Stop Yelling, Start Singing

Far too often singers make the big mistake of believing that in order to sound powerful that they need to shout, however, this is not true at all. Most people can spot the difference between shouting and having a powerful voice, so you as a singer will have to focus on developing an actually powerful voice rather than trying to fake it with shouting or screaming.

What is the difference between powerful loud singing and yelling?

If you listen closely to powerhouse singers you will notice that they are actually not yelling or screaming.

A free vibrato and a voice that does not sound strained or tense are great indicators for a powerful voice. 
Being able to control the volume and not only singing loud, especially when things get higher, is another important skill for healthy powerful singing. 
Lastly, the sound quality of the voice should be 'round' and pleasant (even when powerful) rather than shouty or 'yelly'. 


How can you stop shouting when singing?
1. Record yourself - hearing your own voice on a recording will help you create awareness of your own sound

2. Remember that's is not about Volume but Sound Quality - keep in mind that you don't have to be the loudest singer. Contemporary singers almost always sing with microphones and therefore the sound quality is way more important than the volume

3. Try singing a phrase in a quiet volume - if you can't sing a phrase in a quiet volume (without flipping to a falsetto), you probably don't have the necessary control over it yet

4. Learn how to mix high notes - knowing how to mix high notes will prevent you from becoming louder for high notes only. In addition, it will give you freedom and control over your voice. 

5. Fix your Vowels -  Vowels are essential for singing. Some vowels spread our sound and make us sing from our throat instead of mixing the sounds. Making sure that your vowels are centered will keep your sound from being all over the place and help you to stay away from shouting. 

6. Adjust the volume of the music - sometimes it's not you, it's them! If the volume of the music you're singing with is too loud, you will tend to yell to compensate for it. Make sure the levels between you and the other band members or the music tracks are in balance and you can hear yourself. 

7. Get a vocal coach - a coach can help you to identify when you're yelling, coach you to sing high notes without increasing the volume, and help you to improve your overall technique