5 Effective Vocal Breathing Exercises for Singers to Improve
Introduction
Proper breathing technique is crucial for singers looking to enhance their vocal abilities. Using controlled abdominal breathing helps your singing in multiple ways:
- It improves the quality of your tone
- It helps you hit the right notes more accurately
- It gives you more stamina and power when you sing
- Overall, it makes you a better singer!
However, many singers breathe incorrectly, using only their upper chest, shoulders, and neck. Shallow breathing fatigues the voice quickly and impairs your ability to sustain notes. In this guide, you will learn five great breathing techniques for singers. These exercises will help you control your breath better, resulting in improved lung capacity and power. This means you can sing stronger and longer. With practice, you can take your voice to the next level!
For more insights into proper vocal technique, you might find this article on diaphragmatic breathing for singers helpful.
| Breathing Technique | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Diaphragmatic Breathing | Involves full lung capacity use, with minimal chest movement. | Enhances tone quality, increases lung capacity, and provides better breath control. |
| Sipping Breath | Quick inhalation through parted lips, like sipping through a straw. | Extends phrases, improves breath support, and helps maintain an open throat. |
| Staircase Breaths | Incremental increase in inhale/exhale counts. | Builds breath control and gradually increases lung capacity. |
| Hissing | Exhaling through teeth to create a gentle hiss. | Develops steady breath control without straining vocal cords. |
| Straw Phonation | Humming into a straw for resistance training. | Strengthens vocal folds and improves pitch control. |
Why Breath Support is Essential for Singers
Proper breathing technique provides these key benefits:
- Improved Vocal Control: Good breath control helps you sing longer without getting tired. It helps you stay on the pitch and hit the right notes. Also, it improves the sound of your voice.
- Extended Vocal Range: Using your lungs fully helps you sing higher and lower notes. It gives you the breath pressure you need to reach both ends of your vocal range. As a result, you can sing a wider variety of songs.
- Reduced Vocal Strain: Proper breathing reduces strain that can damage the vocal cords. This protects long-term vocal health. This protects long-term vocal health, which is further discussed in this guide on building vocal stamina.
- Enhanced Tone Quality: Using controlled abdominal breathing makes your voice stronger. It helps you sing better notes and gives you more power and control.
As you can see, breath support impacts almost every aspect of the singing technique.
Core Breathing Exercises
Here are five effective breathing exercises for singers:
1. Diaphragmatic Breathing
This exercise uses all of your lung capacity. It pushes your breathing to the limit and then helps you control your breath when you sing.
Steps:
- Sit or lie down comfortably with one hand on your chest and one on your stomach.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling your stomach expand. Your chest should have minimal movement.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your stomach fall.
- Repeat for 5-10 minutes daily. Work up to holding longer inhales and exhales.
Tips:
- Imagine filling a bottle with water from bottom to top when inhaling.
- Pull your navel towards your spine when exhaling.
- Practice in front of a mirror to check for shoulder movement.
- Place a small weighted object on your stomach to track movement.
For more on this exercise, check out this article on breathing techniques for singers.
2. Sipping Breath
This technique helps you extend phrases longer with better support.
Steps:
- Inhale quickly through parted lips as if sipping through a straw.
- Hold your breath briefly, maintaining an open throat and engaged core.
- Exhale controlled while continuing to sing the phrase.
- Start with short 2-4 word phrases, gradually increasing length.
Tips:
- Use a straw as a physical reminder to sip, not gasp air.
- Imagine fogging a mirror with your breath – steady and calm.
- Record yourself to ensure your breaths are smooth and noiseless.
3. Staircase Breaths
This exercise builds breath control by incrementally expanding your inhale/exhale counts.
Steps:
- Inhale for 4 counts, then exhale evenly while singing for 4 counts.
- Repeat, increasing inhale and exhale by 1 count each time.
- Continue adding a count for each repetition up to 8.
- Return to 4 counts and work back up the “staircase”.
Tips:
- Use a metronome or timer app to keep an accurate count.
- Suspend your posture for 2 counts at the top of each inhale.
- Descend the staircase back down if you lose control.
- Be gradual in your breath training to avoid strain.
4. Hissing
Hissing develops steady breath control for singing without straining your vocal cords.
Steps:
- Inhale slowly through your nose.
- Exhale powerfully through your teeth, creating a gentle hissing sound.
- Focus on keeping the hiss smooth and consistent for 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes.
Tips:
- Imagine you are cooling a hot drink or fogging a mirror.
- Stop immediately if you feel any strain.
- Start with short 30-second reps and gradually increase duration.
5. Straw Phonation
Humming into a straw provides resistance against your vocal folds, strengthening them over time.
