How to Sing with Breath Support (What even is it?!)

[@djentlover]

This makes so much more sense than "sing from the stomach"! What is actually meant is "create enough force and resistance for the air pressure to build up within your body"

[@pianissimo369]

Yep .last time I checked I didn't have lungs in my stomach...or my pelvic floor as other teachers suggest 😂

[@waltdeeznuts]

This intro was so freaking good, loved the colours of the set as well :) top notch information as usual !

[@giannis_tar]

In my experience, when people talk about "support" they usually mean one of these things: Cord closure Reduced density in the high range Airflow control "Airflow control" is the true definition of "breath support"

[@LiTim17]

Top Note in the beginning was a F5 with vibrato that peaks at F#5🙂

[@abbye6082]

Shook

[@ИапГоревич]

My belting be like

[@damfhokage4993]

This is the best video on breath support I've ever watched. I've been singing for years and I never fully understood breath support. When I used to practice it with the farinelli exercise, the ssss, the zzzz, lip bubbles and so on, I never really understood what was happening. I practiced until I got it right but I was confused because I never really felt "support" when I sang. For that reason there were times I would push or over breath to feel something. Turns out my breath support became automatic due to my constant practice with the exercises!

[@yubii2559]

You're getting better and better at making youtube videos! What makes your teaching unique is how you clarify that there are multiple ways to do and understand various techniques yet leave us with something concrete that will make sense in our own singing experience. Seriously, I only watched a few of your videos but many other singing videos I previously watched suddenly made sense to me. It's like seeing the big picture. That's why I'm sure your channel will blow up. Keep up the good work!

[@devstruction]

exactly

[@michelepanarosa5281]

You have no idea how helpful this was to me. I suffer from Muscle Tension Dysphonia and I've been to numerous ENTs and Speech Pathologists. I've always lamented a lack of "pressure" as if the air just gushes out of my body. After watching this video it all made sense! My torso is just not working and I'm not allowing my vocal folds to close enough. THANK. YOU.

[@Tan12]

I've been singing for a long time and already do this stuff, but this is the first explanation I've ever heard that made me intuitively understand WHY I do what I do. I think that will probably help me do it even better so thank you very much!

[@babiekoala7643]

Super happy to see u back consistent on YT

[@kristophert541]

It is the best singing tutorial I have ever watched. I have been looking for this for over 15 years, finally, someone can explain the concept clearly. Thank you so much, Gregory!

[@sonofsollen2193]

Honestly thank you for lifting your shirt so we can see properly. It is so much easier for me to understand if I can SEE what is happening. No one else seemed willing to do that even though it seemed important to me. Your talk about force and pressure was also more straightforward and simple than I had seen explained elsewhere. I think a lot of musical terms could do with some change.

[@dbanksey216]

Oh my, watching online videos now for 8 months, and been doing it all wrong all this time, this video made me realise what I was doing wrong. Other videos have always made it sound like you have to tense down below and push and in pushing, I've been going outwards and tensing down below, when in fact, you are using your muscles to bring your air in and force it up through your vocal chords, hence the word Support, I so get it now, and there was an instant change in my voice, it was louder, fuller, didn't sound so compressed. Amazing video for me, no wonder I have always struggled.

[@dbanksey216]

Oh god, further reply as I am so happy, I got my mix as well, it was simply missing the support. This is hands down the best video on KZbin for me. I was in sort of a mix before, but it had no weight, I couldn't understand it, I could hit the mix notes and I've been frustrated for months because of this, trying to tense my stomach harder and harder as if I was trying to show a six pack, but not actually controlling it inwards to provide the support. Everything changed today, because when mixing now, I now feel a slight pressure at the top back of my mouth and boy does it come out loud and weighted now. At 51, being able to do what you did at the beginning of the intro, makes me very happy and plenty in the tank.

[@dbanksey216]

@@StudioWestLessons Thanks I will take a look, but what your video did here, was make me flip it the other way round. Now I've got it, all I've done today is just sing mixed notes all around the office lol. I've been trying songs as well, and can flip in and out of mix now. But there is another thing, its not only Mix that has benefited from this. My normal chest voice has become easier and a lot more stable and clear. What a great start to 2021, thankyou. When is the next Live Stream please, as don't want to miss it.

