Now that we've covered proper breathing technique for singing (click HERE), let's move on to discussing when to take a breath during a song."
When to take a breath during a song
Breath timing in singing varies based on factors like melody, pacing of music, and genre.
Taking a breath during a song can also be influenced by the natural pauses between phrases or lines of lyrics.
One way to determine when to take a breath during a song is by checking the breath marks in the sheet music or score
Although grammar is important, in singing, taking a breath at a moment that feels right can often produce a more emotive and expressive performance.
While classical music has stricter rules for breath timing, contemporary genres tend to be more flexible and allow for more creativity and personal style in when to take a breath.
Below are some example from some popular singers.
We’ve Only Just Begun (Carpenters)
“ (breathe) We've only just begun to live (breathe) White lace and promises (breathe) A kiss for luck and we're on our way”
Karen Carpenter finished her lines grammatically before taking a breath, even if there were long notes, like in the word 'begun,' where she could have shorten it to sneak in a breath.
Writing’s On The Wall (Sam Smith)
“(breathe) How do I live? (breathe) How do I breathe? (breathe) When you're not here I'm suffocating (breathe) I want to feel love, (breathe) run through my blood (breathe) Tell me is this where I give it all up? (breathe) For you (breathe) I have to risk it all (breathe) Cause the writing's on the wall”
In addition to taking breaths at the beginning of each musical phrase, Sam Smith also took breaths in the middle of musical phrases when there was a long note that could be slightly shortened to allow for a breath without compromising the overall sound.
As you can see from the examples above, there are different approaches to breathing depending on the context and musical style. The most important thing is to ensure that your breathing sounds natural and does not interrupt the flow of the music. Gasping for breath is generally not ideal.
If you need more guidance on proper breathing techniques, please check out my blog post on “How To Breathe For Better Singing”
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