Perfect timing for me to humbly join the discussion, especially after Mago's last post about female screamers/growlers (absolutely no disrespect to you though at all, as you stated you had just *heard* about girls not being able to do this stuff, no worries!) As a forward: I am not affiliated with Rodney or Extreme Vocals at all, besides being a former student & he's probably the least 'promotional' guy I've ever met but just wanted to jump in and talk a bit about what he's saying here, and how it comes into play in realistic terms. I'll try to make it short and sweet. It's not even about his own particular teaching at all, in some ways, but about the techniques & knowledge behind this entire way of singing. And yes, it IS singing.
PS: Big props to Anssi Tenhunen, good for you to start singing/screaming now, I started WAAAY later in life, too, a similar story....And, my mother is Finnish, I grew up very Finn and, she is living in Helsinki now
I started training w/Rodney almost 4 years ago, after having NO vocal training at all in my life but yet trying out different teachers that would *say* they knew how to teach grit/screaming but never did it themselves, or, said it was impossible to do without hurting yourself, etc. I was not even trying to go that far as a vocalist even, I just wanted to stop hurting after each show I did locally here in LA, doing raspy singing & occasional screams in metal bands. I didn't even think I had that capability to do 'extreme' screaming...
Long story short is that these techniques, if you can even call it that, helped me get to a level where I could record an album w/a legendary band + producer in neck-breaking time, tour Europe on 8, maybe 9 rehearsals TOTAL, learn a back catalog of music in a month and do show after show each night with zero damage. All while working my normal day job too (well, not while on tour of course). And...doing things with my voice that I never thought possible. Ever.
But it IS possible, and I'm not saying just w/Rodney either: find a vocal teacher in your area, if you can, or even remotely via Skype or internet, who will work with YOUR voice uniquely and guide you to what you are best able to do. I wasn't aware that I could even do these things necessarily, although I wanted to but had been told so many times that I couldn't because a) I'm a girl b) you can't do it w/out damage c) you have to drink whisky or Throat Coat or vinegar or milk or smoke, etc (which I DID try too, all of which winded up with me not being able to talk for 2 days after a show!) and d) only certain people are 'born with it' and there is no way to learn it organically. Bullshit. A good *metal* vocal coach is key, it is like training for the Olympics with extreme music it really is, if you want to be someone who can do it over and over again without damage. And, my 'regular' singing voice also improved astoundingly (and fortunately) too, it is ALL connected. Find a good person who is in it for the right reasons, who also loves the music/genre and can actually perform the music as well. I'm sure a lot of us on here have all found vocal teachers who only know how to do 'traditional' singing and think metal/extreme screaming is not singing at all.
Anyways, just wanted to add that in here as an example. Many of you already have posted about the key things that it takes as a foundation: breath control, projection 'over the pencil' (as Melissa Cross calls it), not pushing/forcing and water, water WATER and all are supremely excellent. But above all, and if you can, find someone who can guide you/mentor you as well: it will take you from capable to absolutely deadly, and isn't that what metal is all about?
