How To Sing With Distortion (WAY Better In 3 Steps) Inspiration From Chester Bennington's Technique

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As I've been studying the different ways that singers get their grit and distortion, I've come to realize and internalize that there are SO many ways to end up with great sound AND great feel.
But there are also a lot of ways to miss the mark and cause both short term and long term issues in your voice.
Let me show you three steps to better, more consistent, safe and GREAT SOUNDING vocal distortion! We'll take a cue from Chester Bennington too!

[@MetalBrains69]

You are the reason I can sing now, I started a band called counterfeit icons knowing I wanted to be the lead singer without knowing how to sing. Thank you. We’re getting signed soon

[@GTORT]

How tf did you manage that??

[@chrisliepe]

NICE

[@GabiBrooks]

Wooow! Congrats, man!

[@noimspartacus4357]

Nice one mate, happy for you man. I'll keep a look out for you. Good luck. 👍

[@MetalBrains69]

@@noimspartacus4357 thanks man I appreciate it!

[@airon_OW]

This video singlehandedly made me download the whole LP discography again

[@chrisliepe]

NICE!! Such good stuff!

[@qui-gonkenobi4574]

You explain the complex things so understandable that even non-native speakers can understand this very clearly, thank you!

[@chrisliepe]

You're very welcome!

[@Weloz92]

Right!? My Italian ass struggles with trying to understand most native English speakers, but his accent and diction are crystal clear to me!

[@suvituulikkivahanen2600]

I agree totally. I'm Finish and understand Chris perfectly. He can explain things so clearly. He's amazing🎤

[@Sylvadorr]

Yea, that's true for russian ear as well :D

[@gabriel199612]

I agree as a Brasilian!! Haha

[@ForeverJade.D]

You do a great Chester voice, I usually hate hearing people cover Linkin Park, not many can pull it off.

[@HIKARU-IS-EVIL]

I do better than him

[@ForeverJade.D]

@@HIKARU-IS-EVIL good for you

[@RandyVazquez]

@@ForeverJade.D 💀💀💀

[@mortifer8655]

i like girls with D

[@JeremiahDaniel1995]

Yeah if anything there r a lot of people who have tried to cover Linkin Park and came close but there was only one Chester Bennington and no body else can compare to him 😎

[@L33PL4Y]

You're the man. So many others hide their lessons behind paywalls not everyone can afford, or they bloat their videos with so much preamble b.s. that it's hard to discern the important parts from the garbage. You are straight to the point, you explain things so well, so clearly and relatably, your videos are free, you just do everything so right. You're creating so many better, healthier singers with what you're doing. You are literally making the world a better place. It's so hard already trying to be a musician in the modern world, the last thing aspiring artists need is to have an impossible time learning how to hone their craft properly. You are making improvement attainable, which is making the hard life of a musician just that much less challenging. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@chrisliepe]

I wish there was a double heart option :)

[@L33PL4Y]

@@chrisliepe Well, I just fixed a typo I didn't catch in my comment and it made your heart disappear, so now you can heart it a second time and get that double heart action!

[@araarabakabro1907]

POV u lost ur heart

[@ApexofWar_]

Something to consider as well: the heavier and more often you distort during a set, the quicker you'll get fatigued. Not to be confused with bad technique which will ruin you in a matter of minutes. After a couple hours of working on LP covers, while everything (including cleans) still sounds great, my voice is ready for a break.

[@chrisliepe]

Absolutely dead on here! Vocal budgeting!!

[@sillyjellyfish2421]

This is true even with clean classical singing. You are vibrating you soft tissue in the throat. Sooner or later you will reach the point where it is no longer comfortable. Practice gives you more stamina and resilience but even profesionals have the point of no return. Don't ever get past that. As a teen i was in the music school and in preparation for a big event i have spend about 5 hours a day singing. The day of the event i spend those same 5hours with warmups and rehearsals AND then over an hour of the actual thing. Fried my voice for 2 weeks and got a nasty case of meningytidis as my abused throat got infected. Microlacerations of the upper palate and uvula are real and you don't get them only from unprofesional roaring on a concert.

[@deejay2003]

Rip Chester Bennington, you were one of the best vocalists there is, and you’ll still be the best vocalist for years to come

[@adityanarayanjha4541]

I've always dreamt of singing like Chester... Now seeing u doing the intro despite of being a baritone gives me hope nd motivation to sing in his high tenor voice

[@Rasti__]

Holy heck, that was arguably one of, if not the best Chester Bennington singing imitation I've personally ever heard. You could easily fool me with that into thinking it's the real deal.

