Why YOU Can't Do BOTH Well: Singing & Screaming (And How To Fix)

Free Voice Lessons: chrisliepe.com...
My Website: chrisliepe.com
I hear it all too often from my new students: "I can scream, but I can't sing at all!!" ... OR: "I can SING well, but as soon as I try to do it aggressively, everything falls apart!"
In this video, I explain why it is so common that these two types of vocalists exist and share an easy, practical exercise to help MERGE THE TWO WORLDS!

[@phosphorusmusick]

After discovering your videos a little more than a year ago, and experimenting with your techniques/sensations, Chris, I finally figured everything out! From mixed voice, finding a nice tone, over grit, improving my range, to screaming/grit... man, after all these frustrating years of little to no real progress it simply just works like magic! Thank you SO incredibly much, Chris! What helped me best were your explanations about inserting fry into a clean note in earlier tutorials and starting rather quiet. In school I used to sing in big choirs with orchestras, or on theatre stages, so I was trained to sing very LOUD and powerful, which has huge benefits, but made me think I always have to forcefully and loudly push my voice higher. Now I can insert the fry in a very controlled manner into a quiet mix, head or chest and it's just smooth like butter, without strain or limited range. As soon as I find the confidence and furtherly honed my craft I'm gonna record some covers or my own songs with my voice on it. :)

[@chrisliepe]

This is so great to see! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@phosphorusmusick]

@@chrisliepe You are most welcome!!

[@adecentdelinquent8986]

That's amazing! Congratulations on discovering your voice! Hope I'm next.

[@physicsisawesome696]

0:21 Me: I can't neither sing nor scream lol

[@guichiaccion]

You can´t sing and scream at the same time Chester Bennington(from heaven): Hold my Beer...

[@gmyersgilmer9470]

Mike Patton could dust Chester in a million ways

[@lightartorias552]

When I first got into singing/screaming, I decided to learn to scream first. You described the exact problem I encountered when trying to sing. Absolutely awesome.

[@dperspective365]

Thank you so much, Chris. You do not realize the trouble and problems you just saved me from. I have been wanting to learn how to scream since I was five, lol, and now I can live out my dream. Rock on, forever on.

[@chrisliepe]

Glad to help!

[@philipemerson3978]

Great advice clean first then add the grit ..I think we always want to emulate our influences from the beginning and we bypass how they got their I am sure it wasn't a smooth process but took a lot of hard work continous effort to get it right and train muscle memory to perfect.

[@SkeeterMcBeater]

Holy fuck! IT'S WORKING! IT'S WORKING! Thank you so much! You're the best!

[@sharonmichael08]

As soon as I start facing an issue or difficulty with my voice, I wake up the next day and Chris makes a video about it🥳🥀

[@chrisliepe]

hehe... glad to hear this!

[@trystensmith8673]

I love how mean you can look when you scream and how nice you look when singing. True enthusiast.

[@chrisliepe]

:)

[@Magnivore519]

I like to imagine his wife is in a nearby room and hearing her husband scream those lyrics.

[@chrisliepe]

Haha

[@noimspartacus4357]

Weirdo!!

[@philipemerson3978]

Please cover some of Aaron Lewis's techniques, Chino Moreno, David Gilmore and Billy Idol..Love your steps ...they have taught me a lot

[@fatboysgarage7984]

I grew up listening to bands like Korn, Avenged Sevenfold and Mudvayne. I learned to bounce from clean singing to screaming. I'm far from the best at either, but I can get the job done. I've noticed that I don't use enough air when I sing. That's always been my downfall with clean singing, but sometimes, it works out in my favor because it helps me sing softer and more easily go up in my range. My old vocal teacher said I should focus more on my screaming because I scream an octave higher than my singing. She said it makes me an easier student to teach, so I focused more on screaming.

[@elijahlopez4487]

Haha the face you made after 14:08 was like, “yeah, that was awesome😎” haha love it! Awesome lesson again! Thank you so much, Chris!

