Distorted Vocals Defined: Different Types of Screams EXPLAINED! 

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The most brutal death metal scream that I've heard is what my mum makes whenever she's mad.

I don't sing but these videos are super useful for voice acting. Especially for video games which often have non-human characters and involve voices that sound intentionally weird. Combining these techniques with odd pronunciations and oral / facial shapes can work wonders.

Aaaahhhh... I always thought "when female vocalists do growls you cannot hear it's a woman's voice anymore"... well you just taught me vocalists don't acually use their voice when screaming so that explains it lol xD

That line at 8:09 was hilarious! "That's very hard to do, again that's why I have a job. Get at me!" 😂😂😂 Confident humor at its finest. Nice video by the way.

This is one of the best "How to Scream" videos simply because she makes it clear that screaming does NOT involve your actual voice. There's the common misconception that screaming is pushing your voice to a certain limit, but it's actually just a trick. You can "scream" at speaking volume using both Fry and False Chord. What turns it into a rock/metal scream is adding your normal voice underneath that distortion and increasing your volume. Most bands scream with mostly distortion - there is barely any note or pitch to the scream - but it's a balancing act. Some rock vocalists are known for really just singing and adding only a little bit of vocal fry for texture. There are other RU-vid "Gurus", such as Chris Liepe, who teach that you need to push your chest voice to a "breaking point", and this is very wrong. It sort of works for him in short bursts, but there's no way anyone can scream an entire metal song that way. The creation of the distortion needs to be done using the effortless "trick". Only then should you be increasing your volume and straining for those higher notes. It should be difficult to get the volume and power, but creating the distortion should be easy. You'll notice that our teacher in this video actually leans INTO the mic for the screams. They're that quiet, and that effortless for her. She can of course add volume when the situation requires it.

You make it so simple and easy to understand

Your examples sound really good which makes it extra inspiring!

I've been doing clean vocals my entire life. I started watching your videos a few weeks ago and I can actually fry scream and sing with distortion now. So thank you!

That was a great explanation. I've wondered about how metal singers make those noises without hurting their throats for years. Thanks for a great video

I just realized that I only do fry screams. I've been doing that for a long time, and I didn't know if I was doing it correctly or not, and I'm so happy that I have been. False chords are actually really, really hard for me for some reason.

lol your dave mustaine impression is 100% spot on and i love it!

Your explanations are the best!! Your lessons make it much easier to understand

thank you so much for this very informative, condensed and perfectly articulated overview. I've been doing heavy vocals for 8 years and im just now starting to learn to do it properly, thanks to content like this.

I've been a fan of heavy metal and "screaming" for over 10 years but have never been able to ever figure how they do it without my throat hurting. After watching just this video and practicing out in the garage for 5 mins I was able to Fry Scream. I never knew you weren't supposed to use vocals in fry screaming or False Cords. I was able to scream along with 1 chorus of "Pieces" by Jinjer and Titiana without killing myself. Don't sound anywhere near as good as she does, and I'm dude, but just being able to do it was epic.

You should listen to Travis Ryan from Cattle Decapitation. He combines a false chord high scream with tunnel throat tongue placement, all while singing melodies in falseto. He's absolutely insane!

Working with the singer in my band in the studio has been pretty amazing. Some little oddities thought that might be good content to cover. Difference in practice and live vs studio. Technically should be the same, but is always different. Long screams are easy live and air runs short in the studio. I suspect nerves even though he seems relaxed, but is there more? What to look for, listen for and how to better support him would be awesome. I think there are generalities that could help a lot of people.

You need to react to Dir En Grey, the singer has a 5 Octave range and can do everything and I mean EVERYTHING!! Dude is a technical master.

the first demonstration deadass scared me i didn't expect it lmao

Can you sing? Me: 11:25

This is hands-down one of the best videos I've ever seen about screaming, and easily the most informative. Most people don't know how their own voices work, and they tend to get hurt as a result. Thank you so much for uploading this! It's so refreshing to hear someone who really knows what they're talking about discuss the topic.

Good job! Your examples make the definitions really clear

Her impression of Dave Mustaine doing his raspy talk made me relaise how much he sounds like Roz from Monsters Inc... "Hello me, I'll be watching, always watching"

probably the only video ive seen explain and differentiate them correctly, nice job.

You should analyze Jason Butler's screams from letlive./The Fever 333/Pressure Cracks. The dude never seems to run out of energy and his screams are fantastic.

This was awesome. Thank you. I was classically trained since I was 7 and went to school for Opera. I have always sang in my head voice so I have an extremely over developed head voice while my chest voice is super underdeveloped. Lately I have been wanting to branch out and learn about false chords so this was excellent. I'm interested.

