How to Learn Circular Breathing

Practice circular breathing every day and before long you will be able to play music continuously without missing a beat.

Step 1: Practice breathing with puffed cheeks
Puff out your cheeks, and then breathe normally through your nose to get the feel of breathing with your cheeks extended.

Step 2: Blow air out lips while breathing in
Puff your cheeks and create a small hole between your lips. Control the muscles in your cheeks to allow air to exit slowly through the hole while you breathe in and out through your nose.

Step 3: Use a straw to mimic an instrument
Place a straw in a glass of water, puff your cheeks, and squeeze the top of the straw between your lips.

Step 4: Empty your lungs
Inhale deeply through your nose and then exhale through your mouth at a constant pace until you empty your lungs. Keep the bubbles in the water as regular as possible.

Tip
Fill your mouth with water and push it out in a stream using your tongue and cheek muscles. Next, breathe in and out through your nose while making the stream.

Step 5: Close your throat
Repeat step four but, before your lungs empty, fill your cheeks and mouth with air and inhale quickly and deeply through your nose. Close your throat off with the back of your tongue, and continue to exhale.

Step 6: Switch between mouth and lungs
Breathe in through your nose to replenish your lungs with air while continuously blowing out the air stored in your cheeks and mouth. Switch to pushing air out from your lungs; then close your throat and expel the air in your mouth while you inhale.

Tip
Lay aside the straw and start practicing with your instrument as soon as you feel ready to improve your circular breathing skills.

Step 7: Practice holding pitch with a mouthpiece and barrel
Practice holding a steady pitch using only your mouthpiece and barrel. Blow air with your cheeks alternately puffed and unpuffed. Then introduce circular breathing.

Tip
Mask the "bump" that is commonly heard when switching between lung air and mouth air by transitioning during a quick series of musical notes.

Step 8: Add the rest of the instrument
Incorporate your entire wind instrument into your circular breathing practice. Focus on mastering the technique before worrying about making a perfect sound.

Did You Know?
A U.S. postal worker known as 'The Puffy Cheek Bandit' pleaded guilty to robbing 27 banks in five different states.

[willyj]

Thanks, this improved my piano playing a lot. It was kind of hard to sustain notes before I tried this.

[bdmjl]

This isn't just for clarinets. Once I was doing an application for an honor band and for my "additional talents" portion, I put that I could circular breathe, and later, while I was talking to the director at the event, he said it was the only reason he invited me.

[Ginacula]

As a guitar player, it actually helped me a lot. Now friends ask me for the infinite bubble trick instead of playing guitar.

[ifergot]

I did this once, involuntarily, after falling down the stairs on my back. I just sat at the bottom breathing in and out at the same time for like 30 seconds. After a few years, I started to think maybe this never happened because it sounded too weird. At least now I know it's possible.

[redxcalibur]

As a aspiring pianist, this has really help me pursue my carreer!
Amazing tutorial 10/10

[BeMyBookiePlz]

As a marching band, trumpet player; this improved my abilities immensely. Allowing me to march and play without losing breath, along with my quality while playing. Thanks!

[eduardoayala]

Damn, playing wind insturments really feel like airbending.
Thanks for the video, gotta practice now.

[valeroodle]

Why am I even watching this? I play the viola.

[CalebMartinPercussion]

The best explanation of circular breathing I've ever heard is this: try to smell your breath without cupping your hands.

[KnThSelfThSelfBTrue]

This was really hard with orthodontic gear. I learned this in about five minutes I'm so proud!

[iSchiquita]

Words cannot describe how much this helped me, i have been practicing this now for 2 months, and i can confirm my bass skills improved a lot.

[KhanggiTanka]

What has the bandit story to do with circular breathing

[XenoGuru]

I've been practicing this method to learn to play the didgeridoo. It's a slow process but I can hold tones a little longer each day

[llllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIl]

thanks for this video. As a deep sea diver, after learning this technique ill never drown no more

[camarqu]

His face in this video... The entire time he looks like he;s trying to push out a shit that's just too big.

[owenthompson]

I don’t even play an instrument it just looks cool to learn this

[stefinit]

THANK YOU!!! MY PIANO NOW IS SO MUCH MORE IMPROVED

[outrageousalan]

As a long time drummer, and learning cyclic breathing, I find I can practice drums for hours without ever running out of breath.

[JustaRegularPCGamer]

I do this and I didn't even know this was a thing. I just figured out one day I could blow out constantly.

[plasteredd]

As a drummer, this really helped me play the triangle!