[@joshdrewpic]

8:08 me trying to tell my crush I like them

[@BlaickXD]

I’ve got a question : is it normal that in the beginning my scream is on point af and then it decreases in sound quality and it gets harder to do as well ? I’m drinking a lot of water and don’t feel sore so I don’t really get what I’m doing wrong… I kinda feel like switching to clean vocals and then coming back to harsh for some reason make it better again,as if clean vocals clear my throat a little so that my false cords have space again to operate ? Pretty weird…

[@chrisliepe]

Ya your air flow and support balance isn’t dialed in at all. That’s why that’s happening :) have you joined my free course yet?

[@coleG112]

This kind of "play" is absolutely what I need to do after my initial warm up to get the muscle memory. Too often I'll get to screaming and it won't be dialed in quite right so the sound comes from pressured singing, not from proper engagement, and then that throws me off the rest of the day.

[@chrisliepe]

RIGHT

[@stevengrantofthegiftshop1549]

I HAD THIS PROBLEM YESTERDAY! Let's see how to fix it.....

[@luisca92]

Literally life: I can scream like no one's business but singing... well I'm happy to have people such as you to help me

[@Magnivore519]

Please teach me to power fry.

[@luisca92]

@@Magnivore519 look up the "zen of screaming" it was how I got started. Also Chris has videos on it I believe

[@undefeated3257]

^^ literally fkn same. I’m trying so hard to figure out how to sound like a dying bat and actually sing well. Screaming I can do all day

[@Indaelcio]

My god dude your videos are amazing and criminally underrated too. My guess is that you've already shaken off all those not taking singing seriously enough. Don't be discouraged by the low views we who watch appreciate every moment. Have a great 2021 Chris, everyone! :)

[@chrisliepe]

Channel is only about a year and a half old still :) But growing... I have no intension of slowing down anytime soon!! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@regdenee]

For me I think it's hard to sing. Mostly because it's hard to stay in tune and not apply screaming/growling logic to my singing. I can growl for sure and scream for hours, but singing is somehow a hard challenge and it feels like my singing just won't obey and goes easily out of tune or I push too hard and some weird closure and distortion is created (or going too nasal). My growls pretty much lives in my nasal area to get low or high and when switching back and forth it gets stuck there. I have no idea on how to get out of there without losing character and clear pronunciation. It's weird.

[@Melvin7727]

Fantastic lesson!!!

[@noiZtheartist]

You have SO MUCH free and useful information available it's really a godsend for those of us who care about vocal longevity and sustainability You're like the Athlean X of vocal training TYSM It means a lot to me

[@chrisliepe]

Thanks for this comment! I like the Athlean-X comparison :)

[@JIMWESTDG]

I can scream fairly well, I can sing decently (or at least so I'm told lol) but am having a lot of trouble bringing these together like you described. Idk where to start on fixing it honestly.

[@Birbbb]

U GAVE ME HOPE CHRIS i wasn't even able to like scream at all but with this video i kinda noticed i can elvolve a little bit! thank you :D

[@mikewilson0077]

Why is it that I can inward scream without any discomfort, but when I outward scream, I can only engage my primary chords?

[@stevengrantofthegiftshop1549]

I have the same problem!

[@LAlves91]

I actually feel this too. I'm not an expert on singing or physiology, but I read a lot about it...I believe it's because when we're trying something inward, the 'logic' is similar to breathing: we usually do it without primary chord engagement. It's a coordination we already have in our body. The thing is, it's not really a position for phonation, as the airflow is going top-down, without any kind of support system to regulate it, making it really hard on the primary chords. With outward, it's a whole different game: at least in my experience, my primary chords just 'want to be active' when I'm producing sound hahahh...I think it's really about practicing and feeling things in isolation, kinda like mind-muscle connection when working out (Chris actually pointed this out in an old video, I think it's absolutelly right on).

[@adecentdelinquent8986]

From what I know, inward/inhaling screams can be harmful. So try to learn outward/exhaling screaming instead. Also if you want to scream outwards like false cord screaming, make sure to OPEN your vocal cords like breathing out or sighing, then the more air you push the more noise. The placement is important as well, make it as forward as possible, and relax your jaw. I recommend checking tutorials on KZbin for a starters and getting a vocal coach who's an expert in the field.

[@kdakan]

Thank you Chris, you are the best vocal coach on youtube, at least one I could benefit most from.

[@chrisliepe]

yay!

[@massivHE1]

No idea how to place the weird sound proplery. I am pretty sure I am slamming my coval cords while trying :S

[@Dadaadad268]

You me both!

