How Proper Breathing Improves Vocal Range and Control

Katherine Dvoskin Co Founder of K&M Music School

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Author: Katherine Dvoskin | Co-Founder of K&M Music School
Published September 24th , 2024

Proper breathing technique dramatically improves your vocal range and control. Master diaphragmatic breathing exercises to access more airflow for singing. Tips to troubleshoot breathing problems.

Proper breathing technique is important for singing. It helps you have a wider vocal range and better control. By practicing breathing exercises, you can smoothly switch between notes. You can also sing longer phrases without running out of air. Good breath support lets you change tone and volume too. This helps you use your full singing voice.

This guide will explain how breath support affects your singing range and control. You will learn helpful breathing strategies and exercises to improve your voice. With regular practice, these tips will help you control your breath like a pro singer.

Breathing Technique	Benefits	Exercises
Diaphragmatic	Expands lung capacity, improves vocal control	Hissing breath, lip trill, staccato "Ha"
Proper posture	Supports better sound, enhances breath control	Head alignment, shoulder positioning, core engagement
Strategic breath placement	Prevents suffocation, maintains airflow	Planned breaths before challenging leaps, after long notes
Abdominal engagement	Adds power to exhale, supports vocal strength	"Hug in and up" technique, controlled compression
Quick air sips	Prevents tension, avoids over-inflation	Space inhaler exercise, small breaths between phrases
Vocal sirens	Coordinates breath support across vocal range	Smooth slides up and down in one breath

Breathing Basics

Diaphragmatic vs chest breathing
Science of inhalation/exhalation
Posture for optimal breathing
Common mistakes to avoid

Exercises

The hissing breath
The lip trill
Staccato bursts
Vocal sirens

Application

Breath support for vocal control
Strategic breath placement
Warning signs of poor habits
Troubleshooting specific issues

Why Breath Support is Crucial for Singers

Before doing breathing exercises for singing, understand why breath support is important. It helps you sing better and with more control. Understanding diaphragmatic breathing is the first step. This knowledge helps you practice more effectively. This guide will explain how breath support affects your singing range and control. You will learn helpful breathing strategies and exercises to improve your voice. With regular practice, these tips will help you control your breath like a pro singer.

What Happens During Inhalation and Exhalation

To use your breathing properly, it’s good to understand how inhaling and exhaling work. This knowledge helps you breathe better when singing. Knowing the science behind it makes a big difference. This knowledge gives you conscious control during singing.

Inhalation Stage:

Diaphragm muscle drops downwards, allowing the lungs to expand outwards.
Intercostal muscles between the ribs also expand the rib cage all around.
This expansion creates negative pressure, drawing large volumes of air into the lungs.

Exhalation Stage:

The diaphragm and intercostals relax.
The diaphragm moves upward, forcing air out of the lungs.
Abdominal muscles can compress inward, pushing out the remaining air.
The positive pressure allows controlled expulsion of plosive sounds like “P” and “B”.

With this overview of the breathing process, let’s explore common suboptimal breathing habits.

Chest Breathing vs Diaphragmatic Breathing

There are two main breathing techniques: chest breathing and diaphragmatic breathing. Chest breathing uses the chest to take in air. Diaphragmatic breathing uses the diaphragm for deeper breaths. Each technique affects how you sing.

Chest Breathing:
- Mainly uses the muscles between the ribs.
- Helps pull air into the upper chest.
- Doesn’t use the lungs as fully.
Diaphragmatic Breathing:
- Uses the diaphragm muscle under your lungs.
- Helps you inhale air deeply into your belly.
- Allows for better breath control while singing.

Many untrained singers rely on chest breathing by default. However, this limits the amount of breath support available. Chest breathing only fills the lungs about halfway. This means singers can’t use their full lung capacity. As a result, it limits their breath control when singing.

In contrast, diaphragmatic breathing fully expands the lungs. This lets you take in a lot more air. This greater lung expansion gives singers significantly more breath support.

