How to Sing With Your Diaphragm

To sing with power and control you, you must learn the importance of proper breath support through your diaphragm. Strong diaphram control can improve anyone's singing voice and give you the support you need to hit and maintain a variety of notes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Notice how your chest rises and falls with normal breathing. Most adults use only the top part of their lungs, resulting in more shallow breathing. To sing well, you must learn to use your entire lung system and the diaphragm.

2. Find the diaphragm. This muscle system surrounds your lungs and is attached at the ribs. Its primary function is to regulate inhalation by descending when you inhale and controlling your breath as you exhale.

3. Prepare to sing by taking a deep breath. You should feel your abdomen extend outward, much like a balloon expanding. You shouldn't feel like you're forcing your stomach to expand.

4. Hold your hand in front of your mouth as you exhale slowly. If your breath feels warm and moist, you're engaging your diaphragm muscles properly and controlling the exhalation of your breath.

5. Strive for your stomach to naturally move inward as you exhale. Pushing or forcing air out as you sing doesn't create a good vocal tone, and puts strain on the vocal chords.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice singing in front of a mirror, and watch carefully as you take a breath. If you see your shoulders and chest rise, you aren't taking a proper diaphragmatic breath. Check that your abdomen is expanding as you inhale, then control that breath as you sing by engaging your diaphragm.
• A good way to find if you're breathing properly is to lie on the floor and put a heavy book on your stomach. Then take a deep breath and release it slowly. You should see the book rise and fall.