Alash Demonstrate Throat-Singing Styles [Interview Video]

In this video, Tuvan ensemble Alash demonstrate various traditional throat singing styles that they use in their music.
'Achai' is available August 25, 2017 on CD and Digital.
Stream/download/purchase:
Smithsonian Folkways: www.folkways.si...
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iTunes: / achai
Achai, the Tuvan word for father, describes a deep paternal participation in the upbringing and growth of a new generation. It is also a fitting title for Alash’s new album to honor Kongar-ool Ondar, who served not only as a musical father for the ensemble, but also for an entire generation of Tuvan musicians. As Ondar shared memory and tradition, so too does Alash with spirited performances and forward-thinking collaborations. In the group’s first studio album for Smithsonian Folkways, Achai beautifully illustrates the adaptability of Tuvan music-organically created and deeply rooted, yet still interconnected with the sound world of the 21st century. Featuring master beatboxer Shodekeh, alongside time-honored Tuvan throat-singing styles, the album demonstrates how members of Alash have dedicated their lives to performing, preserving, developing, and growing the Tuvan tradition. They are worthy bearers of the culture of their fathers and sons.
Alash: www.alashensemb...
Facebook: / alashensemble
Twitter: / alashensemble
Instagram: / alashensemble
Smithsonian Folkways: folkways.si.edu
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The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.

[@jesgarcia6054]

A bunch of cool dudes right there

[@guidomonto3742]

lol lol it’s their culture, and they were raised learning how to do it.

[@darthmath1071]

@lol lol stfu

[@i_love_crpg]

@lol lol LMAO this dude is ruthless i love it

[@beomgyuniverseofficial]

@@guidomonto3742 Correct

[@mandah0520]

"it's like sculpting with music" oh i love that

[@kys7615]

This video explained more to me than the other 99% of the videos on throat singing

[@kys7615]

shit i just learned kargara in like ten minutes but i use my fingers to press on throat

[@maximelamothe5181]

sygyt > 'Lu' sound tongue position. thats all i needed to get it, how the tongue should be placed is rarely said.

[@maximelamothe5181]

just exhale by retaining it, then try vibrating parts of the back of your throat, 'hhouuu' sound for khoomei then amp the volume, it should tickle at first. start kargyraa vibration with a fake small cough at the very back pushing a bit up from the khoomei chords. sygyt you start khoomei and amp the abdo push a bit with a clean 'Lu' sound. hope it help some get started, those simple trick are not mine✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@i.q369]

And I thought I was badass when I got my metal screams .

[@ras_krystafari3333]

*Laughs in inward bass*

[@ras_krystafari3333]

Im discovering an inward bass overtone so in theory they can be combined, try it guy. There was an epic metal style btbx wildcard for 2020

[@duckduckgo358]

Inward as in inhale? I thought i was discovering somthing becauss I found out if u use the tongue shapes for the overtone whistles you can use these same tongue shaped while doing inhale vocals and get overtones to sound in it.

[@MetalRiderPlasma]

@@ras_krystafari3333 There is one musician that combines some throat singing with metal harsh vocals, called Florian Magnus Maier aka Morean. And the whistle is combined with shrierk or highs to get a very high piteched scream, by Dir en grey vocalist, or Youry raymond (unhuman)

[@jjs8426]

Throat singing and growling are primal cousins, black metal has both

[@edwardbevington9351]

Good stuff. Those guys have amazing range. My phone was shaking lol So powerful it broke that guys arm 🙋

[@apple_with_a_human_butt]

they actually don't have too much of a special range in their vocal folds, it's in the overtones that they create most of the notes. listen closely and you can hear how they keep the same note all the time with their vocal folds. the overtones are created by manipulating the tongue. then there's the very very low style called kargyraa, but that's basicly like grunting with your vocal folds all the time. but as with all the other styles, kargyraa also uses overtones, still created by manipulating the tongue. i know these because i sing throat singing too. it's really fun and surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it, and the best thing about it is that you don't have to have a pretty voice to be able to do it! it get's hard when you wanna get several notes out at once and when you wanna add effects like a trill (borbangnadyr). :)

[@pajtim9079]

@@apple_with_a_human_butt I've always been into Mongolian throat singing and music in general. Once I learn throat singing, I will not stop hahah. I will annoy a lot of people. I won't care.

