DukeBerryman
53 posts
May 26, 2013
10:52 AM
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This is just an endorsement of belly breathing, and how it relates to harmonica playing.
Here's how I do it: Close your mouth - exhale thru your nose, and then push out your stomach using the muscles below your belly button. Air will be sucked into your nose.
You are not inhaling, your chest does not move. Push out your belly and hold it there. Are your muscles spasming? Do you feel like a little kid who's about to cry? Good - you are doing it right, and giving those muscles a work out.
Relax your belly muscles, and the air will be forced out of your nose. Relax and repeat. Repeat 3 times and then stop and don't do anything - let your belly take over your breathing for you.
Belly breathing is the way I get air in and out of the harmonica, and is the reason I am never out of breath. I also exercise these muscles by getting a lot of walking, and using a stand-up workstation. Sitting does not help!
Use belly breathing everywhere. Shut your mouth (why is your mouth open anyway?), breathe thru your nose, and let your belly do the work. Great in the car and while watching tv.
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Duke Berryman - Chicago blues, harmonica, guitar
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The Iceman
883 posts
May 26, 2013
4:02 PM
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This is the correct and natural way to breathe...just watch a sleeping baby or dog.
We all started this way. It is as we grew that we started to incorporate bad habits. (Mine was the gym teacher in grade school that had us line up and "INHALE...shoulders back. EXHALE....shoulders forward)
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The Iceman
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Frank
2442 posts
May 26, 2013
5:21 PM
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Nick, is this you on the moped, wearing a thong and a cape :)
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tmf714
1776 posts
May 26, 2013
6:16 PM
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It is refered to a diaphragmatic breathing.
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DukeBerryman
57 posts
May 26, 2013
6:18 PM
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@tmf714 Helps with hiccups, too.
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Duke Berryman - Chicago blues, harmonica, guitar
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harmonicanick
1929 posts
May 27, 2013
12:48 AM
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@Frank
Right on, but my Spandex suit is great for profile shots!
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tmf714
1777 posts
May 27, 2013
5:43 AM
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@shbamac-nope. wrong.
There is only one kind-the kind where your belly expands.
If your ribcage is moving-I am speaking upper ribcage,your doing it incorrectly.
Check out Sugar Ray Norcia sometime-Kim Wilson too-just the belly moves-not he ribcage.
Last Edited by tmf714 on May 27, 2013 5:43 AM
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shbamac
331 posts
May 27, 2013
6:21 AM
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tmf, sorry but you don't know what you are talking about on this one. Just watching someone breath doesn't mean they are breathing correctly. Nor will it teach you anything about diaphragmatic breathing. Yes, it is more easy to belly breath will playing the harp. and there's nothing wrong with it. I've been teaching people how to breath for 16 years. There are two kinds of diaphragmatic breathing. most people only know or have ever hread of the belly type. If you only belly breath you will develop the above mentioned problems, not that you may ever know. But they will be there. In the even that something happens to you that accentuates the problem, then you will certainly know.
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Frank
2446 posts
May 27, 2013
7:30 AM
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Nick, you crack me up, thanks for enduring my kidding around - I was hoping you'd get a laugh outta that feller...He actually does ride around the city like that :O
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mr_so&so
676 posts
May 27, 2013
10:20 AM
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I was taught proper breathing by an opera singer and she does diaphragmatic breathing by relaxing her abdominal muscles to initiate the in breath. The tip to exhale first is a good one because you exhale with the diaphragm. Then when you relax the abdominals and diaphram, you automatically breath in. Apparently, if you lie on your back you automatically breathe this way. I'm not a professional or expert in this, so I'm quite willing to be corrected.
@shbamac I was unaware of any physical problems with breathing this way while standing. If you have more info on the ribcage method, I'd appreciate it. And I often play harmonica while walking and can do that while walking quite briskly now. Do you have any comment on the goodness, or badness of that practice?
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DukeBerryman
59 posts
May 27, 2013
12:00 PM
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@mr_so&so Yes, when I relax, the belly or diaphram seems to take over automatically. Then happens after a nice long exhale. In fact, when people tell me to "take a deep breath and relax", I close my mouth and do an exhale thru my nose. Then I relax, and wait for the diaphram to take over.
I also do this when I have butterflys in my stomach before I perform. Helps prevent hyperventilating.
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Duke Berryman - Chicago blues, harmonica, guitar
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tmf714
1778 posts
May 27, 2013
12:09 PM
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@shbamac-Im calling BS on that.