Greater breath support is important for singers. It helps them control their voice better. This helps improve their singing. With enough air, singers can hold notes longer. This makes their performance better. They can also handle difficult vocal runs. Plus, it helps them switch smoothly between high and low notes.

Without proper diaphragmatic breath support, singers run out of air quickly. This can lead to strained and weak-sounding vocals. It also limits their vocal range.

How Diaphragmatic Breathing Enables Better Vocal Control

Diaphragmatic breathing helps singers have better control. It gives a steady flow of air across the vocal cords. This flow is called breath support. It allows the vocal cords to vibrate fully, which improves singing.

Having enough breath support helps singers control their voice better. Here are some ways it helps:

More air allows singers to hold longer vocal phrases. This means they don’t have to gasp for breath as often.
With enough breath flow, singers can move smoothly between high and low notes. This makes their singing sound better. Seamless transitions are important for good control.
Increased stability – Good breath support stabilizes vocals, reducing shakiness and pitch inconsistencies.
With good breath support, singers can control their tone better. They can change things like vocal weight and vibrato. This helps make their singing more expressive.
Using your full lung capacity helps you sing higher and lower notes. This means you can reach more notes in your vocal range. It allows for more versatility in your singing.
More breath flow helps singers project their voices better. This means they can sing louder and with more power. Enhanced vocal power makes their singing more impressive.

In short, mastering diaphragmatic breathing is essential. It gives you control over your voice. This technique helps you sing better and with more confidence. Equipped with these fundamentals, let’s explore concrete strategies to improve breathing…

Master Deep Belly Breathing with These Steps

Many singers have heard about the importance of diaphragmatic breathing. However, it takes practice to retrain your body to use this technique properly.

Use the following clear steps to begin mastering diaphragmatic breathing:

Inhale Through The Nose
- Start by inhaling slowly through the nose. This allows the breath to travel deeply into the lower belly.
- When you breathe in, feel your stomach expand. Your chest and shoulders should not rise. Focus on filling your belly with air. This helps you breathe better for singing. Place a hand on your belly to feel it inflate like a balloon.
Exhale Through Pursed Lips
- Purse your lips slightly like you’re blowing out a candle. Keep them relaxed – no puckering.
- Breathe out slowly through pursed lips. As you do this, pull your belly button in towards your spine. Squeeze out the last bit of air. This helps you control your breath better.
Practice This Breathing Technique Regularly
- Dedicate 5 to 10 minutes daily to go through slow, deep belly breaths. Sit or stand tall with a proper upright posture.
- With practice, this technique will become natural. You’ll use it in everyday life and while singing. It will help you breathe better and sing more easily.

Tips for Maintaining a Good Posture

Posture and breathing interlink closely. When your posture is good and straight, it’s easier to use your diaphragm. This helps you breathe better while singing. Good posture supports better sound and control.

Here are posture tips for optimal breathing:

Allow your head to float straight up from your spine rather than jutting forward.
Keep shoulders back and down – avoid hunching.
Maintain space between your ribs so your torso feels open.
Engage your core muscles gently inward.
Stand with feet hip-width apart, evenly distributing weight.
Adjust posture until breathing feels most free and supported.

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Common Breathing Mistakes to Avoid

When learning a new technique, it helps to know common pitfalls to avoid. Watch for these suboptimal breathing habits:

Over-inflating
- Many singers over-inflate their lungs when they first start focusing on diaphragmatic breathing. This backfires by inhibiting vocal control.
- Find a balance when breathing. Use more air than with chest breathing, but don’t puff up too much. It should feel comfortable, not tight. This helps you sing better without strain.
Tensing Abdominal Muscles
- Some singers tense up their abdominal muscles too forcefully when exhaling. This hinders diaphragm movement.
- Keep abdominals engaged but not clenched. Think “hugging in” rather than “sucking in”.
Holding Breath
- In songs with long phrases, singers often unconsciously hold their breath to make it to the next rest.
- Instead of holding your breath, plan quick sips of air. This helps you avoid blocking your airflow. Taking these sips keeps your singing smooth and steady.