[@LoneCreeperHunter]

As a powerlifter who makes a lot of noise at heavier weights, this came pretty naturally to me. I just imagine squatting under the bar on a heavy set, and it comes to me. Lots of breath support in that kind of heavy lifting and distortion from the compression. Ironically, the top of my squats sound like GREAT distorted notes, plus it never hurts because of the heavy vocal support!

[@sethrenville798]

"Happy little accidents" As soon as I heard this, I realized who my mind was drawing parallels between you and, from your first video. You're the goddamn Bob Ross of vocals, but instead of just making people solid with a decent set of middle-sized brushes, you're teaching people how to paint the motherfuking Sistine chapel with their junk. It's absolutely magnificent. I used to think I was born too late to explore the world, and too early to explore the universe, but it's people like you who make me realize I was born at exactly the right time, exploring not only in the mechanics of being human, through the most connected our species has ever been, but also exploring the power of consciousness, for example, the incredible differences that can be made by simply changing the way you are thinking about something, without purposefully changing anything else

[@nicolasgarcia1990]

Man, loved your version of somewhere I belong. you should release a full cover, so nice!

[@chrisliepe]

I think I'm going to start doing full covers and releasing them on a separate channel here soon :)

[@granthoward7632]

@@chrisliepe PLEASE I’d love that

[@nicolasgarcia1990]

@@chrisliepe wow that will be so cool!!! I'd love that!!

[@judes_music]

@@chrisliepe You really should! I'd love to see you do 'real' full on covers that you're sing just cause you love the song and not mainly for the technique. You're incredible! And I want to take lessons from you so bad lol xxx

[@styrkecoach]

How about a combined cover/tutorial? Where you cover first and then analyse the vocals

[@earthtonesHQ]

I just wanna say dude... Everything your trying to do with your channel is really coming off in the videos you put out. I hope that makes sense. Also, I'd like to add that I've known your channel for a while now and I can see a very visible improvement in your own signing. Which is rare and amazing to see in a teacher. That intro was 🔥.

[@chrisliepe]

It DOES make sense... thank you for noticing! And you know what they say... There's no better way to learn than to teach!! :) I'm honored to be able to continue to build this thing... most fun I've ever had in my life :) !! Thanks for watching and engaging!

[@earthtonesHQ]

@@chrisliepe thank you Chris! Keep it coming and keep inspiring!

[@CellarStudioProductions]

ooookay this is getting creepy. I literally just said "It's time I reassess my approach to distortion." to a friend of mine AN HOUR AGO. And now you drop this? You're the real deal. Excited for this lesson. And I've only heard the intro. You already won me with Chester.

[@chrisliepe]

Chester wins all :) Enjoy the rest of the video!

[@Itsme-x5i]

The FBI has tapped your phone. I'm sure you've noticed it acting up, crackling on the line. Everyone's in on it. Chris is a CIA plant. I can't say anymore right now. Follow The clues we've laid out. Godspeed.

[@GabiBrooks]

Ahaha been there a few months ago. The exact same thing happened to me. Chris is the answer 😂🤘

[@zay_mhn]

Long live Chester🥺❤ we'll miss you💓

[@kelvinsalomonsklingenfuss5650]

Damn Chris, people like to say you'd be a great Cornell sucessor, but damn, you're an army knife! As far as I'm concerned Chester voice is much thinner in the Tenor spectrum, yet you were able to achieve extremelly accurate tones on the cover (even though sounding exactly like Chester/anyone is not the point at all). In this video, even though its content is amazing as always, I wanted to dedicate my comment to notice your incredible skills and performance! Wish you all the best!

[@carlkiepe1444]

You just are THE voice teacher on KZbin 👍❤️

[@threee1298]

Wow this completely changed my perspective on how attainable that sound is, amazing chester voice too never heard someone get it right like that

[@joshhuxleyisdead]

That long scream in the intro gave me chills, nice one dude!

[@chrisliepe]

Thank you!

[@anelliz8906]

one of the best if not the best video about vocal distortion i've ever seen

[@afternoonbears6989]

That awesome grit you did at (13:41 - 13:44) I felt that one! It had such a beautiful yet slightly sad tone to it.

[@YannickTMessiah]

A great complement to the older videos on distortion singing. I love your videos, you're the best teacher on KZbin for me.