[@Hellion6325]

I can sorta do both, but I don't like switching back and forth.. lol

[@ReplayCovers]

I just can't, I'll practice for a year and I'll be back

[@emkstr]

"Why is it so difficult to be one of those singers who can live in the middle?" *Me, crying in the sing-only camp*

[@Axl666Punk]

I'd love a video on the singing style of Fat Mike of NOFX, especially on his 90's stuff.

[@nicolaselmouhed2483]

Could be a first video on subharmonic technique 🤣

[@robnordal1906]

Or Waiting for a girl like you. I think JLT does it better than lou gramm

[@Wihtewolf135Music]

Meanwhile Will Ramos is a godlike singer and screamer haha

[@chaswood1517]

interesting & informing video! while humorous

[@robnordal1906]

If I could sing like Joe Lynn Turner I'd be so happy. Or Geoff Tate.

[@d.b.485]

Great lesson , from Russia with love )

[@DamnLUK]

for reference: check out 20past8 obviously you cant do both at the same time... adding grit? ok maybe. but check out for ex. as i lay dying is there a difference to what lambesis does? is false chord training something totally different from singin? I used to be copying AILD technique for screaming. (no singing experience at all) And I would say I abused my "voice" (or rather false chords) for 4 years straight against all the rules somehow YEEEET: I started off being unable to speak properly for a week after a session. and needed 2 weeks to actually recover but... ;) periods got shorter it was just days then until it ended I could go all crazy as I wanted (from your singing lessons i know i did it wrong as fuck aswell) then I added huge amounts of even more power and stylistic stuff like high pitches and even exhale pig squaling after 2 years of grinding i could go 3 hours a day 2 times a week and still have my little boy voice which was undamaged 10 minutes later no effect whatsoever. 10 years later, no damage or effect left to my actual voice and i watched a lot of your videos i never heard a full false chord scream from you there by the way as far as I watched your stuff it helps me on catching up actual singing / rock singing so thank you

[@WSGtr12]

I may pick another line of lyrics if someone else is listening me practice :D Thanks for a great lesson Chris!

[@Dadaadad268]

😂😂

[@DemonSlide]

Amazing video Chris. Thank you for sharing!

[@tilmanritter9926]

What did you do to your fingers ? I hope you still can play the guitar ? :-(

[@chrisliepe]

ya... just cut them trying to cut apart some cables that had a bunch of tape on them :) They're getting better!

[@puka6723]

Thank you for your videos my friend, they've really helped me to understand my voice!

[@belugabao7143]

Bro you’re the best at explaining voice.

[@philippebedroom4665]

Chris, do u have tips on unpacking voices? Even tho your videos explain it quite well. I dunno how to unpack a dead desire voice🤔

[@ladyinblackk0]

Why can I do it on my mid and high notes, but on lows it just doesn't work?

[@chrisliepe]

Would need to hear and see u sing to help with that :) have you joined my free course yet?

[@AmmarsGC]

I made a band with my friends and they liked my voice exactly because of my scream singing, but I think I've done It either not in the right way or I've overdone It. Now I can't normaly scream and I'm trying to find a video to see is that just a lost voice or what... but this was a really educational video for me and my singing

[@z3t3c33]

I literally said this to my wife yesterday

[@russellspear6188]

This is fascinating! Chris, I have one question that I have tried to figure out on my own but haven't been able to: How is that you can sing a melody like when singing the lyrics "Rape me..." that sounds as high pitched as it does when you sing it clean, but then when you add the false cords, it sounds lower even though it isn't. Maybe a better way of putting it is it has a lot more bass to it when he add the grit here. OK, so adding false fold distortion seems to add a lot of bass to a high pitch vocal melody. Well, how is it then that when, for example, Brian Johnson of AC/DC sang a song like Back In Black, where he uses a ton of false fold engagement to create distortion, it does not add much if any bass to the sound like it does when you engage false folds in "Rape Me"? Is it that you are engaging a different section of the false cords than Brian Johnson did? What do you suppose Johnson did to engage false folds while not activating the portion of the false folds that add a thicker, bassier sound? His sound was shrill and piercing - not full and bassy. Why does this disparity exist? When I add false fold engagement, I can sort of get that Brian Johnson sound (kind of) but I cannot get that "Rape Me" bass heavy sound? Do I have to push more from the throat to make it sound more throaty?

