Lessons From Chester Bennington: Going from CLEANS to SCREAMS (Unplugged raw vocal analysis)

Free Voice Lessons: chrisliepe.com...
My Website: chrisliepe.com
‪@LinkinPark‬
It's a rare privilege to be able to listen to and analyze Chester's voice in such a wonderfully raw, unplugged settings. This performance of The Messenger is like a MASTERCLASS on Chester's approach for going from cleans to thick distortion because he actually sort of lives in the transition.
...And we can hear it really well too! ...Without any processing or loud (awesome) instrumentation around it.
Enjoy this breakdown and see what you can do with your own singing as you draw inspiration from this incredibly intimate performance. Be sure to check out the original video as well (if you haven't already)
Here's the link:
• Linkin Park Acoustic @...

[@shadowedge729]

chester bennington had one of the best voices ever!

[@marcmud1]

Had

[@shadowedge729]

@@marcmud1 thanks for the correction. i always forgot to use past tense for people

[@krudmuphinstudioz]

@@marcmud1 I mean, he still has it. It's still his voice.

[@mariamorra7863]

@@marcmud1 has. His voice IS eternal

[@Monicalia]

What I love about his voice, his distorted vocals especially, is that he was so able to sound both sensitive and aggressive at the same time. "Figure 09" has one of my favorite choruses, because it's basically built on distorted vocals, but it doesn't sound just aggressive, but also very sad and emotional. Not to mention the timbre, his high tenor voice was beautiful, mixed with the screaming? Such a unique voice.

[@krudmuphinstudioz]

Figure.09 is my favorite LP song for that same reason. One of the best choruses from Chester

[@doolyskating]

💯💯💯 a song that doesn’t get enough mention. Amazing chorus

[@greydazeplays]

@@doolyskating I honestly think the rapping is some of Mike's tightest from lp in that song too

[@RudolfHorvath]

Agree, to me screams are not only about anger but also pain, desparation and frustration.

[@doolyskating]

@@greydazeplays all around killer track. One of my favorites for sure

[@cjbrewermusic]

I've always been so jealous of his screams. I can do clean vocals pretty well, but getting the kind of raw pain and distortion that Chester has almost seamlessly and at various parts in his range has always been a secret goal of mine :,)

[@colrub1881]

You just need some depression that's all

[@cjbrewermusic]

@@colrub1881 I'm just too happy!! NOOOO!

[@colrub1881]

@@cjbrewermusic 😂😂😂 I'm happy to hear that though, that's good :) All jokes aside, I think that might be why its hard to get that scream though,, chester sang with his pain and that's why its so so good and unique

[@cjbrewermusic]

@@colrub1881 In my band, I sing Foo Fighters, Judas Priest, The Cult, and so on, and the grit on those songs has always been tough for me. It comes and goes, and there is definitely an emotional connection there dude.

[@colrub1881]

@@cjbrewermusic oh awesome!!! You will get that grit bro, I know you will get it!

[@zburton9636]

Chester's voice, touches my heart and gives me such goosebumps. He sang with his pain and his talent. He was incredible. Legends never die. I tear up a little when i hear the raw emotion in his voice he truly cared about everyone. What a beautiful soul.

[@hograngler]

I never thought that hearing some guys voice could make me emotional but, hearing lost and now this. Miss chester a ton

[@thedragonlee2327]

This song always breaks me. Ive been low for a long time. I lost my mom and my aunt within a short span. I try hard to stay kind. But dang its getting to a point where its even hard to love without feeling I'm gonna have another one leave. If someone reads this thank you. If another doesn't I care about you as well. We can all me messengers of care and love. Stay safe everyone. Thank you Chester.

[@El_Alf]

I know this is an old comment but I hope you're doing a bit better.

[@JustNick612]

I didn't realize this existed and I love The Messenger so much, so this made me cry... Thank you for sharing its existence with me.

