Trying to Break the Pop Punk Mold

fiveminuteplan · 07-05-2004, 05:18 AM

Like alot of people, I need advice on not sounding so nasally. I always thought I was breathing from my diaphragm, I suck in my stomach when I sing; but I don't really know. I use alot of air most of the time, and when I breath in, I breath in through my mouth. I've kind of developed this thing where I block off my nose, I don't know if that lends to the nasally sound or not. I thought that it would help prevent it, but since I started doing it, I've gotten alot of complaints.

I've read a few things on here about how to let your voice resonate from different places, like not from your sinuses. How do I accomplish this? And what would be the best place for my kind of voice to resonate from?

Anyway, I've attached a clip, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Flyguy · 07-05-2004, 10:16 AM

OK, um I am buying your CD now.....that was awesome.

Voice wise....your voice is sort of nasally, but honestly I think your voice as it is now fits really well with the music that you are playing to be honest.

However, when I did take vocal lessons, the only thing my voice teacher told me to help sound less nasaly was to breathe through my diaphragm, which you said you are doing. When you breathe through your diaphragm though, you aren't supposed to suck in your stomach I don't think.

Try this:

Lay down on your bed, and try to take in as full a breath as you can. See how your stomach rises and falls (or not necessairly your stomach, but your lower chest?) .. this is how you want to be breathing when you sing. See, normally when you breathe it's from your upper chest..this isn't what you want. You want to breathe from your lower chest / diaphragm. If your shoulders don't move when you breathe in you are doing it right.

Try taking a book while you are laying down and put it over your diaphragm and push down on it, and then breathe through your diaphragm to push the book up, then release the air, then repeat.

After you've got the hang of that try doing the same thing standing up. And then slowly try to incorporate it into your normal singing.

Blocking off your nose would probably make you sound more nasally. So I would try to stop doing that.....

Also you said you used a lot of air...learning to breathe properly from your diaphragm and practicing it should help you use less air as well.

I'm pretty sure there's a sticky at the top of this forum with info on breathing, etc. You might want to check that out.

Good luck man...your band sounds awesome, like I said.

snizzle · 07-05-2004, 11:19 AM

i second flyguy. Everything he said.

Yall are really good. But this is about your voice. What's your style? If this is all that you are singing, have no worries. It sounds great! You sound a lot like Newfound Glory. Yes, most punk bands have nasally lead singers. That's just what fits the music. Is it bad? That's personal opinion. I think your voice rocks for this style and with that band. However, if you are singing in a choir or p&w or something then it would be a different story. If that's the case take flyguy's advice and check out the VAT page sticky'd on top for tips. Keep it up bro!
-shane

fiveminuteplan · 07-06-2004, 12:29 AM

Haha, ok thanks guys. I'm going to try the breathing excercise with lying on my back and such. I may try to diversify styles later on, but I've just recently been able to sing on key

. So yeah, I've got some growing to do still.

jalapeno · 07-06-2004, 01:03 AM

3rd to flyguy!
Great work, you have great voice for that kind mind of music. I also agree; work on your breathing so you don't sound nassely.

snizzle · 07-06-2004, 08:01 AM

it's kind of a catch 22. If you work on your voice and cure the nasalness your voice wont really fit that genre anymore. It depends on what you want to do and where you want your voice to go. In any case, it can never hurt to make sure your breathing correctly!
-shane

the flamingo · 07-06-2004, 01:27 PM

I think it would be beneficial for you to learn the "right" way to sing, with your diaphram and etc... you can always do other things to adapt to the style of music you are singing to...

Now I understand that the genre has a certain style to it, but that doesn't mean it should dictate every thing you do. I already know that your band isn't your typical punk band, so why should you have the typical punk singing voice? I mean, either way I'm sure it'll sound good, I'm just playing the devil's advocate. It might just be my personal opinion, but I like hearing something different. Your voice shouldn't CLASH with the music, which is obvious. But you should always be trying something a little different.

As an example, I know a few different ways to sing. I can sing in a higher register that I don't usually use in my music. Is it helpful to know how to sing that way? It sure is! And I know you are the kind of person that wants to learn everything you can about music.

snizzle · 07-06-2004, 01:30 PM

good point flamingo. I guess i have a few different 'voices' that i use. Choir voice, p&w voice, rock voice, broadway voice, etc. It's good to be versatile but still keep your voice. For all of these, it's basically the same i just change the timbre, pureness, raspiness, vibrato, etc. But i still keep to all the basics of a good voice...
-shane

fiveminuteplan · 07-09-2004, 03:46 AM

Ok, I've been singing with the diaphragm in practice for the last few days and I like it. I'm not used to it yet, so it makes me a little light-headed, but I think it's going to work out better. It makes me more powerful. And I found out that you're definitely not supposed to suck your stomach in while you sing.

Flyguy · 07-09-2004, 06:14 AM

Yep..the light-headed thing happened to me too after a voice lesson...my teacher said that it was normal for people just starting out because you have to get used to all of that air moving around. She told me to just sit down and relax (put your head between your knees and breathe if you are REALLY light-headed). Glad it's working for you.

MrCrabby · 07-09-2004, 10:44 PM

A good way to train yourself not to sing out of your nose: When you practice, hold your nose. And concentrate on moving all of the air through your mouth. After a few times, you will train yourself to do this without holding your nose.

the flamingo · 07-11-2004, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCrabby

A good way to train yourself not to sing out of your nose: When you practice, hold your nose. And concentrate on moving all of the air through your mouth. After a few times, you will train yourself to do this without holding your nose.

haha, I like doing this because it helps me realize when I'm being nasally and when I'm not, sometimes I don't really think, "Ah, I'm singing through my nose." ... Sometimes you need your nose to sing stuff, but if the whole time you are singing your nose is buzzing, that should tell ya something

fiveminuteplan · 07-18-2004, 03:55 AM

Ok, I've been trying the holding my nose thing and also the diaphragm breathing for a few days now. I posted a demo song in my journal in which I used what I learned. Give it a listen and let me know if it sounds any less nasally or not. I can't really tell myself. It sounds very similar to me. Here's the link:

http://www.christianguitar.org/forum...&postcount=445

aiwahead · 07-18-2004, 01:56 PM

Definately better, since you're looking to get rid of that nasally sound.

Another peice of advice, Do you drink alot of coke/soda/whateveryouwant to call it? Eat alot of cheese? Drink alot of milk?

Dont.

All that sugar and lactose can create an enormous amount of mucus in your system and make your voice do all sorts of odd things.. It dosent mean you just CANT eat or drink any of these, but cut back on them for a week or so and see what it does to your voice.

Just my personal experiance, now, but when I did this my voice improved noticibly. I now rarely ever drink any sodas, usually only clear liquids.

fiveminuteplan · 07-18-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aiwahead

Definately better, since you're looking to get rid of that nasally sound.

Another peice of advice, Do you drink alot of coke/soda/whateveryouwant to call it? Eat alot of cheese? Drink alot of milk?

Dont.

All that sugar and lactose can create an enormous amount of mucus in your system and make your voice do all sorts of odd things.. It dosent mean you just CANT eat or drink any of these, but cut back on them for a week or so and see what it does to your voice.

Just my personal experiance, now, but when I did this my voice improved noticibly. I now rarely ever drink any sodas, usually only clear liquids.

I don't drink an excessive amount of soda. I drink mostly tea, the soda I drink the most is Sprite. I don't eat that much cheese and I never drink milk, ever. I'm allergic to dairy products. If I eat too much, I sneeze my head off.