[@aribenjamin862]

I would looooooove a part 2 - Connecting this knowledge to actually holding and sustaining high belty notes etc. What does it mean when people say "You need more support"? Does it mean more breath and tension? More tension? More breath? And if I overcompress, how do I know? I have struggled my entire life with pain in my throat (vocal chords) when I sing, and specially when I belt high or when I talk. I have seen many different vocal therapists, I've been to a throat specialist, to the hospital to have it checked, but they don't find any issues. I've been singing since I was a child and always had the issue of pain. The songs I sing are always very demanding (read Muse, Nothing But Thieves, Queen etc), and I know I have the range for it as there are days when I sing without any issue, only to feel completely hoarse the day after etc. I truly wish I could find the answer to my issue somewhere, and the way you explain this here seems like great discovery! I tried visiting your website, but it seems to be down. Wish I could get in touch some other way. Cheers!

[@goti6539]

I’m actually somewhat doing it. This makes so much more sense then when people say sing from The stomach

[@Mayeru]

I came for 9:37 and stayed because of the helpful information.

[@calebmanheim550]

breath support is one of those terms like ¨sing from the diaphragm¨ that just means don't strain

[@Chuubie]

Finally! Explained in my learning style- like watching a “how things work” science show. I understand the parts & how all the parts connect so much better now. Ty!

[@davidhenriques9048]

well explained, an easy way to find this out is straw phonation or blowing a baloon, and just sing with that pressure feeling, low abs allow the air to rise while the solar plexus area resists that air, thats how i finally figured this out, the good thing is once you get it its really easy to tell the diference between just squeeking from the throat or using the abs, its like night and day, it really does feel like you are singing from the stomach, what got me off track about this was the whole relax, dont push ect talk, i understand what their saying now but you do have to push that exhale out, or else everything else is gonna strain and get tense not only your abs, your throat will cave in and you are left clueless about whats goin on, my expereince with this at least, its just like you mentioned its a force theres engagement and thats how you control stuff, its not just breathing in and thats it

[@samuelmagaziner8209]

Super grateful to have found your channel! You have a way of demystifying techniques and concepts that I have found quite confusing in the past or just weren’t explained well. Thank you for breaking things down so clearly while also keeping it entertaining.

[@CallMeGameGirl]

You seriously explain things the best about breathing I've ever heard. All these teachers just vaguely scrape the surface in comparison. I recently learned of pushing and engaging the breathing muscles vaguely. From watching an old live video of Brooke Allison (adams), when she was 10 performing this amazing cover most average adults can't even sing, and after she sang she explained how she sings so 'maturely' despite her age. And she said how he teacher taught her to 'push in' her stomach while singing. And that just opened up new info that most yourube teachers completely bypass. That same needed pressure you're talking about!

[@ronfender8101]

This young man is the best vocal teacher on the NET> !!!! and funny too.

[@TheRussianGenius]

Last part is very good, thank you

[@TheBritishActingCoach]

I like your chat about the varying opinions and use of the word "support" - I was speaking to an acting coaching client about this yesterday... A coach/director told them not to do a hand movement because it was too "theatrical"... (It wasn't!) It's just clearly that persons opinion about what is "theatrical". Appreciate this. I like that you're breaking it down as it can do damage. Thanks!

[@beloastropena7236]

Thank you for making sense of the concept most vocal teachers a messing with. It's only when I watched STUDIO WEST AND MICHAEL TRIMBLE channels I could start grasping the concept. I really really appreciate you.

[@Trayseee]

My vocal coach used an analogy about a part of breath support that has helped me more than I ever thought it would! I believe overall support is explained extremely well in this video. The analogy she used relates to the stance your body is in and the way breath support feels.. it feels like it does when you are taking a dump! 😅 I'm not trying to be silly I'm being serious it really helps! At least it did for me ... I think of my diaphragm being down and being relaxed when I think of support in order to control my breath - the pressure and amount of air. I used to be self-conscious of my stomach being poked out while singing.. but I had to get over it! 😁

[@ohkaiboon4893]

because of 12:26 I finally understand, why sometimes my breath support isn't strong enough. thank you for making such great content, please keep going, I will keep watching your video and have already subscribed your channel. :)

[@kenchen821]

This is the best comedy channel ever! Thank you for making me laugh so hard! Also I hope you make a video on how to close the cord without making your larynx rise up and larynx muscles tense. I think that is much much more difficult to acquire than breath control.