[@swat8304]

Amazing song! One of my favorites

[@MrHeidschnucke23]

It's always so refreshing listening to your analyses, Chris! You do it so well and with so much energy and passion. Thank you. I absolutely love it! Please keep on analysing more of Chester. How about 'Friendly Fire'? Sending Lots of love from Germany 🇩🇪 ♥

[@machinedgod]

I love these unplugged sessions, they really showcase all the genius of the performers - but also the crazy skill of all the recording, mixing and mastering engineers, that help push forth (or hold back) various traits of the voice to fit the emotion even better. It'd be awesome if you would do a video on ideal recording setups and workflows for this too. Especially for us the one-man-band guys 🙂

[@YellowIcicle]

There is an unplugged version of Chester singing Rolling in the Deep and he kills it.

[@frankunodostres473]

oh man this hits hard... in the first show I ever played in an actual small venue, one of the last songs I performed was the messenger. that was almost 10 years ago. oh boy, a fun one to sing and not too hard on paper. what makes it special is the emotion put into every note. however I didn't play it with a capo on the 8th, what is brad doing?! ^^

[@Gatchi]

I've never seen a video of them performing it live in its original key. It's probably just too harsh on Chester's voice and he doesn't want to ruin it doing it during a tour of any sort. But that original higher key is crazy, the "love keeps us kind" lines on the studio version is my favorite moments I've ever heard Chester sing, so heart breaking. I really wanna see Chris react to the studio recording as well.

[@Rusli1659LPSoldier]

you can see Dave, Joe hahn and Rob in the background chilling listening to Chester's voice.

[@SlshrX]

Today should have been Chester's birthday. RIP 🕯️

[@colrub1881]

Chester had such a unique voice.. Just waiting on the video of Avenged sevenfold's new song now,, can't wait to see it!

[@ZealousChuck]

Brilliant breakdown enjoyed thoroughly🤘 keep it up🔥

[@Jowdanicus]

I really want to see Liepe do vocal analysis of Elvis and Little richard. I beleive that all types of rock vocals stems from those two individuals and would love to see what Chris could teach us from their work.

[@stevengrantofthegiftshop1549]

The Messenger! 😍

[@GabiBrooks]

Please Chris, do an analysis of Trent Reznor. He doesn't get enough credit for his voice in my opinion.

[@chrisliepe]

I have! Check the in the style of playlist! :)

[@GabiBrooks]

@@chrisliepe omg, shame on me, how did I miss that one? 😵

[@justinfaller5910]

Saw him live recently his vocals are incredible not something I was expecting

[@semu8030]

If you could get the isolated vocals for Until It's Gone or Mark The Graves (both from The Hunting Party album) you'd be in for a wild ride man

[@everpolo29]

Chris, as always, great video you are a great teacher. Thank you for what you do. Can I suggest something for a future video? What about a video related to Phil Collins' voice and techniques? There is not many information here about his singing style and I would love to know what he does on songs like Against All Odds. It would be highly appreciated.

[@irenegriffin3050]

I can sing clean, I can belt. But I just can't comfortably get rasp or harsh vocals. Not without really feeling it (hurts) which tells me I'm doing it completely wrong. Hope to figure it out one day! But dang, Chester had a talent that just can't be matched. 😞

[@emkstr]

Samesies.

[@GlitchTV_Gaming]

The KZbin captions though says Jesus Christ on "leaves us blind" now I don't want to use captions anymore😅

[@JomarsYT]

since iknow him i allways ask how he can sing with that distortion in it, because he is still sing while doing it, i can guarantee only him was able to do this thing.

[@shunedits6155]

Can you do a video on false fold grit? I don’t why I am struggling and getting hoarse when I practice it

[@chrisliepe]

Interestingly enough… this IS a video on false fold grit. It’s exactly what Chester used!

[@shunedits6155]

@@chrisliepe that’s cool! I am going try it out. Can I send you a example of what I am struggling with?

