So this is a little off topic and franctly im not taking a vocal course BUT i have some questions/concerns, i joined this new band a couple weeks ago and im singing/screaming, i have never screamed vocally before and i realized that i have the ability to it sounds pretty good, if thats possible haha but anyways i am kind of having pain in my throat from sining and screaming does anyone have any suggestions as to technique, vocal coashing, any warm ups, any concerns anything at all to help me out? please help me we have a gig on Friday and it seriously feels like im losing my voice.
Thank you to all who read

Ronnie

Ronnie -
Hey man, how's it going? Just saw this post - sorry it wasn't in time to help you before your gig. Google a DVD called "The Zen of Screaming" by Melissa Cross. She's probably the best screaming coach out there that I can think of and teaches black metal/death metal/scream-o/indie, etc... you name it... most all styles of screaming on that disk. It's only around like $20 and will teach you almost everything about how to scream properly and tons of techniques on different styles and how to do it without pain and losing your voice. Hope that helps!

I'm probably pretty late to help you out too but I'm a screamer and "The Zen Of Screaming" DVD does help. Melissa Cross is the vocal coach and she knows what she's talking about. The techniques deffinately help keep your throat safe. Personally I feel that the most basic thing you should do is to keep developing your voice to make it used to the feeling and to have weekly practices. When I don't practice and scream after not screaming for a while it hurts. Your throat is a muscle, gotta work it out and keep it in shape.

Hey!

Singing metal is a real skill to do wihtout doing irreversable damage to your vocal chords. I would suggest taking a break from screaming for a bit because your throat should not be hurting if you are doing it correctly. They to it all is to use your "false" vocal folds. This technique protect the tender delicate ones that you usually use for speaking and singing. But how do you know if you are using the false folds? That is something you need a good instrutor to help you with. You need a coach with the right ear and expertise to help you learn to use the false folds and strengthen your voice so that when you scream, you will still be able to sing and you'll still have a voice. This is the technique used by pro metal singers, and it's how they do concert after concert and tour after tour and can still put on a great show vocally.

Michael Maresca is an excelent teacher for this kind of stuff. He like specializes in all kinds of contemporary vocal styles, and he'd be a great help. And trust me, the lessons would be worth every penny if they can save your voice from potential annihilation!

www.mmonevoice.com

That's his website! When I started taking lessons with him I couldn't belt, and all I could do was sing operatically. Now I can sing like ANYTHING! I'm serious. Check him out!