[@chrisliepe]

It has to do with a more intense engagement of the false cords by allowing more air to be “caught” by them. Most of my screaming videos talk about this extreme break up :)

[@russellspear6188]

​@@chrisliepe That's good to know. Thank you! I was starting to think maybe there was a different section of the false cords that I couldn't activate, but it's really a matter of allowing more air to be caught by the false cords. I imagine this is the kind of thing that happens on a song like "Rooster" where in there chorus, Layne Staley sings "Here they come to snuff the Rooster, oh yeah" and on the "oh yeah" it sounds huge! That's on a note that if you sing it clean it sounds a lot smaller.

[@SuperGamingguitarist]

I'd like to learn to sing with grit like this at some point, but I'd like to be able to SWITCH between them. I just can't sing anything both above and below my speaking range right after screaming a line. I have to stop for a while and "reset myself" before I sing. I use fry screaming. Does this still apply?

[@chrisliepe]

Ya, you're still needing to constantly remind your muscle memory of the correct sensations. I'd encourage you to dive deeper into screaming... Get away from the "fry scream" and practice different ways of using false cord engagement, musical screaming etc...

[@SuperGamingguitarist]

@@chrisliepe I do know multiple techniques, including one that I don't really know what is, where I scream musically(but there's more scream than tone). Every time I've tried to learn false chord screaming I've ended up hurting myself...

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

Sorry Chris, I like your Videos very much🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 I have a wish...could you please do a video ,just for fun wearing a Bruce Dickinson WIG (or something similar) cause I think you would look like him and it 'll be funny like hell ,please please please😁

[@TheShaum257]

The lead singer Robin Zander of Cheap Trick is also a perfect example of well singing and screaming at the same time. Just listen to their live performances from 1977 till 1989. The Cheap Trick songs which come to my mind, which highlight perfect singing and screaming, are "ELO Kiddies", "Hello There", "Just Got Back", "Gonna Raise Hell", "The Flame" and the song which in my opinion is the most outstanding one in highlighting perfect singing and screaming is "Auf Wiedersehen". I highly recommend you checking out these songs if you haven't already. Also a fun fact: Kurt Cobain was a huge Cheap Trick fan and it's where he got his musical inspiration from. He said "We're like Cheap Trick, only our guitars are louder".

[@elijahechicagobearsboyd5734]

God, freaking bless you Sensei Chris! Not only did you use my favorite Nirvana song as an example, but most importantly I have finally understood how to consistently use my compression without tensing up after viewing this video as I did some practicing following this video including a cover of slipknot's snuff and the improvement was insanely drastic!

[@sciexp]

Thanks for sharing this... It's interesting amd useful... Nice example from Nirvana, those repetitive screams of K. Cobain are very very beautiful and catchy.

[@unowhavethebiggay1430]

Tool the pot isolated vocal analysis

[@chrisliepe]

on the list

[@unowhavethebiggay1430]

@@chrisliepe yes thanks a lot man

[@mohammedshehata8293]

Hello Chris liepe can you do reaction voice teacher vitas please and high note because this fantastic please please please and I want ask question vitas sing mix voice in high note

[@ZmeyYuri]

Amazing lesson. Your approach works the best for me. To me you're the best teacher.

[@rufocs686]

Watching your video, I noticed I can't do the 'eh' without feeling my throat hoarse and with pain. I don't know what to do, since when trying to do a high note with distortion, I understand how to do it. I want to avoid that! Is there a way to avoid so? I'm sure you have a video about this?

[@chrisliepe]

I’d have to hear you and work with you more closely to really help you and figure out what you need. A text reply won’t go very far and probably add to your confusion. Have you considered looking into any of my courses?

[@rufocs686]

@@chrisliepe oh yeah! Surely, as soon as I have an stable income I plan on taking one of your courses, meanwhile, I'm taking the one you offer free.

[@philrobinson5773]

SEE DEVIN TOWNSEND

[@voidvoidvoid7274]

I mean I CAN switch scream to clean but it's not a "safe" transition so far, I hurt my voice and then can't sing for a week or two. Even though I don't go as high as you do... Your ranges are incredible both ways though... Whatever the F your vocal chords are made with, I want mine to become the same.

