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Throat Singing

#3
bongomania said:
I got really into it back about ten years ago, even took some classes. Every now and then I bust some out when I'm in the car. Have you seen the movie "Ghengis Blues"? If not, I recommend it very, very highly.
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I saw a clip of it on YouTube, but I didn't watch it. I'll go check it out now. :)
So is it hard to do or what? I don't understand how they can get their voice so low! I have a fairly deep voice and even to me it seems hard to do.
 
#4
The deal is that you are not singing the notes that low using "normal" vocal technique, but rather by rattling (almost gargling) the back of your throat in a manner that has the same wave shape as a really low note. In essence you're "faking it", but when it's done well it sounds natural and deep.

It's not hard to get started on, but as with any technique it takes practice to get good at it. Here's how I was started on the higher-harmonic style (khoomei): can you do a decent Kermit the Frog voice impression? Try saying "Kermit" in Kermit's voice. Then just say the first syllable, "Ker", and hold it on the R, like "Kerrrrrrrrrrr". If you're getting his voice right your tongue will be in the correct position to form the small extra chamber in your mouth that creates the higher harmonic notes. Just feel the vibrations as you say "Kerrrrr" and adjust the shape of your mouth and the placement of your tongue until the resonance hits a strong peak. Again, the edge of your tongue is cupped against the roof of your mouth, creating a second chamber in which a resonant note can develop. The Khargyraa (low rumbling voice) is harder to learn, and it's best to have a teacher for that as it is possible to strain (injure) your vocal cords trying too hard to get it. It helps to drink some milk or honey tea or even a little olive oil, something to lubricate your esophagus.
 
#6
In addition to what bongomania said:
If you want to learn how to create the overtones you can also try to push your tongue back and down to the bottom of your mouth and sound like a wah-wah pedal. Then do it sssllloooowwwwllllyyy so that one "sweep" up and down is a couple of seconds. If you're doing it right, you will hear the overtones clearly.

Pushing the tip of the tongue up against the roof of your mouth (while shaped like an U) you can make the fundamental weaker and the harmonics stronger. It also makes it easier to create much higher harmonics. One drawback (?) is that it easily makes the sound more nasal, but it is also possible to avoid that by plaing around with the shape of your vocal tract, tongue position etc. (If you want to know how nasal youir sound is, pinch your nose and sing. If the sound doesn't change, there's no nasal qualities in the sound). Also moving the tip of your tongue back and forth might help to produce the right harmonic you're after.

Singing the overtones is really nothing difficult, it's just takes a little practice like everything else. :) But if you want to get good at the sygyt style you will need quite a lot of practicing to almost choke the fundamental and sing the overtones clearly and powerfully.
 
#11
ROON said:
Bongo, Deacon,

Do you sing in the traditional languages or just the harmonies?
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I do it just for fun. Never performed it or cared about doing it as the "real" original throatsingers do. I haven't even thought about doing it in the original languages. It's just on the "party trick level" for me... :D

However, I try to find use for overtones (harmonics) in regular western singing. If I sing an extended note, I know what I need to do to add a certain harmonic to make the sound fuller. It can be a nice effect if you can add the major third or fifth to the fundamental. :) I once read that someone explained Pavarotti's uniqueness with that he was able to add the fourth harmonic on top of his high C, which very few others are able to do. I don't know the truth level behind this statement though, but it could very well be true.
 
#13
Deacon_Blues said:
I do it just for fun. ... I haven't even thought about doing it in the original languages. It's just on the "party trick level" for me... :D
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Same for me- I like it, it's an enjoyable singing style with a lot of expressive possibilities, but I have too much else going on in my life to try to learn Tuvan and get the necessary acculturation to go farther with it.
 
#15
My friend is really into and we went to see that one really popular group with those four Tuvan guys. Happened to be in Baltimore the weekend he was home from school really really cool. Quality live sound too. It was weird because they had speakers in the back of the room shooting forward with a slight delay that made it sound really really cool. Although I've never really heard any professional recorded stuff before so I have to base line for how it should actually sound.
 
#17
:cool:

My friends son. ( Milo, 21)

Is in Mongolia now. (studying traditional music)
It's his second trip there.

He is an Agil-player. ( and throat singer)
He has played with Hung Ra Tu.
A many other Mongolian players.

He really excels, in this form of music.
You don't see many Americans into this?
 
#18
bongomania said:
I got really into it back about ten years ago, even took some classes. Every now and then I bust some out when I'm in the car. Have you seen the movie "Ghengis Blues"? If not, I recommend it very, very highly.
Click to expand...

Yes, Ghenghis Blues is a great movie, check it out. RIP Paul Pena.

I went to a throat singing concert nearly a year ago. Incredible! I have done a little throat singing myself, so hearing the sounds that they can make was not nearly as impressive as how emotionally moving that concert was.
 
#19
bongomania said:
The deal is that you are not singing the notes that low using "normal" vocal technique, but rather by rattling (almost gargling) the back of your throat in a manner that has the same wave shape as a really low note. In essence you're "faking it", but when it's done well it sounds natural and deep.

It's not hard to get started on, but as with any technique it takes practice to get good at it. Here's how I was started on the higher-harmonic style (khoomei): can you do a decent Kermit the Frog voice impression? Try saying "Kermit" in Kermit's voice. Then just say the first syllable, "Ker", and hold it on the R, like "Kerrrrrrrrrrr". If you're getting his voice right your tongue will be in the correct position to form the small extra chamber in your mouth that creates the higher harmonic notes. Just feel the vibrations as you say "Kerrrrr" and adjust the shape of your mouth and the placement of your tongue until the resonance hits a strong peak. Again, the edge of your tongue is cupped against the roof of your mouth, creating a second chamber in which a resonant note can develop. The Khargyraa (low rumbling voice) is harder to learn, and it's best to have a teacher for that as it is possible to strain (injure) your vocal cords trying too hard to get it. It helps to drink some milk or honey tea or even a little olive oil, something to lubricate your esophagus.
Click to expand...

Hi bongo,

I tried this yesteday, it's pretty fun! I spent around 15 minutes just "kerrrrrrrrrrrrr-ing", I eventually got it right and it feels like there is a vibration/rattle deep in your throat, it's cool! Also when I hit that point it changed from less of a spoken "ker" to the weird whistle/whirring noise. Very good training method you have worked out there. :) I tried moving my lips/tounge around and re-shaping my mouth to make different sounds, but that is a bit harder. I'm going to keep practicing and get good at it.

This will be a sweet party trick. :D

I'm going to try and find a way to get Genghis Blues, it looks interesting. :)
 

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