Billy Budapest Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 So I've been REALLY trying to fix my breathing and get some more "support" for my voice. I've gone through Jaime's stuff, and had breathing exercises in the past, but I still think my support is my biggest issue. One thing I'm noticing in trying to retrain myself is that breathing low seems easy and powerful up to about a G above middle C. After that, breathing from below doesn't seem to work for me without it being shouty and my voice getting really wobbly. These are full voice notes I'm speaking of. So a full voice C becomes this battle where the lower breathing doesn't seem to keep it steady. Also, I'm speaking of long notes here. I think that just touching on the note with an Ah vowel works okay, but if I try to hold it, it's just this wobble fest. Did you guys have this kind of problem? How long did it take you to actually learn to breathe corrrectly? It seems there are billions of approaches but I'm having a helluva time finding one that's comfortable and actually gives me support. I find that if I lean forward, bending the waist, I can feel the support, but I cannot get it to work standing upright. Ugh. One other thing, it feels like if I take in a lot of air down low, that I have to let some out, but hold that tension down there to feel anything at all like support. I think before, I was thinking I'd be walking around with this big belly pooch going but that's too much air. I don't know if that's correct or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonpall Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 There are a few good old threads on support on this forum. Use the search button and search for "support" to get you started. For me it seems to be working to let my solar plexus gradually go out and my abs gradually go in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VideoHere Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 So I've been REALLY trying to fix my breathing and get some more "support" for my voice. I've gone through Jaime's stuff, and had breathing exercises in the past, but I still think my support is my biggest issue. One thing I'm noticing in trying to retrain myself is that breathing low seems easy and powerful up to about a G above middle C. After that, breathing from below doesn't seem to work for me without it being shouty and my voice getting really wobbly. These are full voice notes I'm speaking of. So a full voice C becomes this battle where the lower breathing doesn't seem to keep it steady. Also, I'm speaking of long notes here. I think that just touching on the note with an Ah vowel works okay, but if I try to hold it, it's just this wobble fest. Did you guys have this kind of problem? How long did it take you to actually learn to breathe corrrectly? It seems there are billions of approaches but I'm having a helluva time finding one that's comfortable and actually gives me support. I find that if I lean forward, bending the waist, I can feel the support, but I cannot get it to work standing upright. Ugh. One other thing, it feels like if I take in a lot of air down low, that I have to let some out, but hold that tension down there to feel anything at all like support. I think before, I was thinking I'd be walking around with this big belly pooch going but that's too much air. I don't know if that's correct or not. not to mess you up bill, but sometimes you can be supporting really well, but may not always "feel" like you are. here's another thing, if you get really good at lip bubbles where you got them smooth and consistant you are supporting. i feel support more singing long, softer notes than high ones. it doesn't have to "feel" all the time. when you're in the moment on stage you may not even realize it. i find good gauges are: good lip bubbles 30 second or more leaky tires hold an 'ah" steady, unwavering and consistent for a good 20 seconds (that's a toughy..lol!!) you know the deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Budapest Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Thanks VH. With some new stuff I'm doing, I'm finding that I'm getting 'wobbly' at gigs. It's really weird and just funky. My vibrato sounds like a nervous kid. It's weird, so I'm trying to solve the issue. The SSS thing is something I should get back to doing. Mem'ry must be going. ugh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gno Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Billy - I think there are various ways.. Lately I've retrained myself to use Tamplin's method. Breathing low, pressing down on the diaphram when singing - the solar plexus kind of sticks out, maybe pushed out by the diaphram. I used to breath low but when breathing out I would pull up with the abs. Ken's image of pressing down (instead of pulling up) seemed to help a lot. The difference for me was the steadiness of the tone. Pressing down seems to keep my breath and tone much more steady and in control than pulling up. Another problem I had was taking way too much air in. After reading CVT, I learned that when you breath in, your diaphram is like a rubberband and wants to push the air out. The more air you breath in, the more the diaphram wants to spring back, and more energy is needed to fight against the diaphram blowing it all out. So only take in only as much air as you need. You don't have to have your abs sticking way out on every breath. Just make sure that the action goes in the direction of low breathing. On high verses low singning, lately I don't really feel much difference in the amount of support needed for high notes. When I was first working on the high notes I used a lot more support. Now, not so much. Not sure but I think my control of my larynx (TA/CT) is more efficient now requiring less breath support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Budapest Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Thanks G. The "way too much air" part of your post seems to be where I'm at. If I take just a bit of air in and don't sing loudly and with a lot of air, things seem to be better for me. I have a gig tonight so I'll see how it works in practice. I had a gig 3 days ago and some things were great, others not so much. However, the "voice going into brian johnson mode" didn't seem to happen for the first time in a long while. That was good. I have to get that book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VideoHere Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Thanks G. The "way too much air" part of your post seems to be where I'm at. If I take just a bit of air in and don't sing loudly and with a lot of air, things seem to be better for me. I have a gig tonight so I'll see how it works in practice. I had a gig 3 days ago and some things were great, others not so much. However, the "voice going into brian johnson mode" didn't seem to happen for the first time in a long while. That was good. I have to get that book. bill, have you got a recording we can hear from one of your shows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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