[@live2shredguy]

What if when I try to look for the distortion my throat starts to itch but my normal speaking and singing voice feels unaffected?

[@chrisliepe]

That means its mostly right :) Make sure you place your engagement HIGH in the throat for your distortion! head to www.mymusicalvoice.com and get my free "7 Highly Effective Exercises That Won't Annoy You Neighbors" course!

[@live2shredguy]

@@chrisliepe Thank you so much!

[@undefeated3257]

I feel like this video is gonna get demonetized 😂

[@chrisliepe]

Why? :)

[@thombakker2835]

dude you should really make a video on Landon Tewers (as the singer from The Plot In You but also his solo work). he is not as big as most of the guys you cover on here (oliver sikes, m shadows, chris cornell etc) but i thing his vocal technique is really super interesting and i would love to learn more about it. I love youre videos keep up the great work! Cheers from the Netherlands!

[@NandoLopesMusic]

Hey Chris, I started training those screams only like 2 or 3 months ago, and it seems like I do them the same way you're teaching in this video. The problem is: when I'm doing this on Linkin Park songs such as Don't Stay or Points of Authority, I feel like getting my voice really tired and sometimes I can't even finish that line/chorus... Do you know why that happens? I watched your videos about tired and hoarse voice, but it seems like those are not the case

[@hipyhippo3829]

I cant sing but i would love to. I thought maybe screaming would be much easier cuz I thought it was just practicing screaming the right way. Its much much much more complicated than I thought

[@robnordal1906]

Check out how he re did Gina or you wouldn't know love in his sunstorm work. Two old Michael Bolton songs. Awesome!!!

[@vitto9961]

The only guy I could think of doing this perfectly is Jonathan Young(check his youtube channel). He always sing and scream at the same time on lower registry. Not sure if he's doing the exact same thing demonstrated in this video. It sound so hard to learn😅

[@cobalus_official]

At last those two different worlds properly combined!

[@nickx1754]

This is such a good lesson and demonstration. I really enjoy how you have different explanations of incorporating grit / distortion into singing. Sometimes it just takes a different approach for some people to nail it. Thank you, Chris! Also, I'm really tempted to make 10:32 my text tone : p

[@rreynolds4597]

Hey Chris! I haven’t had a problem with singing, but shortly after screaming I get an itchy/scratchy feeling in the back of my throat. Is this a normal feeling?? What do you feel after screaming for a few minutes?

[@jmerdsoy]

Man, this is so awesome. A lot of this information isn't news to me but lately I have been doubting the rock-n-rollness of my voice because I tend to default to a clean, non raspy, polite kind of sound. I'm really glad to know that others have this issue too. It seems so effortless for some (lookin at you here Chris!) to slip in and out of grit and to segue from floaty lilty tones into gruspy filth...I really have to work at the filth part and knowing that that's somewhat normal reinstills confidence. Thank You!!

[@johnnyfoxx9379]

This is exactly what I've been struggling with, have no issues engaging false folds at will on my chest and falsetto, but when I try to do it in head (mixed) voice I can't seem to do it without breaking back into screaming falsetto.

[@callingallkings163]

Brother, Vocally, you have helped me change my cards. I appreciate you Chris. Thanks

[@Aung9oO]

Lol! responding emails and screaming “Rape Me!!” I am curious about what my neighbors would think is happening here😆

[@colleenschetzsle8415]

This was so helpful!!!! I use a lot of these vocal effects in my singing.. I’d hit the notes the way I wanted to, (most of the time lol) but always knew I wasn’t quite placing it right, because I wear out my voice after every set. As I currently sit here watching this.. resting my poor. strained voice..You showed me what I was doing wrong.

[@arvedbohn6133]

I would love to have you analize Tim McIlrath's vocals on Rise Against's song "Ballad Of Hollis Brown", I'm always mesmerized about how he goes from the gritty singing into this full-on scream of doom!

[@JerryFlowersIII]

Watching the intro Me who has been bad at both singing and screaming. 0_0' (I'm getting better and I can't understate how helpful these videos are.)

[@chiefstabahoe]

What did you do to your thumb and finger?