After 25 years of running marathons and 5 and 10 k races,racing motocross and mountain bikes using my method,I would say it's the only way,the method I described. I also have used my method for harmonica playing all that while as well.
But if you wont takemy word,ask any yoga or alexander technique instructor.
You would neeed to back your claim with medical information.
Last Edited by tmf714 on May 27, 2013 12:10 PM
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DukeBerryman
60 posts
May 27, 2013
12:22 PM
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Btw, I first learned about belly breathing from the teachings of Taoism, and they specifically mention returning one's breath to that of a child as part of "sitting zazen" which is like meditating. The point is that a baby knows how to breath instinctively and we have to be reminded.
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Duke Berryman - Chicago blues, harmonica, guitar
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Kingley
2690 posts
May 27, 2013
12:42 PM
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Belly breathing and diaphragmatic breathing are not the same thing. Belly breathing is dangerous and can cause hernias and other problems. When utilised correctly the belly does indeed expand during diaphragmatic breathing, but does not overly extend the abdominal walls. Anyone who is forcing their stomach out is not doing diaphragmatic breathing correctly. They are belly breathing and I'd advise them to stop before they injure themselves. One of the best ways to learn the technique of diaphragmatic breathing is by taking some lessons with a vocal coach. The very first lessons from good vocal coaches are all focused on breathing correctly.
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shbamac
334 posts
May 27, 2013
1:23 PM
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Another one that is good.
http://www.yogaanatomy.org/2005/the-case-for-the-3-d-diaphragm/
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mr_so&so
680 posts
May 27, 2013
2:57 PM
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Thanks for those links, shbamac.
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tmf714
1779 posts
May 27, 2013
3:13 PM
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$95.00-damn . I learned for free from Rupert Oysler.
Well-not really-I bought a custom harp from him,and than we chatted one evening,which included breathing and the alexander technique.
Last Edited by tmf714 on May 27, 2013 3:14 PM
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The Iceman
885 posts
May 27, 2013
3:34 PM
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Speaking of breathing, there is something called "square breathing".
It is the process of inhaling, pausing, exhaling and pausing. A "square" has 4 equal sides, so each of the four above steps is done for the same amount of time.
I prefer breathing from the diaphragm...so, I will inhale slowly and evenly until there is no more muscle to move (15 - 20 seconds). Then I pause for the same amount of time. (By pausing, I mean to just hold the musculature in my diaphragm easily from moving - not closing off my throat or anything like that).
Then I will slowly and evenly exhale for that same time element, which pretty much eliminates all the air from my lungs...now here is the hard part that takes practice....pausing after exhale for that same time limit.
To the novice, that last phase seems to bring on a feeling of panic or suffocation. The body is not used to pausing after expelling all the air in the lungs. However, this is something that can be overcome with a bit of serious practice. The panic is mentally induced and its a great discipline to eliminate that mental negative feeling from this exercise.
I wouldn't start with 20 seconds being each side of your "square", but you can work up to that over time.
The important and valuable lessons are to be learned "between your breaths"...in other words, during that pause.
One can even discover that this is where God dwells, or whatever you believe to be a universal power. In meditation, this is where the "answers" lay. Here is where you work on quieting your mind (especially once you eliminate that panic feeling during the exhale pause).
This is the discipline that the yogi's use to survive being buried in an air tight box with very little air for their demonstrations...breathing once a minute or less.
I've sure learned a lot over the years between my breaths...sometimes this is where inspiration lives, too.
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The Iceman
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groyster1
2241 posts
May 27, 2013
5:45 PM
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I still have not mastered throat vibrato....and I know its because of the breathing technique....
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BronzeWailer
1001 posts
May 27, 2013
6:05 PM
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Interesting thread. I don't have much experience in "proper" breathing but recently started singing lessons. My teacher taught me epigastric exercises. You puff air through your nose, say half a dozen times (like a dog panting (if it panted through its nose) until it's all gone, then relax. Air gushes into your diaphragm automatically. I also do it saying the letters 'f' (hard) and 's' (a bit easier). Seems like a good exercise.
Leads to a good way to take in a lot of air quickly when you are singing.
My YouTube
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barbequebob
2277 posts
May 28, 2013
10:03 AM
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I highly recommend going to a vocal coach for breathing lessons because they DO apply to harp as well, plus you often will learn relaxation techniques because it's extremely important for playing harmonica as well.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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