Guttural chant: what is it? / About the guttural voice
- What would be the definition of guttural song?
The guttural song is the sound that occurs with the misuse of the vocal cords. In the normal song, they open and relax both the larynx and the pharynx, however, in the guttural they close. It is a scream that occurs by squeezing the larynx.
For some they are just screams. However, for a not lesser percentage, such as Matías García, popular singer of the Escuela Moderna de Música, is more complex. It is the set of techniques that give rise to the voice of Death Metal and have the name: guttural song.
- How is sound produced?
Like everyone. When you sing the force comes from the stomach, with the movement called support (expansion of the diaphragm muscle so that the air column rises), this allows to reduce the pressure of the larynx. But in the gutural it is different. A pressure is generated in the stomach, contracting the muscle, to close the vocal cords, thus increasing the tone of the voice. There is also the technique of singing inhaling air, so the strings are closed. The sound that is produced is serious and heartbreaking.
- Are there ways to avoid the problems it entails?
So that this does not happen, it is advisable to practice so that the body adopts this way of singing, learn support techniques and breathing and try to relax the body at the time of singing. In addition to going twice a year, minimum, to the doctor to get a checkup.
- Are there techniques to sing gutturally?
Yes, as in everything. The main ones are to transform the voice and also play with it. It is necessary to become a champion of effects. When you find the sound you are looking for, which is generally scraped and deep, you have to apply the singing techniques. Like the support, the forms of breathing, the relaxation of the body, among others.
- For many, including people linked to more traditional music, they are just shouting, is the guttural really considered a branch of the song?
Yes, even if it does not follow the traditional form, it is a branch of the song. Many discredit him because they do not consider him normal, they have a vague knowledge and speak from prejudice. As there is an incorrect use of the voice, there is a rejection on the part of the academy towards the guttural singers.