[@becketthor]

Range sounds pretty standard for epicanthal folds, idk what you are hearing

[@ericb.7354]

@@becketthor shut the fuck up

[@ajdc88]

wild. as a kid, i used to try to do this. never knew it was a legit singing style.

[@jackmarentette1302]

🌙 Nope.

[@guidomonto3742]

Jack Marentette yeah it is

[@yayayeye7659]

Yeah in front of a fan..... I always do the same

[@guidomonto3742]

The like button is always blue it’s not as simple as that

[@serhedbakuri4454]

Since I think the beginning of this year, I also often try that

[@superadlerboy]

As a Turk from Turkey i can understand so many words. You guys are so great.

[@brk932]

I am not surprised. Oghuz Turks originate from the Altai region. You should be able to understand some Kazakh as well.

[@ahmetkaraaslan8429]

@@brk932 there is some sound changes, for example you say "asır asıp geldin bugüne" but we say "asır ashıp geldin bugüne", our every "sh" is "s" in Kazakh. Or in Orhun inscriptions we see old Turks said "Kök", "Köz", "Tag" or "Köl" but today we say "Gök", "Göz", "Dağ" and "Göl". Kazakhs preserved old sounds, for example you still say "Köl". A Oghuz Turks have to know such things, Thus we can read even poems of Magcan Cumabay

[@kristiyankrasimirov9308]

@@brk932 Българин ли си?

[@RexGalilae]

A lot of Turks, fuelled by a false sense of turkic nationalism, claim to understand all turkic languages whereas in reality, they struggle to even grasp full sentences in kazakh, let alone Tuvan. It's like an English person claiming to understand Swedish lmao

[@RexGalilae]

@@brk932 Oghuz Turks originated from Turkmenistan which is thousands of miles to the south west. They branched off of Altaic history ages ago

[@RyuuRider]

Some of these styles sounds like they'd only be possible on synthetic devices, but these folks are doing it with just their voices alone! It's really eye-opening and wonderful.

[@bearythemp5kpro541]

6:35 when ur mom tells u pick a toy as a present

[@tanjanestorov70]

Ahahhhaahah

[@lapislaboratory3704]

Im glad this video exists. Previously, I saw the video "Throat Singing: Then and Now" with these three men. In that video, it definitely appeared as though each man specialized in one style of throat singing. Im happy to know this is not the case! All these men are so talented

[@xLu1G1x]

It's amazing, but I'm actually so impressed by sygyt, how it raises the overtone to prevail over the base tone, Is just beautiful.

[@AramAzhari]

2:09 Voice 1 4:14 Voice 2 6:18 Voice 3

[@thebonkera1221]

I can finally do Voice 3

[@attilaogz9062]

Khomei, Sıgıt, Kargyra

[@Rowanb123]

@@thebonkera1221 Me too

[@kickasscorm]

@@thebonkera1221 nice one! How did you learn?

[@MinadoCoelho]

@@kickasscorm if you're looking to learn it, I teach online lessons :)

[@KarenSDR]

We love Alash! My husband jokes that he's listened to that first song so often that he "knows all the words." (He doesn't really, but it's vary familiar.) We were so fortunate to hear Alash in concert with they sang at a local venue called Avogadro's Number in Fort Collins, and immediately bought a bunch of their CDs

[@tomusuki]

bruh the sygyt one was amazing

[@PaigeLovelace]

I could listen to this all day I love tuvan throat singing

[@scottsilva2482]

Wow! There was a brief Khagyra demonstration in the new "Dune" movie.

[@Bikman]

just for a moment, let us forget what have we learned about music, and open our hearts to the world we live in for thousands of years.

[@petedavid9946]

Holy cow!! I am amazed at the sounds they are able to make. I have no idea if they ever form any words during their singing but it doesn’t matter to me. I have to admit that not only is cool but I honestly like what I hear!!

[@j-a.s]

I love this art of singing. Beautiful.

[@MachoMandem]

What a great analysis by the manager and Kudos to the artists!

