How to Sing from the Stomach: A Step-by-Step Guide
Tyler Connaghan Music producer, Singer
10/06/25 | Last modified: 12/22/25
Most beginners hear the phrase “sing from your diaphragm” and assume it’s about belting from the belly. Not quite. Learning how to sing from the stomach or diaphragm is about using your body’s natural breathing system to control airflow, support your voice, and sing without tension.
In this guide, you’ll get a clear explanation of what the diaphragm actually does, how to control it, and step-by-step exercises to train smarter.
What is the Diaphragm?
First things first. The diaphragm is the large, dome-shaped muscle that sits just below your lungs, playing a key role in how we breathe.
When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, creating space in your chest cavity, so that your lungs can expand and draw in air. As you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and rises back into place, pushing air out of the lungs.
In the context of singing, the diaphragm is only there to support sound, not create it. Controlled airflow from the diaphragm is what’s used to power your voice. The better singers get at coordinating with their diaphragm, the better they’re able to manage breath and sustain long phrases without straining.
Why Singing from the Diaphragm is Important?
Knowing how to use your diaphragm when singing is one of the most important foundational skills any singer should learn. When you rely on your throat muscles to push out sound, you’re more likely to strain, especially as you reach for high notes. Diaphragmatic singing moves the workload to your core, where it belongs.
Beyond the fact that diaphragm singing offers us better dynamic control and breath support, it also helps us build body awareness. You can start to feel where your breath is going, how to manage it, and how to sing efficiently without forcing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Singing from the Diaphragm
Learning to sing from the diaphragm is actually pretty easy. It’s the consistent practice that locks it in and helps us develop real breath support that we don’t have to think about. Here are some steps to get started:
Step 1 – Feel the Diaphragm in Action
Lie flat with a book placed on your stomach and inhale slowly so the book rises. As you breathe in, only your stomach should rise, not your chest. This exercise will help you build awareness of your lower-body breath movement so that you physically feel what it’s like to sing from the stomach.
Step 2 – Practice Controlled Exhalation
One of my favorite diaphragm singing exercises is the exhale on an “sss” sound.
Begin by inhaling for four seconds, then exhale on a steady “sss” for about 8 to 12 seconds. The airflow should feel smooth and even without any breaks.
Step 3 – Gradually Add Sounds
Once you get comfortable with the hissing exercise above, start adding sounds slowly with lip trills or gentle hums on a single breath. From there, you can progress to longer vowels like “ah,” “ee,” or “oo.” No matter the exercise, the goal is to stay relaxed and supported without throat tension.
Expert Tips for Singing with Diaphragmatic Support
Once you’ve got the basics of diaphragmatic breathing down, it’s time to start refining your Technique with a few foundational strategies.
Learn Proper Breathing
If you’re raising your shoulders when you breathe, you’re doing too much up top. Instead, take smooth, silent inhales through your nose and mouth, and allow your belly and lower ribs to expand outward in a 360-degree motion.
This expanse should signal that your diaphragm is moving down to make room for air, rather than your chest puffing out. Chest breathing can make your voice feel tight and unsupported, especially if you’re singing songs with long phrases or dynamic changes.
Engage the Diaphragm While Singing
As for the feeling, focus on keeping your ribs slightly expanded and letting the abdominal muscles engage naturally as you sing out. The great Luciano Pavarotti has an excellent explanation for this sensation:
You should feel grounded, like your voice is anchored to something. One common image that always helped me was to imagine myself “singing on the breath.” Having a good mindset alone can do a lot for reducing tension.
Build Breath Support
Support is really about managing the air you’ve already taken in. One of the best exercises is the “staccato hiss,” where you inhale fully, then release a series of short, sharp “sss” sounds in bursts.
This exercise helps train your ability to control airflow and engage the core without using your throat. You can also try speaking numbers or singing vowels all in a single breath to challenge and expand your control capabilities.
Practice Diaphragmatic Singing Exercises
Painting like a dog might feel silly, but it’s one of the most effective diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Try a short, rapid panting rhythm with your mouth open and your hand on your stomach. You should feel your muscles working every time you pant out.
This exercise helps build muscle memory and makes you aware of your belly’s movement. You can also use a straw in your mouth to sing gently into its resistance, which helps stabilize your air pressure. This particular exercise is also great for healing a tired voice.
Hit Higher Notes With Support
Reaching high notes entails having the right breath pressure. Keep your ribs slightly lifted as you ascend and avoid clenching your throat. By engaging the diaphragm, you get more power from below, which helps the top notes ring out without sounding thin or squeezed. If you’re straining, it usually means you’re losing support too early.
Maintain an Open Throat
A tight throat can kill an otherwise supported sound. Your jaw should drop gently while you’re soft palate lifts up to create a more open space.
Some vocal coaches like to refer to this as the “inner smile.” Lift the cheeks slightly up to find the right resonance and prevent your sound from getting caught in your mouth or nose. Having this openness allows air flow to move more freely and gives your voice more color and freedom.
How to Use Forbrain to Improve Diaphragmatic Singing
Forbrain is a bone conduction headset that offers real-time auditory feedback, making it easier to stay aware of your breath and vocal control while you sing.
When you’re working on how to sing from your diaphragm during your warm-ups or daily exercise routine, use Forbrain to get instant feedback on whether or not your throat is tensing up or your phrasing is uneven because of your lack of breath support.
In many ways, Forbrain can help you train more consistent airflow by letting you hear subtle changes in your voice that are often overlooked during regular practice. As such, it can prevent short-term fatigue during practice sessions.
Final Words
You don’t need a six-pack to learn how to sing from the stomach. The things that matter most are self-awareness and putting in consistent, focused practice.
Don’t push to reach notes or strain to get through long phrases. Track your breath control by recording yourself and using real-time feedback tools like Forbrain to sharpen your coordination. Breast support is one thing you can’t afford to go without as a singer if you want to have better tone, stamina, and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’m singing from the diaphragm?
You should feel outward expansion in your stomach and lower ribs as you inhale, not a rise in your shoulders or a puffing out feeling in your chest. Your tone should also feel more supported, and your voice will carry without strain.
How do I tell if my diaphragm is weak?
If you run out of air quickly, struggle to sustain long notes, or your pitch wavers, chances are your breath support system needs some work.
Is it better to sing from the throat or the diaphragm?
Always the diaphragm. Singing from the throat creates tension and can limit your range, not to mention put your vocal health at risk.
Reference List
Pickering, M., & Jones, J. F. (2002). The diaphragm: two physiological muscles in one. Journal of Anatomy, 201(4), 305–312. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00095.x
Leanderson, R., Sundberg, J., & von Euler, C. (1987). Role of diaphragmatic activity during singing: a study of transdiaphragmatic pressures. Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md.: 1985), 62(1), 259–270. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1987.62.1.259
Costa, C. B., Costa, L. H. C., Oliveira, G., & Behlau, M. (2011). Immediate effects of the phonation into a straw exercise. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 77(4), 461–465. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1808-86942011000400009
Figliolia, D., & Pasquarella, L. (n.d.). EXPERIMENTAL THESIS PROJECT. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://www.forbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Forbrain-project.pdf