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How to Get Enough Breath While Singing

Learning to breathe correctly while singing is something that will greatly improve your timbre and intonation. Timbre is the sound quality produced, and intonation involves your ability to sing on pitch. For instance, a singer with sharp intonation will sound slightly higher than the intended pitch, while a singer with flat intonation will sound just below the correct pitch. Breathing techniques should be practiced daily for the best results. Singing with proper breath support may feel awkward at first, but in time, you will greatly improve your ability to take in air.

Instructions

    • 1

      Breathe in through your nose, and pull the air in to your lungs using the diaphragm -- the muscle that enables your lungs to expand and contract. Imagine you are yawning, and take in a deep breath. The muscles that controlled the expansion and relaxation of your stomach are the diaphragm muscles.

    • 2

      Relax your body, and maintain proper posture when singing. Stand or sit up straight, with your legs spread equally apart. Keep your shoulders back and relaxed, and relieve any tension in your body -- especially the throat, jaw and face area.

    • 3

      Take in air for four beats, and then breathe out consistently for six beats. Breathe at a slow tempo of about 60 beats per minute, and maintain a steady airflow. Control your breath so that at the end of six seconds you are completely out of air, exhaling a steady and consistent stream of air. Practice exhaling in intervals of six, eight and nine seconds.

    • 4

      Sing a single tone, and hold it for four beats. Then, breathe in for four counts, and sing again for four beats. Continue this exercise to get used to taking in a full breath of air and connecting your voice with the breath -- so that you don't stop the stream of airflow before you sing. Instead, you breathe in and then -- without holding or stopping the breath -- you immediately breath out and start singing simultaneously.

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