This really helped differentiating false chord and fry scream

These video's are actually the ones I was looking for! Tried to scream a bit and noticed that I knew how to use the soft palate for distortion, but without the air pressure combined. My first attempt went pretty well I must say and no tension at all :D! I'm gonna stalk your video's for now hehehe. Perhaps a lesson coming up as well eventually ^^! Thank you

I still like your 'floating head' video from a few years ago...you followed me in my scream dreams... I've been experimenting with simply gentle exhales of air through the soft pallet to get the feeling of pushing air through there. It's a lot of concentration to avoid the vocal chords entirely but the more I practice it the more I can find that place. Just shaping the vowels through the mouth is a different experience then talking. Thanks.

Most informative vocal content I've found! Thanks so much!

Devin Townsend's/Spencer Sotelo's style of a more refined pitched screaming is probably my second favourite style. Could never get a deep growl in the past 12 years out of fry at all, but through a lot of shaping I figured it out just fine with false cords.

Well, the question is, how should we close our vocal chords? What type of exercises we should do to make that sound? Do you recommend any videos?

Damn this is what I was looking for. I needed this sort of explanation. The scientific part of it helps me understand what im trying to do a lot better. Thank you

Just found this, somehow looking up Opeth led me here and I'm already loving the videos, subbed, and I'm looking forward to more. Some of this I already knew from practice and trying things out how they worked, but you putting into perspective made it make much more sense. I appreciate it, looking forward to more (also watching past videos).

I came across a Mongolian Band a while back. The band is named "The Hu" ... I assume it is an homage to "The Who." Also they have English Subtitles in their official videos. Anyways Their vocals is considered "Throat Singing." They also have unique Instruments. I was hoping you could elaborate on this band and their techniques. I love your videos. I have learned a lot and I believe it is giving an education to those who are frightened by these bands. I believe your education is taking away fear. I commend that. Thank you. :)

Thank you! Another very insightful video. I would love a video specifically covering how to prevent voice from seeping into voiceless screams.

Nice explanation. From the direct comparision at the end it seems that fry screams use less but more compressed air flow, while false cords use more air and seem to be louder. So if someone were to mix both you'd have to be aware that volume output for the mic may have to be adjusted accordingly.

Can you record everyday Fry scream routine exerciese, it will be very helpfull :)?

this is the best explanation in my opinion

Hi Mary, I really enjoy your videos. I was thinking if you could make a video on how to train raising your voice, I have a bit of difficulties with singing loud (not sure if you understand) I do take lessons, though Im on a small break due to the load of work I have at uni. I would love to hear your take on this problem

Woah hav I just entered the doctors surgery where am I. Hey love this take on it uv obv done some crazy studying and I'm grateful to get a snipet from ur knowledge new to ur channel today love how there is so much help and good advice now thanks.

I have a question. Does Rob Halford in his high registers use the falsetto with distortion? It would be great if you did a video about him and his technique! :) Greetings from Poland and thank you for sharing your knowledge! \m/

Very useful. I do both frys and false chords for lows. I didn't really understand the difference but I do now. You can hear the overtones when you do low frys (squeals, whatever), and they sound super cool at least to me. Like a cool highpitched note on top of the angry monster sound I am making. It rings and sounds super neat.

Now I wanna hear Louie Armstrong do metal.

I believe this video is the one that unlocked my fry screams that I couldn't get powerful... Just saying "there's no voice in here, I'm not saying "yaaa" " helped so much. I was trying to get my falsetto loud for the last 3 months haha Thanks a lot !

You can also do a really cool venom voice with false cord

Great video! You look amazing and I love the lights in the background -so cozy☺️

I always learn something from your videos 👍 very articulated

Can you PLEASE make a vid on the Vocals in Ahab? I think they are incredible and he even nails them live!

loved it! I never really think too much about what's actually going on when doing screams, so it's cool to see it explained this way :)

I really want to learn how to scream but i don't know where to start and i'm also broke. To make it worse i am extremely nervous to try...

can you do a video on vowel modifications while singing or screaming??? that would really be helpful....love your videos btw

Omg your voice! I'm jealous!

Great tutorial! I really appreciated your thorough explanation along the anatomical pictures and demonstrations.

Man I've been able to do false chords since i was a young but shit I can't do Fry even if my life depended on it

So glad to see you again! Greetings from Peru.

wow! thanks a lot! now I know why when I screaming, it makes me feel, why it's so different everytime I sing, and this video is so helpful, 'cause not many people know how to describe the difference 😅😁

This is such an awesome all-covering theory walkthrough.

interesting! I'm totally out of practice nowadays but used to do metal-vocals in bands a lot years ago. Now I know for a fact that what I was doing was mostly false cord screaming/growling.

Fantastic lesson! You really exlaind all the diffrent types of screams precisely.. As a vocalist myself i like learning a bit from every other person and gather a good arsenl of knowledge.. Keep up the good work and rock on! 🤘

Talented and a beauty

6:00 Grovermetal.

This is one of the best metal vocal videos I've ever come across. Thank you:-)

WAW it works so much better than everything i've been learning ! Thanks that's incredible

ty coach.

Thanks for great tutorial. I'm sure people will find it most useful in their journey of extreme vocals.

