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Growling Tips?

2660 Views 12 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Tom779, 
C
I'm trying to learn how to growl on my sax. Any tips?
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Bernards20040
Tip No 1. Use the search button:D

Tip No 2.
Click on this
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/Growl.html

You're welcome;)
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thejoyofsax
Healthy growls are produced by a singing or moaning into the sax while playing. Debates rage about whether to sing the same pitch you are playing or a different one, but I think it's really up to you. Just know that it's pretty much in the voice box, not the back of the throat.
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thejoyofsax said:
Healthy growls are produced by a singing or moaning into the sax while playing. Debates rage about whether to sing the same pitch you are playing or a different one, but I think it's really up to you. Just know that it's pretty much in the voice box, not the back of the throat.
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I agree. It might take a little time to perfect this and it's not really fun to listen to (think of your neighbors, significant other, etc.). I used to practice that, along with my altissimo, in a closet full of clothes to take the edge off of it a bit....:)
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TetsuoK
I learned first by whistling and humming at the same time.

Then I progressed to blowing through my thumbs into my hand in order to make a whistle, while singing as well.

Finally, I incorporated playing my sax through the mouthpiece and humming/singing in the same way and it came very quick and naturally.

I'm not sure how long it took me exactly to master the complete non-altissimo range of the saxophone, but it was perhaps a little more than a year.

Depending on how heavy or fluctuating of a growl I want, i really vary how close to the note I am playing that I am actually singing.

Eventually it will become second nature to sing a 3rd, or a 4th or even a 2nd up or down from the notes you are playing on the horn in order to growl.

It takes some practice though, and I really recommend starting out with whistling first. (You can whistle right? ;) )
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H
I'm still working on my growl... I always sing *almost* the same note as the one I'm playing and it comes out something like blortblortblort -- slow-motion growl! :shock:
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Agent27
Best result are accomplished by singing a 4th or 5th off from the note you are playing. When I sing the same pitch, it cancels out most of the normal tone which itself can be a cool effect, but not for a raunchy growl.
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vivace1
For me the sensation feels more like humming. I tried to growl the wrong way for years... the raspy, hocking-up sensation. That isn't it. Don't waste time hocking into your horn.
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S
When I first started to learn to growl, I was unable to, for the life of me. If you are having trouble, try humming and playing just the mouthpiece. That helps get it started. Then try it on the sax.
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E.L. The Sax
just curious, could growling damage your voice box? Marching band has already taken a major toll on it, i dont want to make it any worse! other wise bus rides would be boring without any singing!
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TetsuoK
No No. Growling (properly) will not damage your voicebox.

You are actually singing into the mouthpiece. If anything it will improve what most call your "inner ear."

I've also had plenty of teachers insist that playing a wind instrument improves your singing voice and singing improves your playing timbre and phrase voicing, as well as your inner ear.

Growling should be done by causing variations of the sound wave on the note you are playing and literally saw the singing wave into the wave being played, causing it to all happen at the point of the reed and the note being played.

You are only singing, and only improving your own skill level by doing so properly.

Don't try and growl through your throat, that might actually make matters worse in all cases.
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Hernan123 said:
I'm still working on my growl... I always sing *almost* the same note as the one I'm playing and it comes out something like blortblortblort -- slow-motion growl! :shock:
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The same thing happens to me, but I get a much better result if I sing a minor third above the pitch.

I don't growl much, so usually I just fake it by doing a sort of flutter tongue but with the back of my tongue, not the front.
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TetsuoK said:
I've also had plenty of teachers insist that playing a wind instrument improves your singing voice and singing improves your playing timbre and phrase voicing, as well as your inner ear.
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In my experience this is largely due to the fact that breathing "from the diaphragm" is very important for both singing and playing wind instruments. This is the only way I've noticed one affecting the other (both build strength) though I suspect "voicing" as a way of controlling both pitch and tone on wind instruments helps singing to some extent and vice versa.
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