Thread: Tell me about throat singing

There's a really cool black metal band from Mongolia with throat singers. I don't know much about it, but I'll try to find their name. Also, there's this guy who can beat box and throat sing at the same time.

I can't be much help in terms of 'doing it right,' but just through experimentation a few years ago I was able to get some self-harmonizing action going. I'd do it after tranquility meditation, and allow "aum" to resonate through my whole body, then just zero in on the sweet spot where I was getting two different notes from the base of my throat and from the sinus cavities.

I've never put a lot of effort into learning to throat sing, but from what I hear it's very similar to playing a didgeridoo, which I do play. I'd assume that you're going to want to push air out using your diaphragm. Once you're doing that, you can use your mouth and your tongue to change the resonant frequencies of the air. I'm not entirely sure what this will sound like, since I use a meter long wooden tube and not just my diaphragm and mouth, but you should be able to pick up changes in frequencies, and manipulate them from there.

On an unrelated note, is it possible to circular breath while throat singing?

You should ask WakingNomad. That guy can throat sing, he sent me a video once.

Originally Posted by Catbus

On an unrelated note, is it possible to circular breath while throat singing?

That is not unrelated, it is a big part of how it is accomplished.

I'm pretty good at throat singing. I taught myself how to do it after watching some gyuto monks performing a few years ago. I am only just learning about it though...I am really interested in sygyt I think it's called...when it sounds like a whistle. It's beautiful. I really want to learn how to do that but apparently its pretty difficult to learn.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

That is not unrelated, it is a big part of how it is accomplished.

Ah, so how do you keep a note going while throat singing? With the didge I can inflate my cheeks and use that air to continue the note while I quickly inhale, but that doesn't seem to work when I'm trying to sing.

This?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMt...eature=related

Overtone singing's notable characteristic of having two or more pitches
sounding simultaneously is accomplished through the use of the harmonic series.

The harmonic series is explained below:


This effect can be accomplished by positioning the internal organs from your
lips, cheeks, tongue, larynx, diaphragm, etc. By creating an atmosphere
within with good acoustics, other notes in the harmonic series will sound, as
explained in the video above.

Below are videos giving brief tutorials of how to throat sing:

Here's two songs I've done using 'overtone singing'... some argue that it isn't throat singing, but whatever.

I am Free


Mourning Wolf