and powerful (try spotting it when Winston McCall does 'em, it's hard as hell!), but still very much different from growls (main difference; larynx is raised in fry, lowered in growls).

[DavinaFaerie]

Hey, you're amazing! I'm a female metal vocalist(trying to be in a band-want to know if I'm good enough & any tips if possible) I sent a video response.

If you could possibly analyze me that would be so very much appreciated.

I believe I can do growls not to bad but Iam extremely shit at high screams.

Any advice would be so much appreciated.

Thanks for your time in advance... :0)

[Blixish]

@DavinaFaerie Hey there! The best tip I can give for mastering high-pitches scream vocals is to be loud as hell. I have a video in production right now (it'll go live in a few hours) which I think will help quite a bit.

[DavinaFaerie]

@Blixish Yeah, I'll give it a go & hopefully I won't freak my neighbours out to much,lol... Thanks... :0)

[cr8zykill3r]

is this black metal technique called screeching ?

[Blixish]

@cr8zykill3r Screaming, shrieking, screeching, false cord... It has many names, all of which are irrelevant. :p

[mastercrowly]

fucking awesome bullring. i want to get my septum pierced so fucking badly but my mom won't let me. god.damn.it.

[Pulvertoastman250]

the restless black metal teacher :D

good job man , i like your videos

[kjellisHERE]

This actually helped A LOT. Tusen tack, hehe.

[Anesthesia069]

I've been doing "angry sigh" black metal vocals for a while (not too seriously though) and I feel like I need to force A LOT of air through my lungs to get it, which obviously lowers the amount of sustain I have. I haven't tried the "infant wailing" yet though! I'm liking the Dimmu Borgir cover btw

[Blixish]

@Anesthesia069 The infant approach also produces false cord. (Although, some may argue it's called "loud fry", dunno why...) However, when you use that approach, it's a lot easier to control the air flow without too much concentration. Thanks again, and good luck! :)

[Anesthesia069]

Hey man, nice vocals. Do you have a tutorial for getting more sustain on your vocals?

[Blixish]

@Anesthesia069 It comes with practice. :) Thanks for the comment!

[yumchuchuyum]

i can do this and use my diaphragm but when i try to get loud i think i tighten my throat cuz it gets quieter

[Blixish]

@yumchuchuyum For me it's a lot louder when I do highs than when I do lows. Try screaming like a scared little girl (seriously). It should help. :)

[catcat646]

luls are good ^^

[JayDawg211]

Nice! Helped alot, where are you from?

[Blixish]

@JayDawg211 Glad I could help. ^^ I'm from northern Norway.

[EraOfBloodtv]

@Blixish Hail.

[SmootheTank]

@Blixish

Thats interesting, my last name is Nordahl, i think its norwegian for north valley.

[J4gm]

@666sketch218

"And now your failure is complete."

[iversenaleksander]

@666sketch218 I like you. For this you should hang yourself.

[Blixish]

@666sketch218 As they say, "User was banned for this post". Happy new year.

[DONthe67]

@Blixish hey im sort of new at this and ive been watching all your videos but i havent gotten the black metal growling sound down yet if you can make another vid or if you can please give me some pointers my problem is range i want to get that sound kinda like shagrath thank you

[HaveANiceDayBMX]

Totally mention that keepimg your body "square"(a.k.a somewhat good posture) helps make it easy . as its easier to do death vocals standing up than sitting down.

[Blixish]

@HaveANiceDayBMX Very true! That goes for all singing/vocals. :)

[HaveANiceDayBMX]

@Blixish Hey I recall hearing in oone of your tutorial how to movies you mentioned to push from the stomach. Just a small warning pushing from your stomach. Pushing from your stomach should be as much force as you use when you sing clean vocal and have to use the stomach. Do not on a regular basis tighten your abdomen muscles to push. I have a friend who sang death metal for 26 years. He started when he was 7 now he is in his 30s and has a hernia fromuseing "over straining " his abs.

[Blixish]

@HaveANiceDayBMX Diaphragmatic power is important in order to learn how to not strain your vocal cords. However - all things in moderation! Don't push yourself too far over a period of 26 years. :p

[jessegguitar]

Also, at 2:58 , you said just add more power to the baby cry... but... it looks like you are tighting your throat the higher the pitch.. like at 3:01.. true?

