Diaphragm etc

[Kukishor]

I assume that there were dozens of topics like that and to be honest I've been searching for those for about an hour and a half, yet I still seem to be unable to find answers for my questions. So please - write those for me if you can, or if you are aware of some direct links for some topics, post them as well.

Diaphragm appears to be my mortal enemy at the moment, since I can't really come to terms with it.

1) Could you explain me how it works and how am I suppose to use it? By now, I know how to breath with it (I think...), but there are still some issues with using in while singing.

2) Could you describe me some exercises that will help me to:

a) improve it's usage

warm it up before singing

c) keep practicing at home (I've already got one with "ssss" release, which was provided to me on this very forum and it's a great one, but I'd love some more!)

3) Apart of the diaphragm itself, do you have any tips how to not tighten my throat, or any other things that might help me to sing?

I really hope that you'd be able to give me something, because since I've watched some videos from my first gig, I'm considering jumping through my bedroom window.

[Felipe Carvalho]

I assume that there were dozens of topics like that and to be honest I've been searching for those for about an hour and a half, yet I still seem to be unable to find answers for my questions. So please - write those for me if you can, or if you are aware of some direct links for some topics, post them as well.

Diaphragm appears to be my mortal enemy at the moment, since I can't really come to terms with it.

1) Could you explain me how it works and how am I suppose to use it? By now, I know how to breath with it (I think...), but there are still some issues with using in while singing.

2) Could you describe me some exercises that will help me to:

a) improve it's usage

warm it up before singing

c) keep practicing at home (I've already got one with "ssss" release, which was provided to me on this very forum and it's a great one, but I'd love some more!)

3) Apart of the diaphragm itself, do you have any tips how to not tighten my throat, or any other things that might help me to sing?

I really hope that you'd be able to give me something, because since I've watched some videos from my first gig, I'm considering jumping through my bedroom window.

Man, the diaphragm is not your enemy , in fact you are using it right now AND its one of the things keeping you alive.

A brief explanaiton on breathing and support: http://themodernvocalist.punbb-hosting.com/viewtopic.php?pid=33758#p33758

On that same topic, there are explanations from Steven on how to feel and understand support better.

My honest advice is to find a coach and work on it. Breathing and support is quite simple in theory, but to accomplish it you will have to replace many habits that die extremely hard, doing it alone its easy to fall in the trap of replacing a bad habit with another. And its just a piece of the puzzle, everything must work well to make a difference.

Unfortunately, there are no tips for that, its impossible to determine what is making your throat tight through text, lack of support surely would be one of the things, but there might be many others not related to breathing that would render support useless.

Its a very long road anyways, and the beggining is the most critical part, so take your time and find the best coach you can!

GL!

[ronws]

The diaphragm is an autonomic muscle. It operates purely by reflex and cannot be consciously controlled. You control other muscles around it, namely the abdominals and obliques. When you inhale properly, you let the abdominals the relax. When those relax, the diaphragm flexes downward. Since you only speak or sing during exhalation, the flex of the diaphragm has no part in voice production. When you exhale, the diaphragm has relax and the compression of air is the result of bringing the abdominals in during exhalation. Once again, in this action, with the diaphragm relaxing autonomically during exhalation, it does not have any part in voice production. You can, when necessary, control the action of the abdominals. You cannot directly control the action of the diaphragm.

[Mr Bounce]

I've heard some people who practise meditation very seriously tell me they have such control over their body that they can stop their heart, their diaphragm, and their swallowing muscles in the throat (so they can keep a piece of food suspended there). I'm not if I believe this but hell, why would you WANT to be able to do something so dangerous!

As ronws said, the diaphragm can't be controlled. Rather, imagine the air in your lungs as a hydroelectric dam full of water, and the dam is your "support." You want to let it out at a certain rate so that when you need more electrical power (or support), you can do that (for high notes, distortion, or breathy notes, etc). If you need a little support like for low-medium range notes, it doesn't matter so much. But when you need a lot of energy/support, you need to have that strength and practise, otherwise your dam will break and you'll flood the town (damage your voice).