[@rebelguy9487]

I've posted this in other Tuvan Throat Singing videos......but I'd be scared out of my mind if I heard an army of Mongols coming towards me making that noise!!

[@StygianStyle]

Yeah. You'd be getting ready for battle, then these guys would come at you like they're going to align your chakras and instill a sense of peace with nature. Very scary.

[@myprophet1]

Have a listen-The Hu Band: The Wolf Totem

[@davidschwimmer7940]

I think an army making any noise should scare you out of your mind

[@zalesRU]

Oof these guys are Tuvan which is in Russia...

[@ethanlocke3604]

@@zalesRU yeah but throat singing is traced back to first appearing and is probably the most common in mongolia

[@chelseam3617]

These guys have been performing for years now. I’ve seen a previous video of theirs from when they were kids. Still as talented as ever 🙏

[@charro028]

I feel like this vibrates my soul.

[@animaamor9095]

So powerful. Absolutely gorgeous

[@nicolekasper6132]

Best group that I have ever seen ♥

[@j_respect5948]

What makes people laugh is because their skills are unbelievable and incredible

[@marci3203]

the last guy is just adorable i totally love him

[@ALifeinMusic]

Outstanding!

[@ardijan706]

Hoping to see the Alash Ensemble someday soon!

[@namesareoverratedlol2229]

Unbelievable. That’s so fantastic

[@MenelionFR]

Wow! The Khöömei of this man is just astoundingly good, his 2nd harmonic is super loud, so basically you can hear at least three notes at the same time even if you're not too used to listening to overtone singing.

[@quandovcestivernoyoutube]

Thank you.

[@Kami-hx5hz]

Nobody: My stomach after 2 hours without eating: 6:19

[@wandereromur]

Me fasting: REY MYSTERIO

[@lerugolf]

Totally stunning.

[@dekotahrunninghorse9372]

Beautiful and amazing!

[@lilyhempt515]

Love this thank you so much!!!🙏♥️

[@4fun1957]

Thanks for the explanation! We saw you last night in Baraboo, WI. Wonderful!

[@kiv5471]

6:54 that sounds amazing wew

[@eljayexplorer]

This is both amazing and beautiful in my opinion.

[@JoshuaBoldt]

that was amazing

[@mhkuntug]

this is so inspiring

[@pattymelt6577]

At 5:23 he says "whew!" Me too, only I was just listening! These guys make me out of breath!

[@stewpub]

They say "shu" at the end of a song, short for shu-de, which means “giddyup” or “let's go” in Tuvan. I'm not sure why. :-)

[@periodt6862]

6:18 i somehow..can hear two sounds coming from him

[@kneticnrg]

Yes you can hear the overtones with all three, not just the third one. Try giving it another listen.

[@myprophet1]

Poly, meaning many. Phonic, meaning sound.

[@overtonefinds6385]

@@myprophet1 One person using harmonics to create different lines is not exactly polyphonic, since one person has just one main sound (the voice). I would say di-phonic like in spanish, french, italian latin languages, where "di-" means "to split". Polyphonic fits better a choir with more people

[@t1mema]

@@overtonefinds6385 polyphonic overtone singing is aptly named because in music 'polyphonic' just means an instrument that can play two or more notes at the same time, including the voice (unless it is referring to melody, in which case it means there are two or more melodies).

[@t1mema]

@@overtonefinds6385 a person using their voice to sing two notes is polyphonic, just as a piano or guitar is polyphonic.

[@Cod_ghostfan31]

I can’t believe they came to my school today 9/17/24

[@StygianStyle]

It seems like there is a spiritual component that can't be overlooked in order to create the right mood. I imagine they're feeling at one with the cosmos or channeling some divine power.

[@DiazShitAndStuff]

Of course one can feel it oneself simply by listening on a recorded video. Its incredible. One feels the energy thru goosebumps in ones body. Imagine being there in person and feeling the vibrations in your body. Imagine singing this and making all the water in your body vibrate in tune to this.. They are 100% channeling divine power.

[@DiazShitAndStuff]

@@drainer_333 Put your hand in your chest and chant 'Aaaaaauuuuuummmmmmm' If you cant feel any vibration them im sorry you are probably morbidly obese LOL! :D

[@robertpirsig5011]

This is incredible!

