Gravelly voices. How-to?

[misterswarvey]

Hey everyone. I am new to the forum, but not to VO and/or VA. One thing I auditioned for recently asked for a gravelly voice, which I was able to do, but not without destroying my voice for the next couple of days. Not the kind of thing I'd like to do more than once.
However, I know there are techniques that will allow you to do a gruff and rough voice without damage.
I just don't know those techniques. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

[Frozen Death Knight]

I personally do not know of any specific techniques, but one thing I can tell is that after some time your vocal cords adapt so that you can much easily do such voices. I trained myself by doing such voices a bit everyday, but also making sure I do not get too sore after practicing. Lots of water helps, too. After a while you will notice that you can stay in those voices for longer periods of time without you feeling like you are forcing your vocals too much.

Regardless of what kind of voices you do, it needs to come out naturally without you having to do a ton of work to get into such a voice. If you want to master those parts of your voice, lots of practice needs to be done. Took me over a year of practice to pull off some of the stuff I do now. Another 1 to 2 years took me to widen my range even more.

I of course learned the hard way by not having much guidance, but if anyone can give you more advice on the matter, great. From my own experience, however, my method worked, but it took a few years of work.

[Praxis678]

It's hard to explain. Really the only way I can explain how you can do it vocal technique wise is to choke/restraint your throat (obviously not without your hands) while deeping your pitch slightly.

[misterswarvey]

Praxis678 - Interesting tactic. I think you explained it well. Going to try it for a while and see what kind of discomfort I feel. I know there is a technique that can be learned, like the scream singing the SCREAM-o guys use. Thanks.

[misterswarvey]

Frozen Death Knight - Yeah. It's funny, I've done years of practice to be able to achieve a high voice, like Elmo or Meatwad, without blowing my throat out. I have not worked in the other direction because my voice is kind of low to begin with.
I checked out your You Tube channel. Those voices you are doing are exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. You pull it off really well! You do that with no discomfort, huh?
Impressive.

[CeruleanAsh]

Melissa Cross offers two videos entitled the Zen of Screaming 1 & 2. Both of these will show you proper techniques on such "voices" and how to pull them off without injuring yourself. I recommend them simply because I am in an experimental metal band and I do a lot of harsh screaming and growling that requires an element of gravel, or fry to the voice. When I first began learning I simply tried copying Marge Simpson, Cookie Monster, and characters like that. Eventually you find the location in your throat and in your nasal cavities that will lend to the sound being done properly without injury. Also... As strange as it sounds try barking like a large dog might. Adjust the levels of "gravel" to suite your own needs. Have fun and good luck!

[Cozmosus]

I don't have a naturally gravelly voice, but doing it comes easily. Try to get some phlem in your throat, it really helps.