Is there a helpful trick for moving my singing sound from my throat, into my diaphragm? My voice is strained!?

I hate to sound like I know everything, but there are pleanty of things that people will tell you that are complete garbage. People will tell you tricks to put a pencil in your mouth because it will help you sing better. You have to know what to believe and what not to believe. Secondly, singing is about technique. It has nothing to do with talent. What you need to focus on is everything else besides how you sound. That's the least important, and you cannot measure your sound that way. You need to measure your quality by your technique. Firstly, it is important to have good posture. Secondly, your breathing is important. Many singers close their throat when they sing, and you push the sound from your throat. Think of it as a tube. When you sing, the tube should always be open. When you push, which sounds almost like a gasp, then you are closing the tube making it harder for air to come out. I could go on for a lot longer, but this is enough to start. Good luck!

Visualise. When doing whichever fantastic exercises you do, remember to imagine/visualise the air filling your lungs from the bottom-up. Then, when exhaling, don't forget to switch on your abs and push the sound out by gently squeezing your abs.

I don't know what your current technique is, but I learned from an instructor that the best way to switch to your diaphram is to breath in through your mouth. A deep breath. This forces your throat to open and allows you to push from your diaphram. Optimally, you should, if your technique is correct, feel the tone resonate in your skull. Use your soft pallat (roof of your mouth) to bend the pitch of your tone and hold your mouth in a smile - teeth apart. Have a look at Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam when he sings, he uses this technique. It will save your vocal chords and add huge power and range to your voice. Also, consult a speach therapist and take singing lessons from a qualified teacher.

What I tell my speech students who are having trouble with forming the habit of using their diaphragm is this: Lie face-up on the floor with your knees bent. Place book or some similar object on your diaphragm. Practice breathing while pushing up the book. Practice singing and speaking while pushing up the book. Do this for a little while (10-15 minutes or a few pieces) every time you practice until diaphragmatic become more habitual. I found this method very effective myself. I had trouble developing diaphragmatic breathing, myself. I go back to doing this every so often to keep myself in the right habit.

When you sing from your diaphragm, it feels the same as talking. Say "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" in a constant tone and notice how it feels different from the way you sing. Experiment with changing the pitch, while still in speaking mode. You will get a sense of how it feels to loosen your throat, and after that you can work on improving the sound.

Sing from your HOO-HOO!