[@mhkuntug]

that's why I wanted to move to Tuva

[@mandah0520]

I imagine the first person who throat sang was bored and on a mountain. Just started making noises and made one s/he liked. Yes, there are female throat singers! They are amazing

[@thebush6077]

The second one is wild like I never thought that was even possible

[@gionnifer]

4:19 is my mum saying "hurry, hurry!" when she calls me in my room because it's time to have dinner

[@voltcorp]

love the pixinguinha shirt

[@dionnahfreyer8164]

I love this so much!

[@krar2004yy]

0:04

[@adrielanelkazethro]

That song is called "karachal"

[@dmytrobravchuk2064]

thank you for this video! cool guys

[@TheTardisNamedSexy]

Mm! Them whistle tones! 😙👌

[@seanwesthafer4028]

Your breath is very impressive

[@antoniareus7796]

I ❤ TUWA

[@grubblin]

Radiation sounds

[@bladesamah]

realistically, they are whistling.. they make one note with the throat and they are using tongue placement to create a pocket which causes the whistle.. sounds awesome none the less

[@9ogz]

You don't know anything. But you have been talkin...

[@yerlibilgin]

İnsanın orta asyaya göç edesi geliyor

[@78625amginE]

I think the interpreter broke his arm trying to “throat sing”. I almost did the same thing

[@aleksandrswiato4003]

Lol

[@dutchpearson2022]

I can do the last one with no problem. But the first two i have not got the whisle down. Would love to meet some one to learn from them. Beautiful

[@ShabazzTBL]

I've been learning it also. Have you made any progress? I have and one thing I was messing up is that I was closing my throat way too much and also most places I've seen giving tutorials on Sygyt never mention the fact that the air should be rerouted through the nose. So obviously is should still come out your mouth but you should be able to fill the air going out your nose too. It's hard to focus on tongue position and pushing air out through the nose but it's getting easier. Hopefully this helps.

[@johnmcintyre4682]

can kinda do all 3, to a degree. but I have tried 3, an my gag reflex was like "lol no".

[@avzarathustra6164]

Nice.

[@DerHerrMitR]

Thanks Thomas Dolby's clone, brilliant explanation!

[@shivaanrambally9611]

6:18 my uncles singing normally 0:06 my uncles singing when drunk

[@Giesela0815]

Thanks

[@peaceLove777Love]

Wow

[@-piexvv9r-619]

What about the Borbagandyr and Chylandyk styles?

[@wandereromur]

These in the video are like the basic styles and the two are like sub-styles :D Borbangnadyr is just the Xorekteer (the 'sheep' sound) or the Kargyraa but you move your mouth a lot faster and Chylandyk is Kargyraa + Sygyt

[@raz0rblade118]

Collest 1 grey jacket guy

[@marselmusic]

2:09 🐝 4:14 🐥 6:18😎

[@alamaim1563591263131]

Cala boca...

[@kambo209]

Rock n roll in not a modern style of music but very old

[@arthursouza420]

nice pixinguinha shirt

[@MrHaseebzafar1]

Somebody please share the link to the song they were singing at start

[@adrielanelkazethro]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Znquopxqispsn8U

[@D.dot.]

Sounds like dial up internet. I love it!

[@superiorslush5147]

Buy this man a tripod or some shit mans making me anxious

[@amandahuber6639]

Will Ramos from Lorna Shore brought me here 🤘🤘🤘

[@hinkemiki]

what do they say between breaths?

[@PaigeLovelace]

Shew

[@electroshot8872]

Omg, i am so surprised i can do voice 2!😂

[@Morndenkainen]

I've got #3 down pretty good, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to make that whistle... Any tips?

[@meadandmilk]

Following ;)

[@attilama5441]

There are training courses in Udemy with Exercises.

[@pdorfigliodikmer1098]

Tip of your tongue on the top of your mouth to create two cavities

[@MinadoCoelho]

I teach online lessons of tuvan throat singing and I can teach you Sygyt :)

[@zyriab5797]

Any infos on the Kagyraa style ? I've started to (poorly) sing Tuvan while playing Oud and I'm looking for that deep bass...

