Best Breathing Techniques For Contemporary Singing

Without breath there is no sound, so I think it’s fair to say that breathing “correctly” is quite important in singing. But what exactly that looks like is quite different from what most singers have learned over the years… Why? Because most breathing techniques that are taught still to this day are rooted in classical singing techniques - which is a completely different style than what we’re going for here.

So I sat down with Coach Emily (contemporary trained) and Coach Bri (classically trained) to look at the differences in breathing for different styles and how singers can find the best ways for them to breathe.

More Is Not Better

Yes, your lungs matter. But no, bigger doesn’t always mean better. Unless your lung capacity is somehow much smaller than normal (through illness or injury for example) you do not need to work on expanding your lungs for contemporary singing. Yes, in classical singing you’ll sometimes find really long phrases so you have to train your lungs to get more air in. But in contemporary singing you’ll never find that issue.

The reason why you might feel like you’re running out of air is not because your lung capacity is too small… it’s either because you didn’t get a good quality breath in or you’re not managing the air you have efficiently. To learn more about exhalation, breath management and support, check out this post.

Also, just make sure that in general you’re not over breathing. You can over breathe in two ways:

Too Much At Once: Breathing in more air than needed for the phrase

Too Frequently: Taking breaths everywhere.

Always keep the phrase you’re about to sing in mind and only inhale as much as you’ll need for that phrase. Having too much breath will make controlling your voice a lot harder and you’re more likely to run out of breath because of that.

Nose vs Mouth Breathing

As with anything in singing, there is no one right way to breathe for everyone. Some singers like to breathe through the nose, others through the mouth and some prefer a combination of the two.

Instead of telling you how you should breathe, let me share some of the pros and cons of each so that you can pick which one works best for you and the specific song you’re working on.

Nose Breathing:

👍 Is not as drying

👍 Sends air lower for a low breath

👍 Naturally tension free

👎 Takes a long time to get a full breath in

Mouth Breathing:

👍 Takes less time to get a full breath

👍 More control over larynx position

👍 Often feels more natural to do in a singing context

👎 Feels more drying

4 Ways Of Breathing

While most singers have heard to always “breathe low”, this is not always the best way to breathe for everyone. In contemporary vocal coaching, we differentiate between 4 different types of breathing.

Clavicular Breath

This is basically a high chest breath - the thing that most coaches will tell you to never do, though it can be very helpful in certain situations. It usually keeps your larynx higher (great for high belting and high notes), a quick catch breath or if you’re wearing a tight corset and there’s no space for you to breathe low. Quick PSA: A clavicular breath doesn’t mean that you’re lifting your shoulders - it just means your chest rises.

Thoracic Breath

You can think of this as a 360 expansion in your rib cage. Your chest will rise up a bit, your ribs will go out and your back will extend backwards. In general, this type of breath still feels quite high in the torso.

Abdominal Breath

This is your typical belly breath and the type of breath most singers are told is “good” as it is a low breath. You’ll feel your belly expand out, which means your abs have to be relaxed for this type of breath. Because this is a low breath, you’ll also experience a laryngal pull, meaning your larynx lowers. I personally don’t like this type of breathing for myself at all, as I feel like I can get barely any air in and it feels uncomfortable, but some really like this type of breath.

Appoggio Breath

This is a combination of the three ways to breathe, giving you the fullest breath due to maximum expansion.

Which kind of breath works best will be different from singer to singer and even from song to song! Play around with all of them and see which kind of breath is serving you the most in each situation. But know, there isn’t just one right way to breathe - just the way that feels best to you.

Your Body Already Knows

Remember, you’ve been breathing for however many years you’ve been alive - your body knows what to do! No need to overcomplicate it when you sing.

Want to see it in action?

Watch the full demo for practical breath training tips, playful exercises, and how to bring it all together without overthinking.

🎧 Click here to watch now.

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