What is the difference between diaphragm breathing and shallow "everyday" breathing?

Question

The reason i want to know is because i took up some singing lessons and i know you have to breath a certain way to sing.

Answer 1

diaphragm breathing is intense, shallow is not

Answer 2

Here's some info abot the diaphragm and breathing:

1. The diaphragm is active in inspiration, not exhalation...in other words, the diaphragm is used when breathing in, not breathing out.

2. You do not breathe "in to the diaphragm."

3. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity (heart and lungs) from the abdominal cavity.

4. The basic process of breathing is : When the diaphragm contracts, the chest cavity enlarges, reducing the pressure inside. To equalize the pressure, air rushes into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, the elasticity of the lungs and chest wall pushes air out of the lungs.

It is important to remember during exhalation, the diaphragm is at rest. (it is actually pushed against the lungs by other muscles). Much confusion exists over the role of the diaphragm. It is a muscle of inspiration, NOT exhalation. The intercostal and abdominal muscles are at work during exhalation.

Answer 3

When you breath from your diaphragm you will be pushing the air out while you sing using your stomache muscles. While you are singing your stomache will be tight and firm. Using this method allows much more control of the air and therefore your vocal quality. Properly using your diaphragm will support your voice, give it more body when needed, more sustain, ability to stay in pitch, sing louder, actually sing softer as well, etc. Remember, your "voice" is just air over your vocal cords. The more control of both the air and the cords equates to better singing.

If you don't use your diaphragm you are just using your vocal cords. This is sometimes called "throat" singing. People who consistantly sing from their throat usually ruin their voices since their vocal quality is only supported from the neck/vocal muscles which puts terrible strain on them. Scarring can occur. Polups. Other bad things.

So, use your diaphragm all the time (unless you know how and when to only use your throat). Actually, I saw a great technique on American Idol when they sang with Andrea Bocelli. Practice singing lying down. You can't sing from your throat only for long lying down. You have to support it with your diaphragm. So, that's a good way to tell how you're singing and a way to help correct it. Good luck!

Answer 4

Diaphragm breathing means that you intake air through the soul of your body and emit it out of your music box. Shallow everyday breathing means that you can't sing.

Answer 5

most people breathe into their chest, and they don't let the air travel further down to the diaphragm, where it originates. This results in shallow breathing.

breathing into the diaphragm is deep breathing, because the air has to travel a longer distance to get there.

How do you know which one you're doing? if you feel your stomach expanding when you breathe, you're doing deep breathing. if you feel your chest expanding when you breathe, you're doing shallow breathing. If you don't know how to feel this, just put your hand on your chest and breathe normally. If your chest is moving during breathing, you're shallow breathing. If your chest isn't moving (your stomach is, so put your hand on your stomach), you're doing diaphragmic breathing.

Answer 6

Well if you are breathing very deeply.. mints are the way to go.. to answer the question deep breathing... it actually is better to deep breathe as it allows more O to the brain. Breathing deeply also recharges some lung pockets... not normally used sort to speak... IF you deep breathe too much you can actually pass out... so be carefull as too much O can just flat out put you to sleep... try it you'll see that is what they do in yoga and things like that as a mental relaxer... If you have a long note to carry out just take a deep breath first in the middle of a word... If you listen to the jive turkey rappers you can actually faintly hear on some of the nonsense they "spit" out, them actually taking in a deep breath to ryme on time..

Answer 7

Watch a baby breathing, they haven't learned any bad habits and breath properly for singing.

Answer 8

If you breathe in your shoulders, you constrict your air passage, and sound bad. You get more air in if you keep your shoulders down and actively breathe with your diaphragm.

Answer 9

Diaphragm breathing is Deep and intense! everyday breathing is not as deep or as intense

Answer 10

I believe diaphram breathing deeply from your lower respitory system, completly filling your lung with oxygen and shallow breathing is when you breath throught upper respitory system, your mouth and nose also it could mean when someone is sick, hurt or dying whit irregular breaths with significant oxygen intake.