[@thomasdussault1132]

Could you do a reaction on Jim Carrey? He's an incredible singer! You could react to “ I am the Walrus ” and his Michael Bolton impression from Living colour.

[@MindfulMusic]

Do more CheVelle, my guy!

[@falcorf5242]

Keep reacting to more chester live vocals. Look at linkin park faint live rock am ring 2007.

[@viniciusvasconselosdeolive5084]

#Brasil ..... REACT LINKIN PARK IN MY REMAINS acustic

[@manul_music]

Hahaha husky wtf…

[@Hazenviell]

1:54 Damn I love that Chris is like a child who seeing something new and he's truly shocked and inspired. Great video take. Thank you Chris.

[@chrisliepe]

:)

[@ancatdal]

Watching you react to and analyse this performance was really special to me, since I was there that day, and had the immense priviledge to hear him in person. I couldn't notice all the things you have in this video, rather, what I was struck by was how much space his voice would take up, without any aid whatsoever. I'm not kidding when I say that I felt like filled the entire arena, and sort of punched at your chest, crashed against you like waves, I really don't know how to adequately explain the sensation, but it was unlike anything I had heard before. I'm so grateful that I got to experience this, and even more grateful for the fellow fans I got to meet there, what a time we had together!

[@spirefactsyt5559]

To me, the difficult thing about Chester's voice is not the grit, but the clean notes. Most people can learn the screaming-singing techniques he used, but to sound so clean at times up to B4 or C5... it's not fair to us humans.

[@natirubi524]

Crawling 😂 somewhere I belong😂 giving up 🤣 god he was so incredible

[@spirefactsyt5559]

@@natirubi524 No, see? Those songs bring up grit. I’m talking about really clear notes like The Messenger, I’ll Be Gone, In My Remains… amazing stuff

[@-xlntc91x-]

There's a neat trick to hit those notes. It's called 'be a tenor' :D Best regards, a deep baritone haha

[@natirubi524]

@@spirefactsyt5559 oh yeah!!! those are wonderful songs!! I thought you were talking about songs that he sings too high or so deep down on the scales that you have to study a big vocal spectrum to sing it. When he sings with his clear voice it's incredible, from heavy to skin and bones, or my December... we could talk about ALL linkin park songs, don't we? 😄😅

[@cj_light13]

It's not so hard, cause if you want to learn how to scream-singing, you have to be learnt how to sing clearly. Basically it's harder to sing smt like given up, then smt like in my remains Also The messenger also have distorted sound on higher notes

[@charlymcmillan7438]

I think the beauty that really captured Chester voice was his ability to switch between distorted screams to clean vocals but sound like it was two vocalists he is arguably the best ever. So many bands who scream and do clean vocals need two vocalists because the transition isn’t possible for them but Chester mastered it alone. He’s go from this clean sweet emotional voice to this deep raw distorted voice. Don Gilmore and Mike Always said that Chester voice was so beautiful that when he sung with power and grit you could hear more than one vocal depending on what your focusing on within his voice. Chester was other worldly. Someone put it perfectly Chester sounded like he was vocal layering without vocal layering it’s immense when he sings with grit and power

[@Skjorrious]

As impressive as Chester is, let's not lose focus of how huge this man's brachioradialis is

[@ab72_s]

Yeah. Finally, someone I see who is a science enthusiast :)

[@thomasdussault1132]

Hahaha he must be doing his hammer curls!

[@bellamybomb]

Seeing Chris’ reaction to Chester’s gritty vocals is hilarious - because that’s exactly how I react every time I hear Chester do that

[@annekedebruyn7797]

Listening to him, he reminds me a lot of Layne Staley regarding going in and out of distortion/screams so smoothly.