[@joeyemmanuel363]

wow. this is amazing. i've been singing my whole fucking life and you put things so simply and help me understand things I've never been able to! you are so gifted! thank you :))))

[@CalledtoPray]

THIS IS THE MOST HILARIOUSLY INFORMATIVE LECTURE!!

[@AJ-cf1ki]

Thank you for not only making my day better but also teaching it in a way that is so easy to practice alongside

[@alucard2.093]

Brooo Thank you so Much, I've finally Realized what was wrong when i was singing, Thanks so much!!

[@glennj2006]

the best teacher i’ve seen in youtube, Finally understand it😊

[@jenbarakat5145]

I feel like I've learnt more from two of your videos than from all my singing lessons. No one takes the time to fully explain how and why things work, so I won't even know if I am doing / not doing something, but this is really helpful. Thank you!

[@joeypetes7936]

Smashing this channel dude. Best vocal technique channel I’ve ever come across. Such a straight forward, and clear way of breaking down how singing works. Love it!

[@madisonlevimusic]

Hands down best explanation I've seen. Joins all the dots. Cheers!

[@abbye6082]

My teachers have been chiding me about breath support since the fourth grade, so thanks for the reminder😂 they literally make me plié or do plank while singing sometimes

[@BrandoBaggins23]

How the crap is your channel not blowing up?!?! This was all really helpful, and I’m loving how clearly you communicate the different ideas and techniques. ☺️

[@omorfaruqakib965]

Amzing, the content and the clarity is just amazing!

[@pedroph123]

Very good exposition. Maybe one of the best on KZbin. There is a school that says that you should "push out" while making sound. But this pushing out is not made by the torso itself, but by chord closure. Many people are taught that holding your breath is the proper conception of breath support. It isn't. In most levels of inhaling volume, your natural collapsing will not suffice to create the proper breath pressure to the desired phonation. In different levels of inhaling volume, you have different elastic forces acting. The secret is to know that. That's why, for me, is easier to control my airflow when singing mostly with residual air. I don't need to hold anything, only expel air because there is no exhalling elastic forces involved.

[@pedroph123]

@@StudioWestLessons "It seems to me the belly in way lets me get a high degree of refinement of breath pressure". That is also my case! Because it is just a straightforward action, it is not implied any kind of control of the "holding", which I think is much more difficult indeed.

[@thejmw200]

I actually really like this analogy, that definitely would help me explain what we think support would be in a sense. But I dont usually call it support more so imo I use volume but still same thing just different terms lmao

[@WellbredNfedKembleTV]

What was that ultra coloratura note at 3:54?? Blew me away ...no pun...XoXo

[@bwright7690]

You're so good at explaining all of this and you sing amazingly by the way!

[@nonitobernabe4617]

Yeah he sings awesome So nice. Im here because my voice is straining when I try to hit high notes and I don't really know how to support my breath like duh Im just yelling and my family shout at me because Im yelling. Sorry my english is bad.

[@joshuaalmeida1628]

I haven’t seen your videos since you were in a dorm I think or maybe a shared apartment? So this is quite the upgrade my friend! I always learn something I never knew in your videos.

[@Rico-x2g]

I like that whistle note

[@AliColak]

the thumbnail, video grading, and flow is amazing greg west!

[@everton7361]

The youtube vocal comunity needs to see this video

[@lesterguitarist]

Best Video on Support in all KZbin

[@jarachoi2961]

Best explanation so far. Thank you po !!!!

[@Samtar]

diggin your videos man! thanks for what you do.

[@KDmadness18]

Good video but I kinda wish there was a summary at the end to clear it all up. So what should I do to practice breath support? Squeeze my abs more when I sing? Also what about the part of resisting with my vocal folds? I don't wanna start adding unnecessary tension

[@Elhombreperdido]

Good analogy! Do you work the support stuff with your students? If so, do you have a favorite exercise to improve voice support? Working with fricatives? Maintaining an "s" sound as long as possible? My vocal coach is a certified CVT teacher and she always insists that I must improve my support. We always start the class with a few minutes of support exercises. (I think she is right, but exercises are bored :))

[@Elhombreperdido]

@@StudioWestLessons Great. Thank you very much for the response. You are right, it depends on the student, there are people who have naturally (or as is your case due to the practice of swimming) a more adequate breathing control than others (as is my case) I think I understand what you're saying with the SOVT. When you make a "zzz" the "s" must be present, if there are interruptions it is a bad sign. The same with the "vvv", the "f" must be present. It would be great if you could make a video on this subject. In all KZbin there is no one explaining CVT like you. Cathrine Sadolin should pay you a commission for the promotion. 😂

[@nathanr2912]

Wowee! Found you through Ivan and Rockvox. This is way helpful. I feel like I’m blazing with power after this.

