You already know how to breathe. Singing just asks you to do it a little more deliberately: to take in enough air for a phrase, without fuss, and to let it out steadily while you sing. None of this needs to be complicated, and you'll feel the difference quickly.
Breathe low and easy
When you take a breath to sing, let it drop low.
- Let your belly and lower ribs move outwards as the air comes in. Your shoulders should stay where they are, not rise up towards your ears.
- Breathe in quietly, through your nose or mouth, whichever is easier. A noisy gasp usually means you're snatching at the air.
- Don't overfill. A comfortable breath is better than the biggest breath you can take. Too much air tends to make you tense.
A good way to feel it: put a hand on your stomach and sigh out gently, then let the air fall back in. That easy, low breath is the one you want.
Let it out steadily
Singing is mostly about how you use the air on the way out. Aim for a smooth, even flow, as if you were blowing gently on a spoon of soup to cool it.
Try a long, steady "sss" or "fff" sound and see how long it lasts without straining. Then try the same steadiness on a sung note. The note should feel supported but not pushed.
Breathe with the phrases
Songs are made of phrases, like sentences in speech. The natural places to breathe are where the words pause: the end of a line, a comma, a held note followed by a rest.
- Plan your breaths. Before you sing, decide where you'll breathe. If a phrase is long, find a place in the middle where a quick breath won't break the sense of the words.
- Breathe in time. Take the breath in the beat or so before you sing, so you're ready when the phrase starts, not catching up.
- Don't wait until you're empty. Breathe while you still have a little air left. Running right out makes the end of a phrase go thin, and often flat.
In a group, singers sometimes stagger their breathing on a long note: each one breathes at a slightly different moment, so the sound never stops. It's a handy trick once you're comfortable.
Stand or sit well
Your posture affects your breath more than you might think.
- Standing: feet about hip-width apart, knees soft rather than locked, weight balanced.
- Sitting: sit towards the front of the chair, back tall, feet flat on the floor.
- Either way: shoulders relaxed and down, head level, chin neither poking out nor tucked in.
Aim for tall and easy, not stiff. If you feel rigid, gently roll your shoulders and start again.
Don't force it
Breathing well should make singing feel easier, not harder.
- If a phrase is too long, take an extra breath. That's fine.
- If a high note needs pushing, try it softer, or try the song in a lower key.
- Short, regular sessions usually feel better than one long one.
If singing hurts, stop and rest. If it keeps hurting, see a voice teacher or a doctor.
Try it in Stackapella
Shenandoah has long, rolling phrases, sung slowly, with time to breathe between them. It's a lovely song for practising where to breathe.
- Listen to your part a phrase at a time with its guide voice, and notice where each phrase ends. Those are your breathing places.
- Sing along and practise breathing in the beat before each phrase starts.
- Loop a long phrase until you've found a comfortable place for a breath in the middle, and it happens without thinking.
- If your part feels too high or low, use Check my range to find a key that suits your voice.
- When the breaths feel natural, Record your part, then stack another over it.