[@AlexRaiu]

He's the absolute best and will always be... at least in my lifetime and that says a lot, because I'm 26 :)

[@Gatchi]

You gotta analyze the studio version of The Messenger too! They never played it live in its original key. It's SO much higher and harsher, the vocal performance is fucking crazy

[@rook3811]

Analyzing a studio version isn't gonna be entirely accurate, a lot of mixing goes into recordings which makes it not actually a natural sound we can replicate anyway, on top of that I mean he's Chester who tf gonna replicate him anyway

[@emkstr]

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuch a hard song to sing in the original key lol. And I'm a mezzo soprano.

[@trulyvanvan]

Thank you Chris for bringing more Chester’s content. For me it’s so simple, I see Chester I just click and watch

[@ab72_s]

Chester, was a legend, is a legend, and will be a legend, forever and ever and ever. I first came to know about Linkin Park and Chester from a friend of mine, who had been listening to them since the release of Living Things. The first song I ever heard by Linkin Park was Castle of Glass. That was my entry point to Rock/Metal music, and how it influenced me. I am not a great vocalist myself, but I can do some sing screams, but not at Chester's pitch. Heck, I rediscovered singing bcz of Chester. I was going through tough times back then, the times of serious depression, and Chester's voice - it healed my scars. Hearing this unplugged version of The Messenger - it made me sad. It makes me miss Chester even more. Whenever I hear someone mentioning about Chester, I get goosebumps all over my body. Though, I wish I knew about Chester and Linkin Park before the tragedy, but still, Chester saved me, and I will, forever, be grateful for that. Rest in Peace, Chester. You helped fight others their demons, but succumbed to your own. Wish we could help him overcome his demons.

[@isaachernandez6733]

i just got into learning how to scream and i wanted to learn how to scream and sing like Chester and i learned from ur past videos on Chester and now coincidentally you're doing another vid of Chester a few days after i started my journey on learning how to sing and scream. lmao

[@hendrajon8905]

Aku sangat merindukan chester bennington linkin park❤❤🎉

[@grigoriidifero]

Dog-barkify it.

[@greydazeplays]

Chester was my first inspiration to sing and i really appreciate what he has done and I also appreciate you breaking him down 👍

[@kotajames6211]

Today 6 years ago we lost Chester on Chris Cornell's Birthday #ripChesterBennington The Messenger has helped me through so much pain. I don't think I can sing this just because I start to cry.🥹We lost a G.O.A.T... Chester Bennington

[@PreEmptiveGG]

Dude I bet when you are done recording this shit you are looping a replay and belting these songs out because you have the ability to do so lol. If I could sing/scream like that..my lawd I'd be belting these songs out every day

[@ryanangeli5897]

I never liked Linkin Park. I just couldn’t get into their style. But there’s no arguing that Chester was an amazing singer. What a voice, man. So glassy, and strong, and unique. Such a shame he’s not with us anymore 🤘❤️

[@PoP2012TII]

Interesting video! Thank you, Chris Liepe, for sharing this with us 🙂

[@evasanchezsaez8685]

I admire his voice so much!!!! Thanks for the analysis!

[@karankumar4384]

For Chester's best performance, Do a breakdown of Linkin Park Qwerty Live at summer sonic 2006... It has instant switch of clean and scream, looks almost out of this world.. Trust me that performance is underrated

[@CalypsoTheInnocent]

Whenever I come across a video showcasing Chester I always read the comments first. It brings me so much joy to see how many lives were affected by his voice. I'm writing this comment before watching, but thank you for including him in so many of your videos. I just discovered you, so I have a backlog of videos to watch including those he is a focus of. and thank you for sharing your joy and love of music with all of us!