So, it's interesting that you brought up the "Louis Armstrong" thing, because for YEARS, I've been doing false cord in combination with the cookie monster thing. I do get pain here and there, but it may be because I'm not breathing enough. I'm not sure what to do about it, even though it sounds gnarly and guttural, I don't want to be accidentally destroying my entire voice while doing so.

I learned so much from this channel the past few weeks

Slaughter To Prevail- Failed Hope. Alex's vocal demonstration is stunning. Would love to hear your thoughts on his method. Also he goes between English and Russian vocals.

Thank you for your sharing time and talent MaryZ! I’m learning a lot from your videos!

Incredibly well explained - thank you!

These are super helpful descriptions, thanks!

Such a good lesson. Thank you so much, what a queen

if you want to learn how to scream this is the channel you need to watch

I'm learning how to scream :D and my mom yell at me : "hey you stop it!"

Any links on vocal style 2? Singing with rasp without killing my voice is were I need to be

This was one of the best videos I've seen on this, thanks a ton. Could you do one on Andy Sixx/Biersack/Black? That'd be sick

Well done. That being said...this is why I drum, play bass, and guitar. My voice is barely suitable for speaking. If I have to raise the volume of my voice to just under a shout..not even a full shout...just to be heard in a room full of people also talking. .i just say nothing to avoid a sore throat. I've been accused of being antisocial in large crowd settings for not speaking. If i have to yell to be heard I won't speak because there is nothing i have to say that is important enough to carry a sore throat for the next week over a few shouted syllables. I couldn't imagine what pain I would be in if i actually tried to sing. The death metal vocals is completely out of the question....but i make up for it with instrument skill.

very very good video! I've been serious about singing for years now I've had a vocal coach and you know how many were able to inform me that it is actually the tissues vibrating in my face that creates that distortion for a full voice scream? fking 0, spreading some knowledge saving some heartache/injury and she's cute wow!

Always informative, I appreciate videos like this lol

This vid is amazing! Thank you for sharing your expertise and for explaining it so well!

explanations really good earned a sub and a new viewer keep it up

I think I just found my scream voice thanks

If you go BACK to Chester Bennington. Ouch, that hurt

Cool effect with ur hair that's super cool it's like uv got like ghostly shadows round u or something still watching this vid but because it's dark behind u and ur hair am sure u knw nice!

8:12 "But that's also why I have a job." lmao

Mary is amazing!

I love your videos, they've helped me a lot with my vocal progression

When I first tried to do throat singing all I could do was epiglottal involved distortion for the first 6 months or attempts which involved the back of my tongue kind of touching my soft pallette to maintain it. I felt something was wrong because I could not sing with it like pro throat singers do and it would cut out on certain vowels or words. After a year or so I finally learned how to isolate the false cords with no epiglottal distortion and then all of a sudden I could do it with words and all the vowels and actually sing words and songs while throat singing. It helps to try to throat sing with your tongue sticking out of your mouth to avoid any epiglottal distortion.

This is great. I have been wanting to learn how to scream. Now I have a good resource. Keep doing what you’re doing. Side note: It seems like the low fry scream is easier to figure out compared to medium and high due to the straightforward vowel shape.

Fantastic video. This really helped me understand certain things I was doing wrong.

Just wanted to clarify the Louis Armstrong style you did in the video @5:50 and @6:50 sounds like it's involving extra epiglottal distortion which is not the same as Mongolian or Tuvan throat singing. Kargyraa, in Mongolian throat singing, is a different technique and it doesn't have that special Louis Armstrong tone. That "Special Head" levitating guy also does extra epiglottal distortion in his throat singing attempts so it's not true Monglian or Tuvan style when he does it either where you isolate the distortion to just vocal and false cords, and involve 0 epiglottal distortion. Also, in throat singing, it's not necessarily the false folds touching, they be open or somewhat touching, but the main point is that they are vibrating along with the vocal folds. You are correct though in that throat singing does involve more voice so the vocal folds are hitting each other more than a false cord scream/growls where there is less voice.

This is a huuuuge help - thanks!

I literally just asked about some of this in the sanctuary. Thank you. I'm going to study this further.

Very cool. Thanks😁🤘

Thanks, I want to rock and love Rise Against.

Absolutely awesome video, really love the clear physiological descriptions - I sing various styles but want to learn more 'scream' stuff without obliterating or damaging what I do now...going to check out your other stuff, thank you! :-)

Your videos are very helpful, informative and inspiring. Lately I've been trying to mimic a style that I just can't get down, and am not even sure how it's categorized as a scream. The sound is almost a clean vocal on the verge of entering fry screaming, almost like an intentional crackle. The best example I can provide (and actually the song I'm working on) is Ronnie Radke in the Falling in Reverse song Broken, during the chorus. Thank you in advance. I'm really hoping to achieve the technique (I've managed false chord and full vocal fry) because I like how it can add emotion without being an overbearing scream.

Very awesome lesson!!

This is so informative and inspiring!