Low
Maintenance on Your Diaphragm Could Affect Your
Singing Voice
Vocal Lesson about Breathing
Techniques
This set of singing lessons
cover the art (and science) of how your diaphragm
affects your voice. If your singing
were done by computer, you could click the mouse
and correct the sounds and volume. However, you do
not have a digital voice, just a human singing
voice so you have to learn to control it from
within.
This article will help you
achieve that goal.
Ever Heard of Diaphragm
Singing?
If you’ve been singing
any length of time, you have probably heard the
phrase “sing with your diaphragm”
already.
But what does this really
mean? What is your diaphragm and how does it work?
How does the
diaphragm help with singing?
Let’s explore what the word
“diaphragm” really means and how it
is connected to good
singing.
The Diaphragm
Explained
The diaphragm is a system of
muscles that is connected
to the lowest ribs on the sides. It is also
connected to the sternum and the
back, top lumbar region.
The diaphragm’s primary function is to help
you inhale. The diaphragm descends when you
inhale, displacing the
viscera, upper intestines and stomach.
People with a short waist
will notice that their epigastric area, or the area
between the naval and sternum, bulges
out when they inhale. Long waisted people will show
little bulging while inhaling because there’s
more room for expansion.
Exhaling and
Singing
The diaphragm plays no role
in actual exhalation, but does act as a controlling
muscle system and controls how quickly you can
exhale your breath. Exhalation is controlled by the
abdominal system, which is located from your naval
to your pelvis.
When you exhale
quickly, the diaphragm is
basically inactive; however, when exhaling slowly,
the diaphragm resists the natural exhaling action
of the abdomen.
**EXPERIMENT: Try
breathing out very slowly and you’ll notice
that for the first second or two, you are
controlling the exhalation, but after that it
happens without effort.
Your diaphragm has taken action to ensure proper
exhalation.
Amazing, huh? When you
breathe out quickly, you control the exhalation
process. Try it both ways
to feel the difference.
Singing and
Exhalation
When singing, it’s like
you are breathing out these long, slow breaths
throughout your song. You try to control them, but
on long notes, the diaphragm will have to take over
– it’s only natural! All people have a
strong diaphragm no matter what their size or
height. The diaphragm doesn’t need to be
strengthened, but controlled. You must know how and
when it works before you can control it.
Vocal Cords and the
Diaphragm
Your vocal cords should not
be used to hold back excessive pressure from
breathing. Instead, they should only have enough
breath pressure to help maintain their sound
vibrations. If too much pressure falls on the vocal
cords, they press together too tightly and cannot
freely function as they should.
While singing, your
epigastric area should not be sucked in, but should
be in the position it is in when full of air after
inhaling, immediately after the onset of a tone.
This sounds opposite of what it should be, right?
Breathe Deeply while
Singing
Think about it... if you take
a good breath and then exhale most of it or all of
it before singing the note, you’re going to be
“out of breath” too quickly because your
diaphragm has already collapsed.
So, inhale a deep breath and
be sure you are breathing
in properly with your gut extending outward
slightly, not your chest. Then begin to sing and
allow the diaphragm to go to work. Using the
diaphragm, you will notice you can hold the notes
or sing longer phrases without breathing
difficulties.
Never Stop Learning How to
Sing
ow, with that said, there are
many other lessons to learn for improving singing
voice and the breathing techniques will help take
care of the diaphragm issues. Don't stop here.
Develop your musical talent and take it to the next
level. Get exciting as a singer, learn more daily
and it will show when you perform on stage for
thousands or even at your local karaoke
competition.
Speech Level Singing
Tutorials by a Professional Trainer
If you don't feel you are
ready to sing using your diaphragm yet you can find
plenty of tutorials in speech level singing online
by enrolling in distance learning voice schools
with a professional
vibrato voice trainer.
If you feel uncomfortable singing in front of a
group of people, speech level voice training might
be just what you need to overcome your singing
fears!
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