How to use your diaphragm?

How can I use my diaphragm for breath control while singing?

• I know that the proper way for breathing is from the diaphragm. (Expanding your stomach.) But, how do I use my diaphragm to control the amount of air that I am exhaling? Do I push my ...show more

• Answer:

  The best type of breathing is medium-low support. While you definitely don't want to be breathing up top (raising your shoulders with each breath), many people don't support properly up top. The best way of breathing while singing is to keep the upper part of you expanded (not so extremely that it feels unnatural, but a good amount). Your sternum should be fairly high. Then, with that part controlled, you bring your breath in low (feeling the lungs expand around every part of you, even your back). Then, your can (to some extent) control how your breath flows out from your gut/stomach). Once you're out of air, the air should simply flow back in like a vacuum (due to the diaphragm) if you are keeping your ribcage expanded like you should. It takes a lot of practice, but with time, you should find that you feel more supported when you sing. Some good exercises to practice this includes lying on the floor and breathing low, keeping your ribcage expanded and feeling the breath all around you (even in the muscles in your back) as you breath low, then standing up and trying to feel the same thing while standing. Then, some really good exercises include trying to 'breath through a straw' (just pretending that you were only able to let out that much air) or doing ff-ss-ch-ch-ch, which also helps you control the amount of air you let out and helps you practice breathing in correctly. All in all, the best thing you can do is also to consult a vocal coach or choir director. They can help show you better (in person) that you're doing it correctly or incorrectly and give you tips. Hope it helps! Good luck with your singing!