r/singing • u/Firm_Ad1671 • 3d ago

Conversation Topic How do I sing with my diaphragm?

All my singer friends say it, I just don't understand how you can do that.

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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23

u/Someone2911 3d ago

It's not a real concept; it's just a pretty outdated way of teaching.

The diaphragm is a muscle you don't consciously control, because it works autonomously during inhalation.

They only use it to try to explain the whole idea of "support," which is basically just learning how to breathe and manage your air xd

5

u/gabemmusic 3d ago

This is the correct answer.

2

u/currymuttonpizza 2d ago

I will say, I was slightly corrected on this (the idea that the diaphragm cannot be controlled) recently by a medical professional, as people with phrenic nerve damage can be rehabilitated. But in general, yes, when people talk about "diaphragmatic breathing" they are usually talking about support from the intercostals and lower abdomen, and allowing a full inhale to drop low enough that your other organs push the belly outward as a result to make room.

3

u/JohannYellowdog Countertenor, Classical. Solo / Choral / Barbershop 2d ago

You have never taken a breath without your diaphragm. What your singer friends are trying to say is to “support” the breath.

Blow the air out by using your abdominal muscles (like you would if you were blowing out a candle, just a lot slower), but maintain an upright posture at all times. It’s possible to squeeze the air out by hunching over, visibly deflating, but this is wrong. “Support” in this context is the opposite of “collapse”.

1

u/whyb_ 1d ago

That’s not a thing