Steps:
- Inhale through an ordinary drinking straw for 4 counts.
- Hum a comfortable mid-range pitch into the straw for 4 counts as you exhale.
- Work up to 8-10 second hums, focusing on keeping the hum steady.
- Release the straw and sing the pitch using the same breath support.
Tips:
- Start with a narrow straw for more resistance, then gradually use wider straws.
- Hum, simple up and down 5-note scales to improve pitch control.
- Clean your straw thoroughly before/after each use to avoid bacteria.
For more exercises like these, you may find this guide to vocal warm-up exercises helpful.
Common Breath Support Issues for Singers
Be aware of these common problems:
- Shoulder and Chest Breathing: Raising the shoulders and chest when inhaling results in short, shallow breaths.
- Frequent Breathlessness: Running out of air mid-phrase causes breaks and pitch instability.
- Breathlessness When Singing Higher Notes: Lack of breath support can cause the voice to cut out on high pitches.
- Raspy, Noisy Inhalations: Interrupts phrases and signals poor breath management.
- Pitch Inconsistency: Shaky, sliding pitches are often due to unsteady breath flow.
- Collapsing Posture When Exhaling: Limits vocal power and control.
For further insights into breath support and its impact on your voice, consider reading this article on developing vocal vibrato through proper breath support.
Sample Breathing Exercise Routine for Singers
Warm Up (5 minutes)
- Hum arpeggios up and down your mid-range
- Lip trill simple tunes
- Stretch your torso, ribs, spine and shoulders
Workout (15-20 minutes)
- Diaphragmatic Breathing – 5 minutes
- Sipping Breath – 60 seconds
- Staircase Breaths – Climb from 4 counts up to 6-8 counts
- Hissing – Build from 30 seconds up to 2 minutes
- Straw Phonation – Hum for 30 seconds up to 1 minute
Cool Down (5 minutes)
- More humming to integrate breath support techniques
- Light vocal strokes on lip trills and arpeggios
- Water to hydrate and relax vocal cords
- Throat massage and stretching to release tension
For more detailed routines and exercises, check out this article on breathing exercises to reduce vocal strain and fatigue.
Conclusion
Mastering proper breathing techniques is fundamental to becoming a better singer. These five exercises – diaphragmatic breathing, sipping breath, staircase breaths, hissing, and straw phonation – will help you develop stronger breath control, increase your vocal range, and improve your overall singing technique. Remember, consistency is key. Even 10-15 minutes of daily practice can lead to significant improvements in your vocal performance.
For additional tips on improving your singing technique, explore this guide on how to sing on key.
Call to Action
Now that you’re equipped with these powerful breathing exercises, it’s time to put them into practice! Here’s what you can do:
- Start with the sample routine provided and practice it daily for at least two weeks.
- Record yourself singing a challenging song before and after these two weeks. Compare the recordings to notice improvements in your breath control and vocal quality.
- Share your experience and progress with us in the comments section below. Your journey might inspire other aspiring singers!
- If you found this guide helpful, share it with your fellow singers or vocal students who might benefit from these techniques.
- Consider working with a vocal coach to further refine your breathing technique and overall singing skills.
Remember, becoming a great singer is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process, be patient with yourself, and keep practicing. Your voice will thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Inhale Through My Mouth or Nose When Singing?
For singing, inhale through your mouth to take in air quickly without resistance. However, nose breathing can be useful for resistance training.
How Can I Tell if I Am Breathing Diaphragmatically?
Lie down and place a book on your stomach. If you’re breathing correctly, the book should rise when you inhale and lower when you exhale.
Is It Better to Breathe Between Lines or Take Quick Sips Mid-Phrase?
For short 1-2 line phrases in pop songs, a full breath between is fine. Use the sipping breath technique for longer classical lines or to minimize breaks.
How Long Should I Be Able to Exhale When Singing?
Aim for 30+ seconds of controlled exhalation. Most phrases are fine with 10-15 seconds of steady airflow. Build your capacity gradually.
Can Poor Posture Negatively Impact My Breathing and Singing?
Yes! Slouching cripples lung capacity. Always maintain proper alignment when practicing and performing.
Why Do I Sometimes Get Dizzy When Doing Intense Breathing Exercises?
Getting lightheaded signals you are over-exerting. Slow down, use smaller goals, and give yourself more recovery time between reps.
Is Breath Support Something I Should Focus on From My Very First Lesson?
Absolutely! Proper breathing is the foundation of good singing technique. It’s never too early to start developing good habits.
How Long Does It Take to Retrain Poor Breathing Techniques?
Be patient. Unlearning years of bad habits takes consistent practice over months. Stay positive through occasional plateaus. Small daily improvements add up to huge progress over time.