[@AGenericMoron]

Hearing the raw, tortured, desperate pain of his emotive screaming when I was young was one of the first times in my life, ever, that I realised I wasn't alone in how I felt. That someone else understood. That someone else not only knew the anguish of anxiety and despair of depression, and much worse, but could really take that pain and project it through their singing. Could speak on a level beyond speaking about the thoughts and experiences you go through in that state. Beyond the talent, and the voice that had such raw edge and such pure clarity, there was a real honesty and purpose to his performance that gave it something else. Chester didn't tell me, as many others had, that he knew how it felt to feel desperate, and worthless, and self-destructive. He didn't tell me that it would be okay, that it gets better. He took his tormented soul, and screamed it out into the world, so that people like me could see in him what they tried to contain deep within themselves, in a way that was so powerful and impactful that his darkness resonated with our own. The sheer catharsis of that feeling, it's hard to put to words. It's really hard. I don't exactly know why I wrote this.

[@SsickMusic]

Thanks for writing it. I’m with you

[@itsasquid]

One thing I find super interesting about this song is that in this he always sang the song about an octave lower live. In the recording, he's practically screaming it.

[@fernandoacostasanchez175]

This is my favorite song by Linkin Park. Always thought it was underated. Good to see this. Amazing vocals

[@adamn5821]

Right before Chester and Brad did this song him and Mike did Leave Out All the Rest. I would be curious to see your analysis of it as well. I have watched this performance of them so many times but didn't notice some of the things you pointed out in your analysis. Makes me appreciate Chester as a vocalist even more. Please do the Leave Out All The Rest part of this performance. Thanks!

[@federicogarufi479]

You can’t learn how to sing that way, you just have to live what he lived. You can study how much you want but getting that emotional connection is something that can come only from pain.

[@khmer06]

Very true. Sad as it may be, the best art almost always come from pain and anger, and you instantly know it when you hear it.

[@Themonist]

bs

[@JamesDavis-ik8yy]

happy birthday chester, we miss you, but we are extremely thankful of works like this that show us what you could do and remind us of you

[@evasanchezsaez8685]

Chris, I admire you very much. You're an inspiration for me. I'd like you to allow me to say here in your channel, that is so popular, that I've got new videos for Spanish students to practice in my channel. It won't be a conflict of interest because I'm not competing with you. I'd thank you so much your support!!! If you consider this comment shouldn't be here, erase it. I'll understand. Thanks and regards.

[@matthewburke153]

Hi, drummer of 30 years here just playing through KZbin. You are so talented. That’s all.

[@devchannel5232]

This barking and angel like vocals are out of this world... a true gift from god! RIP

[@Darth_Spyro]

Have you reacted and broken down LP's QWERTY live in Tokyo? Chester's vocals on that song are insane!

[@timetorelax7776]

Hi bro pls do react "Little things give you away "live in melton keynes

[@scarvello]

His work with Grey Daze just hits you right in the feels.

[@fedard29]

We love you Chester, we miss you ❤

[@Kommaer]

I would love to watch this one but i am afraid i will start to cry

[@martinre3846]

Hi chris, Ive seen a lot of videos talking about distorted voices, but could you do one, about how to clean a distorted voice, everytime I hit a middle high note I cant make it clear, thanks

[@chrisliepe]

I cover this specifically in my course “the aggressive vocalists master plan of attack” found at mymusicalvoice.com

[@andivax]

Amazing analysis❤ Amazing Chester❤

[@ShinjeScraw]

Thanks chris with your dog tip I could finally do chester's grit I'll keep returning to this video to practice more.

[@ukasz1516]

You sound more like the Rev than Chester 😮

[@chrisliepe]

both incredible forces as vocalists!!

[@p.p.8082]

Chester was not one of the best vocals ever he was THE BEST vocals ever. He played with his voice like Messi or Ronaldo with the ball.

[@joegraves4710]

Chris, your passion for music comes through so genuinely in the way you discuss the video. you are an inspiration.

[@danielatedeschi7695]

@Chris Liepe You are the best voice master and you understood every note of the artist (Chester is very complicate to copy! He & Linkin Park are my fav). My congrats to you but I ask myself why you don't sing bcause you're so good? (Sorry for my bad English and for my curiosity). Greetings from Italy

[@jannetestailee]

Wow! Amazing content! Chester is so in tune here!! Cheers!