With awareness of poor habits, you can consciously avoid these pitfalls.

Vocal Exercises To Improve Breathing Technique

Doing targeted vocal exercises trains essential techniques directly related to singing. They also get you comfortable implementing proper breathing while singing.

Let’s look at some great breathing exercises. These exercises help you increase your vocal range and control. They are easy to practice and very effective.

The Hissing Breath Exercise

This vocal exercise trains breath control while gently engaging the vocal cords. Master this foundational exercise before attempting more complex vocal runs.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Inhale slowly through the nose into the lower belly.
Purse lips into a small “O” shape.
Exhale through the pursed lips, hissing out the air in a slow, controlled stream.
- Imagine the diaphragm compressing evenly like an accordion.
Start softly and crescendo the hiss to full volume over 8-10 seconds.
End loudly on a firm hissing burst, engaging your full lung capacity.
Listen carefully as you hiss. You should hear your vocal cords connecting softly, creating a gentle friction sound. Avoid pushing too much air through.

How This Exercise Benefits Vocal Range:

Strengthens diaphragmatic breathing technique
Develops steady breath control while singing
Trains vocal cords adduction (coming together)
Prepares full lung capacity for high or low notes
Helps locate and expand range limits

Practice the hissing breaths daily, focusing on control and expansion of lung capacity. Be patient with your voice and increase the duration gradually.

The Lip Trill Exercise

This vocal exercise takes the hissing breath one step further by incorporating tone. The lip trill gently vibrates vocal cords together to explore breath capacity.

Instructions:

Inhale low into the belly.
Purse lips with slight opening.
Blow a steady stream of air through the lips.
Flutter lips together rapidly to create a “brrr” vibration sound.
Start soft and crescendo tone.
Descend in pitch on a slide down to the lowest note.

Benefits of The Lip Trill:

Activates vocal cord oscillation
Links breath support to tone production
Tests steady airflow during phonation
Expands range from high and low

The lip trill coordinates more moving pieces related to singing. Practice it after getting comfortable with the simpler hissing breath.

The Staccato “Ha” Exercise

Singing one tone, like “ha,” helps you practice proper breath support. This exercise strengthens your singing. Short, quick bursts help you learn to control airflow. These techniques make your singing better.

Instructions:

Inhale low.
Sing a short staccato “Ha” on a single pitch, attacking note cleanly.
Rapidly repeat “Ha” 8-10 times in one breath.
Focus on quick breath recovery between notes.
Increase duration and expansion as much as possible.

Why This Exercise Helps:

Links breathing to singing
Develops fast airflow adjustment
Mimics vocal control needed for singing fast melismas
Improves pitch centering

Once comfortable with these exercises, try incorporating them into vocal warm-ups. They build crucial breath support skills directly applicable to singing.

How Breathing Impacts Vocal Control While Singing

Now that we’ve talked about breath support, let’s see how it helps with vocal control. Good breath support directly improves your singing. It makes it easier to hit notes and sing smoothly.

Harness the Power of Your Full Lung Capacity

Often singers don’t realize how much untapped lung capacity they have. Breathing exercises help singers access more air, which unlocks greater breath control.

With better breath control, singers can manage their airflow. This helps them use techniques like:

Crescendos/decrescendos
Messa di voce
Vibrato manipulation
Pitch and tone precision
Targeted vocal breaks

It’s hard to use these techniques without good breath support. You need breath control to make them work. Focus on improving your breathing first for better singing.

Test Your Lung Capacity

Here’s a simple test to gauge your current lung capacity:

Take a normal-sized inhale through your nose.
Exhale steadily out through pursed lips, sustaining the stream of air as long as possible.
Time the duration in seconds using a stopwatch.

Work on expanding duration through better breath support. Re-test monthly to track progress.

With this quick test, you can measure your expanding lung capacity.

