How to sing really fast without running out of breath?

How do you hold a long note, or not run out of breath?

• Lately I've been trying to sing songs by Evanescence (who I love) but I keep running out of breath. I want to know how to hold a note for a long time without running out of ...show more

• Answer:

  Remember to breathe properly between phrases (lines/sentences)! A common habit is to expel the breath, sucking the stomach in (correct) whilst singing, then when the singer goes to take another breath, they don't release the stomach, they just take in a small breath and carry on. Eventually you run out! Be sure to completely release all tension in your stomach/back between phrases, as you breathe in so you can take a full breath, otherwise your diaphragm can't drop to let the air in. Also make sure you're not using too much breath on the first couple of notes after you breathe in - you don't need as much as you think. Try doing lip trills (google them) then eventually open your mouth on the trill to discover how much air you actually need to sustain a note. If you use too much air, your lips will blow apart and the trill will break, which is good to teach you to control the breath.