[@chrisliepe]

sliced them, trying to get some tape of some cables... not my most calculated moment :) haha

[@AustinRathburn]

Hands down best vocal coach on KZbin man. Thanks for the practical approach and awesome breakdowns.

[@summer256]

i have neighbours I feel shy All these years i havent singing, my fear to scream just pulls me down when i want to sing something loud, again after these years Yeah my problem Yeah i think im just scared to scream

[@dumpanimator]

I can't even Scream from feeling pain so there no doubt i can't scream

[@fenderfox5080]

Oooh you know how much I love 90s grunge and Kurt's vocals, your the best Chris!!! Greatest teacher online.

[@Tarja76]

7:10 Lordi🇫🇮😁

[@VinhTran-oj8rg]

Hiiii Chris , thank you for all the helpful video . I have a question, I tried to emulate what you did at 3:45 and sometime the distortion goes to my throat and it hurts, some other times it felt abit tingle and not hurt but I notice after a while of doing this (30-40 m) all the distortion starts to disappear. What have I done wrong? Or is it normal and I will eventually getting better?

[@blackmetalbreadstick]

I have so many videos to catch up on and I have the entire lesson package to start ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thank you for your insight. Hoping I can make my voice sound its best before touring starts again.

[@chrisliepe]

YEAH! You got it!

[@lordoflobsters7254]

Hey Chris, my vocal chords get fucked everytime I work out because I heavily breathe a lot, ay tips?

[@leser1music]

I can't do either particularly well 🤷‍♂️

[@chrisliepe]

Join me free course! :) I'll help you!

[@leser1music]

@@chrisliepe thanks, i'll check it out

[@LongSurreal]

Awesome video chris, ive been practicing starting clean getting dirty and transitioning back to clean. It takes a huge amount of control to get back to clean but it really helped me not push too hard with the wrong part of my throat

[@jayysuga202]

To better my breathing technique for gutturals, I actually started rapping since the pace is often similar, especially if you plan on using harshes in the verses instead of the chorus.

[@RodolfoCruzMusic]

I keep learning from your videos, cheers!

[@RhiannonTyler]

So that was very The Dark Crystal

[@SoulAragorn]

Thanku bro your lessons helped me scream some more

[@bayerhead]

I used to be able to do both but I can't scream at all unless it's very soft spoken

[@dialogicmusic5879]

Thanks Chris. Informing and inspiring, as always!

[@TheChrisTeenaJohnsonProject]

Definitely will learn with you...

[@floofyviking]

Spencer Sotelo is a whole step ahead of us

[@justin7926]

I know you hear this a lot, but thank you for the work you put into these. I'm not a singer, I'm just some dude that wants to sound better when driving in the car with my family so my kids aren't covering their ears. But over the year with starting to watch your videos and doing a lot of research into singing in general, there's definitely been a big improvement and my confidence with singing different songs has gone up. Went from sounding like Eeyore, talking at a D2 (which is great if I'm singing like Peter Steele) to where I can sing the more poppy songs with the kids within my range. The metal and rock I normally listen to I've been able to keep up with, thanks to your videos, and how you explain how singing and the different techniques should feel. Get some weird looks from the kiddos, but they've been joining in and trying it out with me. TLDR: your content is awesome, and thank you 👍

[@chrisliepe]

Thank you so much for subbing, watching and loving my content. Comments like this keep me going :) Loud LOVE!!

[@Aung9oO]

Ima Screaming while working from home lol. I hope I don’t have a hot mic in Zoom meetings.

[@dontdeletemeofficial]

Dude, you are the man. I love the topics on your videos, the way you address the topics. I've been spending a lot of time lately focusing on work , but every time i check my emails I see Chris Liepe popping back up in my inbox. I fully intend to join your class as soon as I get my work stuff sorted out. Keep up the awesome work.

[@chrisliepe]

Looking forward to working with you!! Thanks for watching!

[@Alfer230]

Chris, have you ever considered adding a decibel meter near the mic? I think it would be very helpful to have a visual indicator of the delta between your speaking and clean singing voice, as well as giving us the ability to see roughly how much breath support you're applying at any given moment to get the sound we're hearing. Just thought that would be a useful tool for all involved. Thanks for all you do!

[@chrisliepe]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ine3Xmp6etF1kJI

[@francoisbrisson2145]

Exactly what I needed, you read my mind.