How Do You Breathe From You Diaphragm?

Question:

How Do You Breathe From You Diaphragm?

HELP! I never really knew this, but I don't breathe correctly when I sing, and when I sing a high note, it sounds all forced out! Please tell me how to breathe properly with my diaphragm!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: First, who told you that you don't breathe correctly? If it is a teacher, start with them. They will be able to watch you and encourage you.
Now, for what I've learned through my own struggle...
Breathing isn't just an in-out thing--it's an all around thing, i.e., not only your stomach but your back will expand if you're really breathing for all you're worth. Sound weird? Yeah, especially at first. But it helps to visualize expanding your abdomen in a full circle.
Another visual that has been helpful for me is to think of breathing all the way to my feet--filling up my legs and abdomen with air. Singing is, after all, a full-body experience that should engage more than just the throat and chest.
Try laying down while you're singing. I had a group of highschool girls try this; all of them were breathing from the chest-up rather than from the diaphragm down. At first they found it really difficult to sing from the floor, but after several minutes they got used to it. When they stood back up, the difference was immediately noticeable.
There are some who would advocate taking yoga, Pilates, or martial arts to help with your breathing. While I've never taken these, I was a dancer for many years and I did notice a considerable difference in my breathing after I stopped taking classes. Consider it as a possibility, anyway.
Sometimes putting a hand on your stomach to feel it move when you breath in is helpful.

It is important to realize that your diaphragm should not only move when you breathe in, but when you breathe out. Try taking a deep breath into your stomach and then pulsing the breath out on quarter notes while hissing ("hss-sss-sss-sss," etc.) With each pulse, you should feel your stomach contracting.

I guess an ironic thing to remember is that shallow breathing wears out your voice, and deep breathing wears out your stomach! If you've never sung correctly, your stomach will probably hurt the first few times you try these things. That's okay. Don't push too hard; you'll just get frustrated with yourself. If you love to sing, however, learning to breathe will make it just that much more enjoyable.