[@Crystal-mv2ie]

Omg this is just the video I was looking for... this is so helpful thank you!!

[@billdemaine1382]

That was a really good way of explaining that. Thank you

[@Waevform]

Wow dude you rock. I just found you from this video and I really enjoy how you explained this. I struggle a lot with thus

[@beatsforyoubeatsforyou]

I subscribed with all my heart

[@l_ogaaa]

the analogy was very good

[@h2obusking]

Appreciation!! Finally someone who can explain it so clearly!! You’re amazing 🤩

[@lukasd1081]

Great video ! Your chanel really is going to grow !

[@etrnl.sunshine]

This video was just simply amazing. Thank you.

[@G..G..]

What an amazing video. Thank you.

[@selda_KZ]

This is the best video for real👍✨💙 Now i know i knew how to sing correctly but other coaches just made me confused!

[@diogoxavier759]

finally got it bro, thanks

[@Dimdv99]

Love you setup and lights!!

[@lequyduong2092]

Love it!!! Would you do any video about vocal placement and nasal resonance in the future, those are very interesting topic?

[@inigobj]

Amazing vid. Thanks a lot. Really helpful

[@ignacioperezartaso9493]

sos un capo, buenísimo el video

[@adrianbiber5340]

Great teacher thank you 🎉

[@alex-my8hp]

‘Tone’ is used in a similar way for classical piano.

[@pushkahlon4340]

Great vid!

[@JonQuerequincia]

That whistle??? Like damn!

[@DJIncendration]

3:54 Wow! I can't go that high yet! I'd really like to.

[@purestatic]

This is beyond amazing. Well presented and said.

[@mdvs42]

Damn! you are awesome! How someone as young as you are, learn so much so quick?

[@miguelsaavedra2022]

Just by listening to the intro, I know I'm at the right place.

[@JohnDoe-ee4pq]

Hey Greg! Can you please make a video on how to add effects / texture/layers to voice to sound romantic or sad PS: Im not asking for vocal edits in audio software rather adding texture naturally by placement of larynx and opening of mouth.

[@shm2594]

Thank you!

[@trishoaletha5468]

thank you for this

[@juanma.miguez]

Hey Greg! Sometimes when I start going up in pitch I feel kind of a rasp in my throat (the sound does not come clear, it's like the false vocal folds are engaged). I think it might be a little extra abs pressure, but I don't know. I feel that the sound is in my throat though I feel the support working

[@sgtasapmusic]

👀👀👀👀 The Devil was a Angel of Harmonics Holy McFuxxery this is Awesome

[@irenapvp5365]

Dude, you are so good! Fantastic, actually!!!

[@clementnade972]

4:45 it’s like trying to lift something heavy, but you try to be quiet exhaling?

[@vladt0808]

If more cord closure (because of the higher breath pressure) doesn’t that strain your voice to reach the higher notes? How can I have more closure without straining/squeezing my voice? Thanks

[@shastablue221]

I can't get my lower ab muscles to bulge outward like you in the last few minutes of the video. If I strengthen the muscles right below the sternum, it always contracts and goes in :( if I try to expland my muscles I can't control my breath.

[@yeetotheha7077]

8:35 excersise start

[@DannyRodeck]

Awesome explanation! Is most of your teaching based con CVT? What do you think about Estill Voice Training? pd: subscribed!

[@scaredtosharemynameonthein1578]

His intro was so extra but I love it

[@EthanielOgnam]

You cured my degenerative conjunctivitis with that intro alone.

[@faheemhussayn6146]

Can you stop doing the intro that way? Kinda burns us with envy.. jk.. Awesome stuff man!

[@hissuwie]

okay so what breath pressure do u recommend for strong vibrato on sustained note?