[@BobbyLouxMusic]

You’re the best bud! A bit self deprecating, not arrogant, not trying to be cool or ego driven, but a badass singer and educator. So much usable info and concepts not about performance or how to sing better than anyone else! I’m a 57 year old Perry style tenor, reworking range with compression concept for longevity and texture. You really explain the technique making it feasible. Work in progress but I see the possibilities! Thank you!

[@chrisliepe]

I appreciate the wonderful, thoughtful comment. Thank you!

[@lxnesamurai.3485]

I can't sing and still watched it. Staying for this awesome Chester Bennington interpretation!

[@mikejosephofficial2639]

Cheers Chris. I'll try it in my session tomorrow morning. Peace from Australia 🇦🇺 🤟✌️

[@SimsLooKer]

The beginning gave me goosebumps! Awesome work man!

[@ThreePeekBTW]

Seen Chester in the thumbnail and got super excited! Great vid!!!

[@davedevaney1494]

Brilliant Chris! Teaching and demonstrating vital techniques to develop the voice. Thank you 🙏

[@Lazy__Rider]

I was using a lot of force to scream, lost my voice couple of times, once blood on my throat after practice with a band, ultimately left the metal band I was singing in. After just trying for few seconds screaming while trying to lift my heavy as hell dinner table for the first time in my life I feel it might be possible for me to sing and scream without getting tired. You're just the best man. This is freakin awesome

[@branikjechcankavpetlahvi]

Amongst all the goofy noises I do along to experiment with my voice I forget how excellent singer you are. The riffing at the end was just top notch.

[@oshada]

this single video contains so many insights and immediately applicable techniques! the way you explain (and incorporate) how each part of the body works to produce your sound is so great ❤

[@nicojoubert9338]

It's good to learn these techniques and not over work yourself on trying to get it right it took me years to get to a point where I can safely excicute a decent sounding distortion voice. I used music and my ears to recognize what the singer is doing and finding my own point of distortion. It's not about getting to the finish as fast as possible but getting to the finish able to still go again and again.

[@philippebedroom4665]

I'm catching up on your videos chris, amazing content and courses as always!

[@markith666]

I have signed up for course with you and Lukas Magyar! Can’t wait to get started!

[@Sixsoul]

This is my first video of yours in like a year but you're in my head every single day cause I use what you taught me every time I sing. Just wanted to say thank you for all the quality information you put out and you've gotten noticeably better since I last heard you which wasn't THAT long ago and you already sounded incredible! Keep going brother!!

[@kaemoreiraofficial]

12:23 this one reminded me of Jared Leto's drives 🙂 Chester and Jared have the most beautiful techniques that I saw in their voices

[@luishenriquemoreira5694]

This is the video I've been looking for on youtube since 2012 and hadn't found it. Thank you so much Chris, you fulfilled a dream that I have been harboring since I was a teenager and heard Linkin Park for the first time, learning to sing like Chaz. You really made my day a lot better, man ❤️❤️

[@oo0OAO0oo]

Subscribed immediately. That was a strong intro with a strong follow-up. Chester was such an amazing voice and you did extremely well on mimicking him.

[@thomasedson8369]

Either me with a medium english level could understand everything you said, you're such a good teacher, thanks for helping everyone around the world.

[@jamiegunn]

Awesome video! Love your voice, and the demonstrations on all your videos, and all the different styles you have done. You are definitely the master of controlling airflow and placement. So much insight and info that lifts any singer at any level to higher levels. Thank you Chris!

[@MarvinRieli]

Hey Chris great video! This really helps coming off of the lesson we had a few days ago - very timely info! I love the concept of really attacking the vowels that are giving me problems, such as "E", where it's so easy to just modify it, instead of staying pure with the vowel while working on the grit. I'm already seeing progress after just a couple days of working with this!

[@creeksiderockmusic]

You Keep Giving Everyone These Ahh Haa Moments!! Yes You Did It Again!!! So many different ways to approach and practice. Thank You!!! Keep it Fun and Relaxed!!!

[@jurgenxhaferi7331]

i love so much this format. unfortunaly, in italy this type of vocal is not even considered as far as u can think, but thanks to this format i can try and learn doing myself a little bit. thank you, good job!

[@novelay]

Got a bit finally. Thanks man. Watched everyday

[@florentin8065]

Man I absolutely love it and can hear and feel some Chris Cornell pitch in your exercises ☺️ gotta practice now! Thanks again

[@GurpreetSGulati]

always on point. love your slow approach!!

[@shaori1469]

As time goes on i discover more in my voice while watching your video and i enjoying it i'm improving everyday thanks Chris.

