There’s simply no singing without sufficient breath support. Maybe you’re trying to adopt proper singing methods, or perhaps you’re looking to generate more power on your high notes – there’s always a reason to improve breath support for your vocals.
In this article, we’ll explore why breathing exercises for singers are imperative for success and 5 effective ways to improve your breath support.
Breathing techniques for singers
Breathing is a fundamental instrument for singing. You simply can’t sing without it. Not only is it an essential quality of your vocals, but when perfected, it can significantly improve your performance.
These exercises will cover everything from breath control – essential for sustaining notes – to preventing vocal strain – insufficient breathing support can result in vocal cord straining – and everything in between.
We’ll show you how to strengthen your diaphragm, increase lung capacity, and improve your posture. This will engage the proper muscles, allow for more airflow, and give you control over your vocal range.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing is one of the most crucial breathing techniques for singing. It is also part of the foundational mechanics of breathing in general.
All it means is engaging the diaphragm when breathing. You can’t take a hefty inhale and exhale without your diaphragm – so think of it more as an exercise to strengthen a proper breathing technique.
Your diaphragm is a large, rounded muscle that helps you breathe in and out. It sits just below the lungs and moves with your breathing so your lungs can fill with air. It’s important to recognise this movement when singing to engage the diaphragm to push air out steadily.
Train yourself to perfect diaphragmatic breathing by sitting up straight with one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Take a deep breath through your nose, allowing your belly to rise – make sure it’s your belly and not your chest. Release your breath slowly and steadily through your mouth and feel your stomach fall.
5 breathing exercises for singing
- 4-7-8 breathing
You may have heard of this exercise as a technique for regaining composure and relaxing, but it’s also one of the most effective breath control exercises for singers.
Vocal breathing exercises vary in purpose – albeit with the overall aim to better your breathing – from strengthening your diaphragm to increasing lung capacity. This technique focuses on the latter and will help you sustain your vocals and help airflow for a long time, which is handy when trying to sing those higher notes.
Simple inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7, and steadily release for 8.
The key is to quietly breathe in through your nose before exhaling through your mouth. On your exhale, you want to be making a ‘whooshing’ sound.
Repeat this exercise 4-5 times, taking your time and concentrating on engaging all the correct muscles.
- Hissing
Vocal breathing exercises can overlap slightly, making them easy techniques to include in warm-ups.
Hissing, which uses diaphragmatic breathing and borrows elements from the 4-7-8 exercise, helps build control and breathing support strength.
Start by inhaling deeply using the all-important diaphragmatic breathing. Exhale slowly and steadily, making a ‘hiss’ sound – much like letting air out of a balloon.
Try doing this a few times, and with each repetition, try prolonging the duration of the hissing sound.
- Panting
Try standing up straight while relaxing your shoulders. Take a quick, shallow breath in and out through your mouth, mimicking a “panting” sound. Make sure you keep the movement in your diaphragm, not your chest.
Continue this for about 30 seconds, focusing on keeping the breaths controlled and even.
Panting helps strengthen the diaphragm and teaches control over short bursts of air, mimicking the quick, controlled breathing needed for singing phrases.
This exercise is great for working on quick breath control and diaphragm engagement.
- Practice controlled breathing
As the name gives away, this is a vocal breathing exercise for improving control. But it also helps strengthen phrasing in singing – from which words to emphasise to the speed in which you deliver.
Breathe in quietly through your nose, expanding your diaphragm and ribcage. Imagine your lungs filling with air.
Exhale slowly through your pursed lips – almost as if breathing through a straw – and focus on a controlled and steady release of air. Try to breathe out for as long as possible, without straining yourself, while maintaining a steady and consistent airflow.
- Sustain a note
If you try these breathing techniques for singing in order, you’ll be nice and warm to incorporate a little bit of actual singing. This exercise is a great way to build endurance and strengthen support for extended phrases.
Start, as we always do, with a deep breath inward. Engage the diaphragm and be aware of your expanding ribcage. Release your breath while singing a single note at a steady volume, avoiding all strain and tension. Hold the note for as long as you can – don’t hesitate to stop and start again if it becomes uncomfortable.
Gradually increase the length of time you hold the note, making sure your airflow feels smooth.
Learn more effective breathing exercises for singers from a pro.
Refine your singing methods with help from a professional vocal coach.
If you want to take your voice to the next level, sign up for Eric Vetro’s BBC Maestro course, Sing Like the Stars. In 31 lessons, he’ll show you all there is to know about finding your voice, singing lyrics and how to stand out at your next audition.
