what are the muscles to use when singing?(exhale)?

Question

and i know its not the diaphragm because it helps control the amount of air exhaled......

Answer 1

Try clenching you butt muscles and your lower abs. However, it does also use the diaphram. And it is pointless to point out that you want to know about the muscles involved in exhaling, because the whole point is that you relax the muscles while you inhale and then tense them when you exhale, that is, when you sing.

Answer 2

It's not just the diaphragm. Althought it is very, very important because it controls the modification of the lung shape.

You have upper abdominals and lower abdominals. If you've ever seen someone (like a belly dancer) roll their stomach, you've seen the use of the various regions. Some people say there are three regions, but that's a little more difficult to think about. The "six pack abs" that people talk about are above the belly button.

To use fancy terms you have "rectus abdominus" (these make the six pack), the "traversus abdominus", and the "obliques" all working together.

To play with the different muscles, put one hand above the belly button (just below the rib cage) and one below. Now, try pushing to alternate pushing one out and pulling one in. Then switch. You can do this sitting at a traffic light or in a chair.

If you can isolate both of them, you can obtain very solid control of your breath on the exhale.

Other very important muscles include the intercostals (the muscles between the individual ribs), the muscles that connect the upper ribs to the collar bone, the muscles that run down your back, etc. There are tons of muscles that should be working in tandem when you exhale.

In general, the art of the exhale when singing is knowing which muscles to relax and which ones to contract. A good rule is that every muscle between the collar bone and nose should be very relaxed (except for the ones that 1. raise the soft palatte and 2. are involved in diction). Everything below the collar bone should be working for you to manage and control the air.

Finally, there are a ton of other muscles, from your toes to your head, that are "silently" working to control your body and balance as you exhale.

Here's a little tip. I've been teaching and singing professionally for 20 years. After all of those years, here's what I've noticed. Learning to effectively control the intercostals (the muscles between the ribs) is a huge thing. A lot of teachers only focus on the diaphragm and the abdominals. However, the intercostals are the control to expand the rib cage and make space for more air.

Answer 3

It is your diaphragm! To inhale your diaphragm pulls your longs down to fill with air and to exhale it goes back up to push the air out.

Your vocal chords are what produce sound when air goes through them.

Answer 4

Diaphram. When you exhale the diaphram actually constricts. It's really wierd. If you learn to use it properly you're voice will be so much stronger and clearer. if you have a good vocal teacher he/she will tell you all about it and train you to use it correctly so you don't ruin your voice.

Answer 5

Well, either way it's supposed to be the diaphragm because you can sing longer per breath when it's tense.

Answer 6

Diaphram