how to use the diaphram to sing?

Question

Hi, I love singing, but I always get very tired really quick because I feel that I m using my throat to sing. I know I should use my abdominal but I really don't know how. So How do you use your diaphram and how can I tell if I m really using it? thanks.

Answer 1

I am a vocal coach and would highly suggest that you get yourself a copy of "The New Voice" by Allan Greene. It contains a step by step process of learning not only diaphragm breathing but how to get the best possible sound out of your voice. I use some of his methodology when I teach so I can recommend it. But until you can get a copy of the book...

When you breath in, your stomach area should expand. NOT THE CHEST! If you are chest breathing, you will not get the power you are capable of getting when you sing and you will always feel like you are running out of breath. Once you get the feel of breathing into the abdomen, then try and keep your stomach expanded, the muscles pushing outward, while you sing. In fact, it is the muscles of the abdominal wall that control breath - not your diaphragm. The diaphragm operates autonomically, just like your heart muscle. To control it's action, you need to control the movement of your abdomen.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

When I want to make sure I am singing with enought support I do raspberries--although they can get messy! You need to be able to roll your r's or bubble your lips (make a bbbbb sound by blowing air through relaxed lips), or be able to make raspberries by putting your tongue between your lips and blowing (air will bubble out between the bottom of your tongue and your lower lip).

The full raspberry is best, but lips alone or tongue alone will work. If you can't do this at all, relax and experiment until you can hum a few pitches while doing it. I do it so much that the vibration doesn't bother me anymore, but if you need to, put your finger on the tip of your nose to stop your whole face from vibrating.

Hum a phrase at the same time that you raspberry. It will sound like you're singing under water. Did you make it all the way through, or did your lips stop bubbling? Experiment until you can "sing" all the way through the phrase like this.

Once you can do this, you are supporting the sound with your diaphragm. Doing a raspberry takes so much more air that it's impossible to do it for long without good support. You'll automatically relax your tongue and jaw and figure out how much air to use in the phrase (since you won't make it through to the end if you tense up in the middle, or use too much air).

Also! I hold a tissue over my mouth when I don't want to spit all over the piano. ;-)

Your throat tension should go away when you sing with enough support from the diaphragm. When you feel your throat getting sore, it's a sign that you are don't have enough support, that you're have too much tension, or that you're too tired to keep going. If it's been less than 20 minutes, tension is probably the culprit--go back to the raspberries and see if they help. If it's been more than 20 minutes, your body is probably getting tired. Take a break!

Good luck!

Answer 3

The diaphragm is a muscle located at the bottom of the ribcage that helps the lungs expand and deflate as you breathe. To make sure you are using your diaphragm place a hand on your ribcage, then take a deep breath in. When you do that you should feel your ribcage expand and that indicates that you are using your diaphragm. Also keep your stomach muscles relaxed as you breathe, and you should be using your abdominal muscles as you sing to give your voice 'energy'. As you are singing you should try to keep your ribcage expanded.

Oh and some extra advice! if you are using this advice and you still become tired very quickly it is normal at first, then as you practice you should be able to sing for longer period of time. Scales are very good for helping with this, especially if you do the scales in staccato. Scales will also help to increase your range after a while, but becareful not to over do it.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Your diaphragm is around where your tummy is, so try tucking in your tummy as you finish a line. Then, before you begin another one, take a deep breath and imagine the air filling up the area around your tummy--you'll feel your diaphragm expand and contract if you visualize it.

You can tell if you're using it if someone can hear you singing from far away. If you sing through your throat people will only be able to hear you at short distances, but if you use your diaphragm you should be able to be heard very well from about 30 feet away. This is because you're literally -pushing- the air out using your diaphragm and the other muscles around it.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

Try doing LONG scales while sucking in your diaphram (upper stomach area) while singing the notes. Soon you will start doing that automatically while you are singing. This excercise strengthins the diaphram. You will notice because your stomach will begin to hurt a lot! Just like when your weightlifting, its good for you and makes your diaphram strong!

Answer 6

Just relax and dont sing through your nose. You should feel better in your chest when you sing w/the diaphram.,,

Answer 7

the most important thing to learn and practice in singing is to UNLEARN all the ways we have developed (consciously and unconciously) to try to foce our bodies to do things they already would do naturally, or are even counterproductive.

check out "the Alexander Technic" online. also yoga might help.
for instance, with breathing and anything related to your diaphgragm: if you learn to let your body do its job naturally, you shouldn't have to force it to do anything. it will take care of itself.

good luck!

Answer 8

Interesting, and funny how you blended that question in after one clicked to read more. You're funny. Just be sure that it's washed well before bringing something as that to your mouth. And, put it away right after, so no 'ooopsy babies' happen.

Answer 9

inhale deeply and you can use already your diaphragm

Answer 10

take up a vocal course..