[@fernandopiazentin4056]

Omg! This vídeo just changed my life... Thanks for this amazing lesson...

[@chrisliepe]

Glad it was helpful!

[@meusana3681]

OMG. I've been struggling with this for a while now. Lifting the desk I managed it instantly. Thank you so much Chris. P.S. the desk is O.K.

[@chrisliepe]

Oh good :) don’t want a busted desk

[@meusana3681]

@@chrisliepe Would still be worth it XD Keep it up man. I'll be visiting your channel very often.

[@markxxalexander8598]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial..

[@dpadilla1127]

that cover was great, motivated me to learn from you a lot :)

[@numberonetetofan]

that intro was absolutely amazing.

[@DanWatsonOfficial]

Hey Chris. Just wanna let you know. I’ve tuned in here and there and your videos really helped explain what I’ve naturally been doing and discovering for years with trial and error and have helped me identify the techniques and anatomy of what’s going on in my throat. It gave me more of a visual representation of the mechanics. We artists are visual inherently. So I’d like to thank for that visual gift and I’d also like to give you a ‘hell yea brother 🤟🏻’ because I wish I had content like this when I started out and I think this is some of the best content for the next generation of singers and screamers out there I could ever wish for. I think you’re jumpstarting dreams here.

[@HappoApina]

5:22 i don't know why this is so funny, but I've laughed at this so many times now! Chris you are the best vocal teacher on youtube! Nice to see your channel steadily growing too, you really earn it! :)

[@AltMetalVocalCovers]

Yo that cover at the beginning 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ShadowErazer258]

I was watching all the previous videos from you about distortion or singing aggressively. Here is what I think : i have to do this without hurting my voice. And okay someone will say : you need to be aware of how break works and make sonds as blaiden as you can. I'll tell you this : i was watching a vocal breakdown for Chester Bennington song Given up , followed all steps and it went really well. So just i am following the steps doesn't mean that I slacking off practice. I still making my progress towards singing aggressively , screaming , adding distortion to my voice without hurting it.

[@johnkelly4237]

Amazing lesson. So thoughtful and solid! Thanks!

[@novelay]

I just discovered you, i have so much me time nowadays i started singing and man you are awesome. Subbed😄

[@innersoundjsd5770]

Goosebumps on the end of your cover, with your scream, in the Intro of your video Are you going to do a full cover AND a full lesson of your covering and the Studio production??? That would be Awesome!!!

[@chrisliepe]

That would be kinda fun... a nice idea!

[@innersoundjsd5770]

@@chrisliepe since you covered Chester before I dived more into Linkin Park and started to love it so much, and bought also some guitar books with of course the vocal melodies, very impressive! Would love to see that Video Chris :-)

[@musicofthesky6498]

B4 is one of my iffy notes, money ones gotta be E5 or Ab4 I'd say for me. Great tutorial!

[@lisalegato0109]

I miss his voice. I wish he was still here.

[@marleenschofenberg3434]

Omg it worked instantly

[@nickjones2395]

Thank you for this video! ❤ I finally can sing with distortion properly. Now I just have to figure out how to increase my range with distortion added.

[@masonianbund]

Never before have I so enjoyed being yelled at by another man. 😂 thanks for the great instruction on distortion!

[@artauxeo]

Picking up gems everywhere.

[@johnkelly4237]

So helpful and thoughtful. Thanks!

[@ianitang8409]

thank god i found this chanel

[@GabiBrooks]

Thank you so much, Chris! Your channel helped me to embrace fry. I first started doing false chord/growls. Of course, I want to keep that skill as well but since I can sing pretty high, I'd love to be able to put distorsion all over my range. Feel like I'm closer and closer to achieving that. :D

[@chrisliepe]

I love reading comments like this one :)

[@loreuc5867]

You sound SO MUCH like Jimmy "the rev" Sullivan. That's awesome man, I love the video!

[@pedrohenrique5509]

i don't know why i find it easier to do in higher notes. Thanks a lot for the video Chris, you have no idea of how much you help me

[@chrisliepe]

Happy to help!

[@AckzellMusic]

I was the same, I think it might be largely to do with the amount of air we are letting through to resonate the higher note. When we're up high we are already using more air and maybe a little compression too just to hit the note before we add grit, so gritting the note is easier. I found with the lower notes, I can get them to grit up now but I have to consciously let more air flow through to let the note keep resonating and ensure it doesn't break. Almost feels like you're pushing harder from the stomach, and compressing more then on the high notes too. Keep the note forward and your brain aware of keeping your face relaxed. So far this has had some kind of result for me in getting lower, grittier notes, but I do still have a long way to go control-wise and I'm sure others have more enlightening tips than I!