[@ginyu9894]

Zyriab There's group called Yat Kha that uses that style

[@liamp1379]

I also play the Oud. But I never throat sung with the Oud. Thanks for giving me an idea

[@zyriab5797]

@@ginyu9894 Thanks only seeing your comment now, I'll check it out :)

[@zyriab5797]

@@liamp1379 Happy to help. :) How is it going?

[@liamp1379]

@@zyriab5797 Well. I am more focusing on learning the Makams and the notes and the scales. Its quite difficult I always played it without knowing the makams and the notes. But I've gotten more comfortable with the Oud and I am ready to learn the makams. And with throat singing I haven't really practiced that yet.

[@godwannabe8976]

You're blinking manually. 😘

[@charizoidguy1240]

Bruh

[@speakersr-lyefaudio6830]

I hope a toothpick get stuck under your toenail.

[@drewdoesdrums5666]

When Bady-Dorzhu demonstrates kargyraa, it seems he’s performing the same kargyraa piece that Huun Huur Tu performs simply named “Kargyraa.” I wonder if it’s a well-known folk song in Tuvan culture or something like that

[@pubbahubbabba]

I think these are isolated pieces they use as practice and to show the styles.

[@markeastonlimousine]

Buy those guys a beer

[@azartakargaming2937]

all i can hear is reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@Rowanb123]

Why the 5 dislikes?

[@КонстантинЗвездинов-о4ф]

Владимир Каруев, Лиджи Горяев, Николай Очкаев второй после Каруева. Практикует Джангарчи считаются знаменитыми среди Джангара.

[@faselblaDer3te]

What's the meaning of them saying something that sounds like "shoo" when they are finished?

[@kagar3465]

It's like "giddy up" in english

[@NotLegitMatt]

4:41

[@NotLegitMatt]

what is he saying？

[@ausar.]

When they say “shu” or “shoo” after they stop singing, does this mean something?

[@kagar3465]

Like "giddy up" in English

[@mike.47]

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought it was called Khuumei or Khuumii as opposed to your spelling Xöömei. I was just curious.

[@robertw1871]

We learned this as teenagers and could get most of the way through the alphabet with a few beers powering it haha...

[@myname-mz3lo]

what is the style that tibetan monks do ? the meditation type of verry low throat singing . but wuth just one note

[@kagar3465]

Kargyraa style

[@Shoinie]

I really want to try this kind of singing but it's 2am...

[@hasanawado6433]

Do it

[@Som3D]

6:37 trying to clear your throat after smoking all day

[@monkeyzeetube]

how did you break your arm?

[@hasanawado6433]

I think maybe he slipped or something like that

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

It sounds to me like the different tones come from different areas of the throat deeper sounds coming from lowest part of larynx, throat up to higher sounds coming from nasal passages. Am I close in my thinking??

[@Schnep]

When doing khargyraa with low tones you feel your lungs vibrating, so I guess you can see this as some form of acoustic amplification. But actually, the khargyraa technique is for all tones rather nasal and a common method for learning it is by doing it with your mouth closed.

[@livedandletdie]

NO NOSE AT ALL! You can't get the sound to resonate if you use your nose.

[@TripleDDDD]

Spencer Calvert yes. I am not an expert at all, but try to sing overtones since quite some times. You feel the vibrations in different part of the body with the different styles. I‘d say the high Szygyt resonate with the upper part of the mouth and behind the nose. Middle range is vibrating around the mouth and upper throat area. While the deep style vibrates lower throat down to shoulders and even the ribcage.

[@MrMattomatt]

first vid with some vis that has no dislikes lol

[@mr.dinglebop2439]

*clicks video of Mongolian throat singing* *video opens with Mongolian banjo bluegrass*

[@nikkarther4632]

Actually, this is Tuvan throat singing And the instrument is called Doshpuluur

[@mr.dinglebop2439]

@@nikkarther4632 I'm aware of throat singing, but the way he plays the instrument and the cadence of his vocals strangely reminds me of the Bluegrass sound. Very interesting

[@theodorekernchen245]

👍