[@krissbeyonna8918]

Hi，studio west. I have questions to ask you, that is why high note is required more air pressure?

[@krissbeyonna8918]

@@StudioWestLessons thankyou so much！

[@ปลาทูเรนเจอร์]

Feel as same as velocity and acceleration in definition.

[@husseintammam4691]

Hey, I'm very new to CVT and singing in general and I'm very interested in developing my neutral mode. You talk about increasing the air pressure, which makes sense, especially with increasing volume. But what about holding the air back? I haven't read the CVT book but the online resources seems to focus more on reducing/controlling air pressure. Personally, I found that the stronger hiss example you showed to be very easy but the quieter one was much more difficult. I've been experimenting now with holding back my air and I could speak in a really quiet volume without being breathy which was really cool, but also I found that higher notes were much more comfortable on my throat when I held the air back. I have three questions about support and I would really appreciate an answer! 1) My understanding of support now is learning to use the torso muscles to either stabilize, increase or decrease the air pressure at the vocal folds and learning the different pressures required to sing with a specific volume, pitch, amount of air in your lungs and the level of vocal fold compression. Is that about right?. 2) Does non-breathy neutral generally require holding back more air compared to the metallic modes? If so, does it require less air pressure simply because the volume is lower? 3) Do you need more air pressure as you go higher up in pitch or less and why? (Assuming the volume is constant)

[@husseintammam4691]

​@@StudioWestLessons Wow thanks for the reply! I've started to notice some of what you've been saying through practicing. It seems scary to use so much support and push the air out! It is exactly like you said ""a deceptive amount of support" without going into falsetto. Okay, that's really good to know,. I'm going experiment a lot more with more volume and more support. I think I was a bit afraid and holding back my volume/support with higher notes. Wow, I never even considered that pitch is party controlled by breath pressure! That's actually amazing!! Is that why it feels more natural to sing louder and with more support when going higher and why the modes have different volume ranges with different pitches? If so, I guess I've kinda been shooting myself in the foot by holding back when going higher hahaha. Wow thank you for the detailed answers! I seriously appreciate it man. I struggled to find specifics when it comes to support, and this literally answered questions I had, questions I didn't know I had and corrected some complete misconceptions that I had. take care man.

[@tomguarente]

hey greg been going through all your videos and loving the information - a quick question - after experimenting with mix voice and sliding through my range, ive noticed i get 'stuck' at my top note in mix/chest (around a C5) if im using a lot of vocal cord compression. trying to go any higher and my voice will very clearly break into falsetto instead of doing a smooth transition. i can easily transition between chest and falsetto, using no compression around E4 (where my passagio is), sometimes lower, im a baritone. but as soon as i go past my passagio, i feel very locked in and find it hard to navigate to falsetto easily. any advice on this..

[@happychoices4156]

This is real material

[@chestiitari9531]

Hold the breth on the ssss 😮 pff genius

[@JDDGYoutube]

Is vocal adduction and onset the same as what you tell us regarding vocal folds(the resistor)? I think it's starting to make sense, I've been doing the onsets without the proper support from my torso hence why my voice sound weak because there is no enough air flow to begin with. These two work hand in hand together.

[@StudioWestLessons]

The adduction of the vocal folds IS the resistance to the breath yes. The more you try and push the air out of the body by compressing the lungs the more effort is required to maintain the vocal folds adduction. That effort is in the ADDUCTOR muscles which control the adduction. Onsets are how you start the note, which can be done in different ways with differing levels of adduction. For a strong voice, it's not more air FLOW that you need it's more air PRESSURE. You must resist the flow of air with the vocal folds :)

[@flaze3]

Great video! :)

[@alessiobassguitar]

Was that c5 in chest or head voice? You’ve held it amazingly 😮

[@johnphua7919]

This was a really good video ! Tysm ! But how do i apply the ssss practice into my singing ? Because when i make the sss sound my mouth is shaped in such a way where only a small stream of air is allowed to come out but if I try to sing vowels , it feels like a chunk of air is coming out of my mouth and that kind of air pressure no longer exist. So how do i continue to exert the same air pressure while changing the shape of my mouth ?

[@StudioWestLessons]

You may try to migrate from a 'ss' to a 'zz' and then to an 'ee' sound and then from there to a more open vowel. See if that helps :)