Singing And Playing Guitar... Breath Issues
Singers who play guitar sometimes have breath issues. Most of the time, especially if the singer has been playing for a while, they typically sing better with the instrument than without. However, sometimes it's the opposite. Singers are all so interestingly unique!
I just got a great email inquiry about this: Andrea wrote...
I had a question about taking breaths when I sing. I noticed when I sing and play my guitar I seem to want to gasp for air versus when I sing with a CD. Do you have any suggestions or advice you could give me?
Here's what I told her:
Great question, and great awareness on your part. This is actually a common problem among people who play and sing. You are most probably hunched, with rounded back, over your guitar when you sing while playing.Try this: play your guitar while standing or sitting on a stool against a wall. Put your heel (if standing) or butt (if sitting) and your head against the wall. When you play and sing like this, it should make you feel much taller and more open in your chest. Be sure and don't freeze in this position, but keep your head against the wall.If that works for you, then practice that way until you get used to 'wearing' your guitar rather than 'cradling' it while you sing. Keep your spine tall and flexible, and your head balanced on your tailbone. Let me know how this works for you.
If you are a singer who plays guitar or other instrument and want to schedule a vocal lesson to clarify and get a little deeper into the practical issues that may be limiting you, let me know. In office, by phone or Skype, sometimes all it takes is a little tweak to make a huge difference for your voice.
Labels: breath issues, Judy Rodman, singing and playing guitar
posted by Judy Rodman
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8:07 AM
3 Comments :
At May 6, 2015 at 2:53 PM ,
Kent Clark said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
At July 16, 2015 at 6:11 AM ,
Anna Schafer said...
However, sometimes it's the opposite. Singers are all so interestingly unique! Dave C
At July 16, 2015 at 8:05 AM ,
Judy Rodman said...
You are so right! A subject for another post soon... sometimes people who sing well and confidently with a guitar don't sing nearly as well without their instrument. This, of course, happens in the studio a lot with veteran performers. There are fixes... Thanks for the idea... new post coming...!
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