[@camilo080808]

Chris, I used your tipps and stuff and I've become a far better vocalist than before. Still have a long way to go but now I understand how get that chester-like type of grit... Thanks!

[@jonrosseauac]

Can you breakdown Chester bennington's live performances of Highway to hell,paradise city and whole lotta love with camp freddy??

[@beehype46and2]

Comment for da algorithm Streak count: 198 🚄

[@Sunshine-yp7km]

Could you please do a reaction to Dimash SOS 2021 digital show? ❤❤❤

[@mariamorra7863]

Yeah❤ Chester is the best vocalist❤❤❤❤always

[@rafaelliborio4704]

Chester did all that without anyone noticing and making money out of it

[@TheVQed]

My god Chris! This was a jewel of a video.

[@nicodishiznit]

Great lesson!

[@SsickMusic]

Chester ❤

[@enzomolossivalmorbida5201]

Its just hard to describe how perfect and agelic is chester voice.... I just want to thank you @Chris Liepe, for doing this vocal analizes from one of the best singers of all time. And i want to ask you if you cant make vocal analizes from "Lost", rigth in that scream part "IM LOST.." i NEVER seen a human being doing so perfect and angelic how chester does, thanks again!

[@fust_woow1869]

Que te parece si haces un video analizando y enseñandonos las tecnicas o en si un "how to sing like..." fred durst limp bizkit Lo pensarias?

[@natirubi524]

Sir, did you read my mind?? LP is one of my favourites bands, and this song is always an incredible challenge, so much more the album version, this guy shout all that the people who listen to him can not. Thanks for this, sensei! I didn't finish to watch all your videos but it would be amazing to see ana analysis of "the great pretender", that Platters cover from Queen. Freddie is making such an incredible things there, i'd love to see what yoy can do woth that. Big hug and thank you for sharing this!!!!

[@givedemonsavoice6127]

I'm truly grateful for your work and expertise Chris! The way you approach it is not only very educational but also very motivating and fun to watch! Chester is one of my all time heros. Thank you so much!! 🙏

[@DamianRiccioli]

Hi Chris, not related to Chester but I really think pertinent to the channel, I strongly recommend listening to this singer from Seattle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4q1qmdneMyCfJI. The band is Rishloo, it is pretty underground but with a solid fanbase all around the world. The name of the singer is Andrew Mailoux, and for no better words for describing him, I would say he is theatrical, at the very least, and really super expressive. Goosebumps expressive. Hope you listen to him! Love the channel!

[@russellspear6188]

The dog bark isn't something I've see you do before. Is that by any chance something you picked up when Elizabeth and Will came over? How did that go?

[@pierres3691]

Incredible, you should watch a live of "QWERTY" it's unbelievable

[@murilooliveira9175]

please chris, make a vocal analysis of Slipknot - Vermilion pt. 1 Corey's vocals are so naturally gritty and raspy and i've always searched for any vocal analysis and there's any great one

[@zekie106]

ive been trying to have a raspy singing voice like chester for months now 🤣 your tutorials helped a lot i know how to scream rn but not sing with distortion... i just cant seem to understand how it works

[@EtherealFrequency2024]

Awesome video. Great insight that comes out of the amazing intimate performance.

[@Harmyv]

Thank you Chris, awesome video!

[@999nero]

Which keyboard are you using?

[@olegbmj]

Thank you, Chris! You are the best!

[@bkcin86]

RIPCHESTER my hero

[@Fevermore]

Please do some more Jeff Buckley! There is some footage of Jeff performing "What Will You Say" with this outstanding singer Alim Qazimov, who is called the Azerbaijani nightingale! You can find it here on youtube if I'm correct!

[@Fevermore]

or "The Way Young Lovers Do" live with Alim

[@JaMeshuggah]

RIP Chester 🐐

[@sonicfan2403]

RIP Chester!