The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest cavity, where the heart and lungs are located, from the rest of the body's internal organs. It is most famous for its spasms that cause hiccups, but it is also a key element in singing. Singing correctly requires the use of the diaphragm while breathing, using the abdominal and intercostal muscles to expel the air and control its flow. If you want to become a better singer, learn to strengthen these muscles and sing with the correct technique.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Reinforce the Diaphragm
Step 1. Learn the position of the diaphragm
Unlike the biceps, it is difficult to feel the muscles of the diaphragm with the touch, so it is important to learn to identify it, so as to be able to strengthen it.
- The best way to be able to sing with your diaphragm is to think of your diaphragm muscles as a platform or table. They need to be stiff and stable, offering a base for your voice to climb down the gorge.
- If you have trouble feeling your diaphragm, lie down on the floor and put a medium weight on your abdomen, such as a large book. Push that weight using only your abdomen muscles. At the same time, try to sing. The muscle you are using is the diaphragm.
Step 2. Practice breathing with your diaphragm
To breathe through the diaphragm, inhale as deeply as possible and push your belly out as you do so, keeping the rest of your body still. Now inhale and pull your belly in. Make sure you don't move your shoulders.
- It is imperative that the muscles used during breathing remain rigid but not contracted while singing. You should keep your chest, shoulders and face muscles relaxed.
- Imagine that you are a chimney and that the song rises up the chimney from the diaphragm, to the lungs and then out of the chimney.
Step 3. Do breathing exercises to strengthen the diaphragm
Train your diaphragm muscles regularly. Once you learn how to breathe properly, you will need to power them up as much as possible. Take a deep breath with your diaphragm and exhale as long as possible. Count the seconds slowly and steadily, then check your progress every day.
- Try the "smoothie" exercise. Imagine sucking from a straw. Remember to keep your shoulders and chest still. Keep your hand on your abdomen to notice any movement.
- Try the "dog" exercise. Pant as if you were a tired dog, again remembering to keep both chest and shoulders still and one hand on the abdomen.
- Try the "push in the bathroom" exercise. As ridiculous as it may sound to you, it will help you learn to sing with your diaphragm. Keeping your shoulders and chest still, exhale deeply as if you are having trouble in the bathroom. Keep your hand on your abdomen.
Step 4. Do the breathing exercises regularly
If you want to strengthen your diaphragm, you will need to incorporate these breathing exercises into your normal singing routine, as well as repeat them many times throughout the day. You can make them whenever you want and they are simple, since they do not require special equipment. All you need is your voice.
Do breathing exercises when driving to work or when watching television. There is no excuse to avoid such simple exercises. You will start noticing progress in singing very soon with the right dedication
Part 2 of 2: Sing the Right Way
Step 1. Always warm up your voice before singing
Breathing and vocal exercises are essential for warming up the voice. Singing with the diaphragm is only part of the correct singing technique and must be combined with the other practices to be followed. Before singing for an extended period of time, you should always:
- Take a long, deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, then slowly exhale. As you inhale, raise your arms until your hands touch. Then slowly lower your arms as you exhale. Repeat the exercise 3-5 times.
- Start with the lowest note you can sing and start climbing until you reach the highest note you can pick up without straining. Do not rush. The slower you go, the better. This exercise helps control breathing and warm up the vocal cords for singing.
Step 2. Stand with excellent posture when singing
When you sing with your diaphragm, you take deeper, fuller breaths. For this you need a perfect posture. Keep your back very straight, your shoulders back and concentrate on keeping them still as you breathe to give your voice and breath as much room as possible.
Since the diaphragm is located exactly under the rib cage, which contains the lungs, poor posture will push the ribs against the lungs and will not allow the downward expansion necessary for proper breathing
Step 3. Sing with your throat open
Look in the mirror as you force a yawn, looking for and feeling the opening of your throat. You will need to reproduce this feeling when you sing, as relaxed as possible. To allow the air to flow freely and naturally from the diaphragm into the body, you will need to sing with your throat open.
Pretend you have a ball in your throat that is holding it open. Practice singing open-throated series of notes. It may take some time to get strong notes, but it's important to try singing this way to train your voice
Step 4. Work on both "parts" of your voice
Think of your voice as being separated into two parts that are linked together. The high notes belong to the top register, while the low ones belong to the chest register. To get full, rounded sounds with both voices, you will need to sing from the diaphragm, but learning to distinguish these two voices and use them separately will help you reproduce the notes better.
Do your breathing exercises regularly to get used to the feeling of transition between the two voices. Try singing intervals to jump back and forth between the two registers and reinforce the transitions
Step 5. Work on the pronunciation of consonants
Hard consonants are often not pronounced well when singing. Try repeating a sentence with many consonants like a nursery rhyme. Continuously sing the phrase using a single note, until you can sing each word clearly while always holding your breath with your diaphragm.
Advice
- Put your hand over your diaphragm and if you feel it go up and down, you are breathing well.
- It is advisable to consult a professional teacher. Vocal lessons can help you become a better singer.
- Always warm up your vocal cords before singing. Do some stretching and repeat a few scales to awaken your voice.
- Record yourself singing and hear for improvements.
Warnings
- Don't overdo it or you could permanently damage your vocal cords.
- While it won't happen for a long time, you may end up with lumps if you keep singing from your throat. Nodules can SERIOUSLY damage your vocal cords !!