[@shubhayubasu8568]

Insane technique. Insane biceps!

[@DaleStrickland]

I greatly appreciate these tips on singing with distortion! I'm fairly comfortable with fry and false chord but I still struggle to sing with rasp without tension/tickling in my throat. Thanks!

[@user-wv5gv3dw5u]

Im still holding out hope for you to do a breakdown of Dustin Kensrue from Thrice someday. KZbin doesn't allow me to send links but he's one of the most underrated vocalists of all time IMO

[@hazardmouth]

I hugely agree on this

[@smash_adams]

Me too!

[@frankunodostres473]

soooo much good and valuable stuff in this video!

[@derekpappalardo6809]

Thing that Chris Motionless does in Another Life's chorus, perfect for me. Thanks!

[@yamadut2183]

🔥Still THE BEST🔥

[@CiaranMcMeekenOfficial]

So so so helpful! Thank you!

[@machinedgod]

The 5:21 part cracks me up over and over again, no matter how many times I rewind 😂

[@torarinvik4920]

Wow, your voice is amazing. So much "balls" in it, but yet smooth.

[@PinaCoco]

Not even a vocalist but I find it really informing and interesting, with some practice I just might develop a decent singing voice. Thanks Chris!

[@michaellandrumguitar]

great lesson helped out a lot thanks Chris

[@nxrthkid]

You make an amazing Job here, i wish i could sing and try this out. But even when i‘m just hearing this it‘s awesome

[@GetLocklab]

Best vocal lessons on KZbin, no doubt.

[@chrisliepe]

Thank you! Glad you're enjoying my videos!

[@willharmonicawilde]

Great video Chris!

[@sirseth1087]

Off topic, but I love your color choices in both your interior design and your guitars. The warm orange/autumnal tones of your walls and guitars, next to the black. It is very nice. :)

[@chrisliepe]

Thanks! And Thanks so much for noticing!! :)

[@RichardFriendartist]

Chris uploads a video. I immediately come over and smash like! haha

[@chrisliepe]

I like that :)

[@garlandpoolfredpool]

Thanks man! Great advice

[@fancythebold]

Great video! You should do a video on Bert Mccracken he has a low speaking voice but he sings high tenor stuff and has amazing screams

[@finnancahill2644]

Chris can you do a video on the different singers of tesseract? Ashe era tesseract had such an angelic vibe that I feel like most singers cannot replicate

[@chrisliepe]

On the list!

[@Arpitmusic69]

thanks for this amazing tutorials......you really make things very easy

[@johnnyj2d3]

Extremely helpful tips!! I'm gonna try, I like my voice but I don't know how to distort my voice and I've never tried these tips before so I'm gonna do it, thank you!

[@TheRealJayguar]

This is helpful, I wrote a song earlier this year and have spent the last 3 months learning Logic. Its overwhelming honestly. I laid down some placeholder vocals and wrote music around it all with the hopes of improving my vocals. So far all ive done is repeat the exact same vocal delivery. need to find a place to actually get loud i guess.

[@tangled_up-in-plaid3011]

Yo Chris, i would LOVE to hear a breakdown of Tool's Ticks and Leeches, of course about MJK's vocal fucking annihilation on that track. I think it's one of the absolute best tracks to consider while breaking down distortion and hard singing stuff. Love your channel, keep up the good work.

[@PTRT-ShawnBizanos]

Great video. 🔥

[@renemuller6967]

I can add distortion to my voice but it only lasts for one note. My screams are pretty well and sustainable but this is one thing I have to practise. I do Linkin Park covers, so this is definitely a helpful video for me.

[@lexkguitar]

Amazing! Thank you very much!

[@chrisliepe]

You're welcome!

[@maximerodriguez-medallo2192]

Great tips Chris, thank you for this video !!! I would be very interrested by the way you mix you vocals with this kind of fry singing :)

[@givedemonsavoice6127]

Amazing video as always Chris!!! Chester is (was) one of my favorite singers! I'm always wondering: Is it required to be in a good physical shape to do these kind of vocals?

[@TheStranger275]

Awesome video man. I'd like to see a video on some of Ivan Moodys vocals. His live singing is very unique and almost odd sounding to me. Plus his use of distortion and fry are amazing in my opinion. I'll keep a close eye out in case you cover him one day.

[@rome8913]

Dang thanks for the tip. I'm cramming this new song of mine