[Blixish]

@jessegguitar To pitch it up I just did the same thing I would do to pitch up clean vocals. More volume = clearer distortion. It sounds like I did indeed clench my throat a bit when transitioning to more power, but the clue is to avoid it as much as possible. When you're at full power, you shouldn't feel any tension.

[jessegguitar]

@Blixish i appreciate it alot... you vids have helped out the most and your analogies , teaching..! one more thing.. im sure you know Death... some of chucks vocals i find hardest to imitate... seems like he does what you are doing but also adds singing and mixes it up somehow... maybe it just sounds like that cause the overtones or something.. shit i dont know? (deaths older albums, symbolic and before)

[jessegguitar]

@jessegguitar

Actually since iv just learned falsechord... ill practice that and see how i can embellish it... but one more thing too brotha.... uum breathing... falsechord, i tend to run out of air quicker than i would with fry... well i think im doing fry right.. is there anyway to not use as much air or is that what is needed?

[Blixish]

@jessegguitar Regarding Chuldiner's vocals, yes they are false cord. Adding 'voice' to the false cord technique is a walk in the park - since false cord always has an underlying clean voice to it. (Which usually gets heavily masked by the distortion.)

On the breathing part - Just make sure to use proper breathing technique (watch any classic singing tutorial about it if you're unsure) and the stamina and air conservation will come in time.

Thanks for the feedback, and good luck! ^^

[jessegguitar]

@Blixish hell yea thanks!

[thecocreator88]

I never thought I would find a vid that actually helps.. thanks!

[Kohreku]

LOL @ transcribe, my complete guide to metal vocals=Michael the president of the locals

Good tutorial though

[HailVikernes]

At 2:05 and 2:22 I don't really get how you make that sound, I always figured babies went "Waaa" so pretty much I don't get how to make the sound you do even though it seems to be simple.

Also I have another technique I try but when I practice the singing part of it seems to come out as a whisper rather then how it should, is there any reason that you know of as to why this happens?

[Blixish]

@HailVikernes Well, the best tip I can give is to be as loud as you can. Don't mind the neighbours, just try to be heard all around the block. ^^ It might make it easier to get.

[HailVikernes]

@Blixish OK thanks ill give that a try, the other thing is I dont exactly get how to make the sound you make at 2:05 and 2:22, when I think of babies crying I only really think of "Waaa" and arent really sure exactly about how to do what you describe even though the way described is relatively simple

[Blixish]

@HailVikernes You might want to try the different approaches shown in the video "[FAQ] Distortion". :) If that doesn't work - hang in there. I've got a new complete guide in the making.

[TheNameIsPascal]

For normal vocals i use fry+false chords

but for black metal i use voice+false chords

and for the real fucking high ones i use my headvoice+false chords.

it sounds really awesome actually ^^

[rizzometal92]

waiting for the new vocals tutorial, especially for growling. you're the best blix :)

[Blixish]

@rizzometal92 Thanks! :D A new version of the Complete Guide to Metal Vocals has been released, and the third edition is in process. (It'll be done by November, with good editing and an improved script!)

[Harkor666]

you surely makes the best tutorial for metal vocals, and you did it in lot of differents metal, you are awesome.

[Blixish]

@Harkor666 Thanks a lot :D

[Vannras]

Yay! awesome! Tusen takk :D

[XDIASthecuber]

That's what i've been doing naturally!!!!!! Of course i sound like shit but my basics are those too.

The only thing i've never to been able to figure out was the fry vocals..........

Quick and nice tutorial ;)

Need more

[Blixish]

@XDIASthecuber Thanks man. ^^ Well, if you got this down you don't need fry vocals! :)

[XDIASthecuber]

@Blixish My technique is o.k. for bm, and i can use it too with some melodeath, but i'd also like to try to do some metalcore covers but i can never make something decent.....

[ChinoMoreno4life]

Lol, man you must be hyper i dont think ive ever seen a video of you pacing around while recording!

[Blixish]

@ChinoMoreno4life Hehe, way to much coffee. ^^ Also, my laptop is broken, so I can't work with my music, which makes me even more restless.