How do you build up metal vocals? When I try to do it, i sound like a raspy cow trying to moo and cough up something at the same time.
What the fuck do I do?

Your probably not doing it correctly. Try pushing from the diaphragm instead of the throat. Hope that helps.

wheres the diafram again?

A muscle in your stomach, used for vomiting and shitting amonst other things. Imagine you're wearing a strapless bra that shouldn't fall off while you growl.

Good one

Also when you're trying vocals always inhale, don't exhale. It works for me.
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something something something metal...

Doesn't inhaling fuck with your throat? Everyone I heard from seemed to be convinced exhaling is the proper way.

Well sadly I'm no expert, but you can read more about it here: http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Harsh-Death-Metal-Vocals (I'm also saying this to the original poster!). It's a very useful page. It says that indeed the inhaled tech can damage your vocal chords if you're not careful, and is more or less a way of cheating. Works for me however
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something something something metal...

Plus they just plain don't sound very good. They simply sound odd at best, no real aggression or power in the voice.

I think it sounds cool, but only with a dynamic microphone, in other words those you use at practice and gigs. I don't know why it sounds different, I bet it's because of how they paint the frequencies so to say.

It does hurt your throat... I will say it's okay to do it now and then, but not too often, make sure to rest the voice after you've inhale growled.

This is great advice if your goal is to sound like a pussy.

Yeah only pussys in emo bands use the inhale technique.

An inhale doesn't sound nothing like an exhale. Exhales are used in metal and inhales are used in emo/hardcore.

When I do it I just push out as much air as I can while saying a lyric, but I vibrate/semi-collapse my trachea about an inch above the clavicle. You should be able to put your finger there and feel the vibration.

It's amazing how much your voice changes over time. When I was doing tech death in my late teens I had this awesome Obituary type scream and a great Kreator-type high voice, and now in my 30s I pretty much sound like Mikael Akerfeldt and really have to reach for the high stuff. It's just like the ability to really scream has disappeared.

First off inhaling does mess up your throat.Many vocalists who inhale will develop swollen lymph nodes, this can be done if you put to much pressure on the nodes(like you do when screaming but especially inhaled)Which if you cant guess is bad.Your voice isnt built to work that way.We talk outward and we should scream, growl, sing, and all that outward as well.If that happens deffinetly rest your voice and if it lasts for more than a month go to the doctor.

OK and to help understand how to proberly growl start humming.You should feel vibration on your lips.If you do good your using your diaphram, if not just experiment and try to push with your stomach.Experimentation is key.
When you growl/scream you should push like you do as you hum.One way to do this is to sing(clean) any note or pitch.Then gradualy make it raspier and more "cookiemonster" esque.In other words more harsh.
Sorry if that makes no sence its hard to explain...it would be like trying to explain to you how to talk if you didnt know how.

Goodluck if you need any help let me know and I will do my best.

I wanna start singing like sean mcgrath. How can i do it?

Don't try to sing like someone in particular. You should develope your own style. Everyone has a different throat, a different respiratory system, so trying to sound like a specific other person, who has a different physical makeup to you, is sort of like trying to jam a square block into a circlular hole.

My advice for starters is thus; make sure you're using your diaphragm to push the air out, rather than your upper chest area. A good way to tell is noting your shoulders. If they're moving up and down, then you're doing it wrong. All the movement should be around your gut.

First things first, stand up straight, take a deep breath down, open your throat and just roar. That's your unrefined growl, it's yours and yours alone, it's what you'll work with. It'll sound shit and you'll run out of breath really quickly, but don't worry, that will improve over time.

After you've gotten the breathing down, you can begin trying to sound out specific words and phrases by altering the shape of your mouth. Try to keep your throat as open as possible, don't forget your diaphragm control, and begin by reciting the alphabet. Soon enough you'll be able to recite proper lyrics. I began practicing with Chopped in Half by Obituary and Abomination Reborn by Suffocation, but you could try anything, really, so long as you start with something slower and lighter on the lyrics.

Chopped In Half is an amazing song to growl to.

Not only will inhales fuck up your throat, but they'll also fuck up your vocal cords (we're not supposed to talk/growl inward) as well as your lung capacity. It really just takes time to get good at exhaled growls.

truth.

exhaled is definitely the way to go. i've always heard it's a little different for everyone. try different techniques you find online and try to see if they work for you. start out slow, dont expect yourself to last an entire song right away. practice breathing while singing. also, learning how to sing properly always helps. REMEMBER! IF IT HURTS, STOP! if it hurts, you're doing it wrong and will hurt yourself. i mean it's cool if you dont wanna puss out but i think it'll goofy listening to some little white kid that sounds like an old black blues singer

Exhales ftw! Plus it seems like a lot of people who inhale are quieter than people who exhale.

On the vox topic, anyone know how to do the gurgly styled vocals like Devourment? I can't find how to do it on my own.