{"id":88623,"date":"2021-11-03T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=88623"},"modified":"2021-11-03T12:11:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T12:11:00","slug":"breathing-techniques-for-singers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/breathing-techniques-for-singers\/","title":{"rendered":"Breathing techniques for singers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Breath control in singing is easily overlooked by beginners \u2013 here\u2019s why breath exercise for singing is important, with some exercises to try.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When singing comes naturally, it\u2019s not something that you pay much attention to. You just sing! But even if you\u2019re casually crooning along to your guitar<\/a>, your voice needs good breath support to perform at its best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you start vocal breathing exercises, you\u2019ll notice the difference. You\u2019ll hopefully find your body is more relaxed, your lung capacity improves, your voice is less tired, and you have more control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re learning <\/a>to sing or a professional, check out these ideas of breathing techniques for singing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breath control in singing \u2013 how to get started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To understand the correct way to breathe, lie on your back, hands on your stomach. Inhale through your nose for four beats and notice your hands rise \u2013 exhale through your mouth for four beats, and your hands will lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to relax <\/a>\u2013 don\u2019t tense your shoulders, arms, back or chest. Imagine a ring around your diaphragm, round your waist. Keep your shoulders down as you breathe in through your nose, trying to push the imaginary ring outwards. Breathe out through your nose and mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breathing for singing exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Proper breath support will help prevent straining or damaging your voice while singing<\/a>. Try these two techniques to improve your breath control<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making a hissing \u201cess\u201d sound is a great way to activate your diaphragm, and this exercise builds up to long steady phrases. Be mindful of your breathing as you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try breathing in through your nose for four beats, then hissing as you breathe out through your nose and mouth for four beats, keeping the hissing steady and consistent in volume<\/a>. Vary the amount of time you hiss out with each new exercise, building to hissing outwards for 20 beats. The full exercise is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Breathe in for 4<\/strong> beats, hiss out for 4<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  2. In for 6<\/strong> beats, out for 10<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  3. In for 6<\/strong> beats, out for 12<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  4. In for 2<\/strong> beats, out of 12<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  5. In for 4<\/strong> beats, out of 16<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  6. In for 2<\/strong> beats, out for 16<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  7. In for 4<\/strong> beats, out for 20<\/strong> beats<\/li>
  8. In for 1<\/strong> beat, out for 20<\/strong> beats<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You can also try an exercise that involves snatching in breaths to fill your lungs. Begin over four beats, breathing in for increasing amounts until you fill up your lungs to full capacity on the fourth beat, then breathe out in snatches until beat 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Breathe in a quarter full<\/strong><\/li>
    2. Breathe in half full<\/strong><\/li>
    3. Breathe in three quarters full<\/strong><\/li>
    4. Breathe in fully<\/strong><\/li>
    5. Breathe out gradually in 8 breaths<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Next:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Breathe in half full<\/strong><\/li>
      2. Breathe in fully<\/strong><\/li>
      3. Breathe out gradually in 8 breaths<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        Singing warm up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Once you\u2019ve focused your breathing to let you take big, full breaths, don\u2019t forget to warm up your voice. Just as warming up before going for a run activates your muscles to avoid injury, you should warm up your vocal cords <\/a>before spending an extended amount of time singing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Warming up and going through some breathing exercises relaxes the body and mind whilst getting your muscles ready to perform. I know, you probably feel like you can\u2019t be bothered, but you don\u2019t need to spend too long on a vocal warm up \u2013 five or ten minutes will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Humming <\/a>and buzzing up and down scales within your vocal range are good ways to warm up the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n