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?
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.
Anna Schafer says
However, sometimes it's the opposite. Singers are all so interestingly unique! Dave C
Judy Rodman says
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…!