Eliminate Needless Physical Tension

Lack of breath support often forces singers to rely on physical tension to eke out higher or lower notes. This tension appears in different ways:

Gripping neck muscles to reach high notes
Straining facial muscles
Tightening throat
Forcing an unnatural mouth shape
Clenching stomach
Holding breath

With proper breath support, singers can eliminate this excess tension. Notes seem to float out freely. The voice flows smoothly without the hindrance of counterproductive muscular tension. This effortless execution gives singers much more precise vocal control.

Relaxation Strategies

Here are some tips to relax tension:

Shake out any visible strain between vocal passages
Consciously relax jaws, cheeks, neck, shoulders
Visualize tension melting away from the face and throat
Roll head gently side to side
Stay vigilant for areas of chronic grip. Address the root cause by improving breath support.

Regulate Breath Flow Like Water from a Faucet

Here’s a simple visualization exercise to help consciously improve breath regulation:

Imagine your breath flow functions like a faucet. As you exhale, you control how wide you open the faucet.
- Want more vocal power? Turn the faucet up to full blast.
- Looking for subtle, delicate tones? Just crack the faucet.

This simple imagery helps connect your mind and body. It trains you to control and direct your breath flow. This makes it easier to use your breath when singing.

Experiment with Vocalizing With Different Air Flows

Test out this faucet visualization by vocalizing with different-sized breaths:

Inhale fully.
Sing a phrase using minimal airflow (faucet barely open).
Repeat the phrase with medium airflow.
Finally, sing big and boldly with maximum airflow.

Focus on keeping tension-free as you modulate air. Adjusting your breath flow helps you practice breath control. This training improves your coordination while singing. It prepares you for more advanced techniques.

Maintaining Good Breathing Technique During Songs

Mastering breathing fundamentals during vocal warm-ups is an important first step. However, maintaining proper technique while in the throes of singing takes practice.

Here are helpful reminders for sustaining solid breathing even in vocally demanding songs:

Keep Your Shoulders and Torso Open

Avoid lifting your shoulders or collapsing your rib cage as you inhale. These habits limit breath capacity.
Maintain an elevated yet relaxed posture. Engage core muscles to keep the torso expanded.

Strategic Breath Placement

Plan when you’ll breathe in a phrase rather than unconsciously clamping down on airflow.

Place breaths:

Before challenging vocal leaps
After long extended notes
At the ends of musical phrases
In rests or instrumental breaks

Strategic breath planning prevents unnecessary suffocation.

Resist Collapsing on The Exhale

Work against the natural urge to contract your diaphragm and slam rib cage inward as you exhale. This causes you to run out of air prematurely.

Focus on steady, controlled exhales instead. Some outward diaphragm compression is expected, but avoid collapsing inward.

Work Those Abdominals

For added power on the exhale, engage your abdominal muscles. But don’t forcefully clench them.

Think “hug in and up” to keep the ribcage expanded as you compress.

Take Quick Sips of Air Between Phrases

Rather than gasping for big gulps of air, take small sips. This ensures you don’t tense up. It also prevents over-inflating which can inhibit vocal control.

The Space Inhaler

Here’s a nifty little tool to train quick, relaxed inhales:

Get a small, narrow coffee stirrer straw.
Inhale sharply through the straw, hissing cool air in.
Exhale vocally in your sung tone.
Repeat, using a straw just for the inhale.

This exercise trains air speed and rib cage relaxation on the inhale.

Use Breath to Support Your Voice

Let your breath flow firmly from your diaphragm. This will help you hold notes longer. It also supports smooth changes in volume, pitch, and tone. Focus on controlling your breath for better singing.

The Vocal Siren

For added breath control practice while singing, do the siren vocal slide:

Inhale low.
Sing a siren starting low, sliding up and down the vocal range in one breath.
Focus on keeping the slide smooth and steady.
Increase length and range over time.

This keeps vocal cords engaged amidst wide intervals, coordinating breath support muscles.