How to find your singing belt - belting techniques for singers

HI Guys!! Madeleine Harvey here! Thanks for joining me on my channel today! If you like today’s video, be sure to give it a thumbs up or click the subscribe button below! I’d love to see you here more often!

3:52 =whimper
7:16 = hey hey
7:56 =hey heeeeey
9:45 =baby cry
13:30 =mom
15:13 =v. fry

Today, we’re gonna talk about Belting!!! Yay!!! It’s that kind of full voice, expansive singing that everyone wants to do! Today! We’re gonna get in there, and activate it! So by the time you’re done watching today’s video, you’re gonna belt!

What is belting?? Hmmmm…. Everybody has got a different definition for it. Some say, it’s extending chest voice really high. I don’t think so. My definition of belting is it’s singing loudly with energy, great resonance and a deep chord connection. Dynamic balance. It feels super similar to speaking. So if it feels really simple, like you’re just talking on pitch – You got it!!! So today, we’re gonna break down 4 areas to check in with when you start belting. Remember how I said that it feels really similar to speaking? It should. But it shouldn’t feel like you’re yelling or screaming on pitch. That is too much air being forced through the throat and mouth resulting in a high larynx placement. So the first place we’re gonna check in with is our belly.

#1 Support from underneath
Close your mouth. Put one hand on your belly and whimper. Feel that contraction of the diaphragm below? We’re gonna do this 5 times nice and slow almost like a sit up. We’re gonna feel a steady contraction of the ab muscles lifting the diaphragm for that awesome support underneath. When you’re belting, it’s absolutely crucial to feel the support from underneath. If that support stops, you’re gonna pinch off at the throat. If the air moves to quickly, it forces too much air pressure under the chords. So the air should always feel slow when you first start working with the belt.

#2 Bounce the sound
All signing is acoustic. Meaning the sound vibrations bounce around everywhere on the inside. To activate a type of sound, we’re going to concentrate on one specific area. The belt is somewhat concentrated within the mouth. Again, very similar to natural speech. But you’re not going to push the sound out of your mouth. That’s yelling. You’re gonna bounce that sound off the hard pallet. Try saying the word – Hey! Feel it forward, bouncing off of the middle of the mouth. Feel that little contraction underneath? Good! Try quick little taps – now slow it down.

#3 Add the cry
The proper name for this resonance is called pharyngeal. It’s a bouncing of the resonance off of the nasal pharynx. That’s a super cool concave area where throat meets nose. This is where you’re gonna get that expansive bold sound. And this is the area you want to bounce off of as we ascend higher in pitch. Think baby cry – but keep it centered in speech. Hey! Like someone took your toy!

#4 engage the chord
Belting is just like speech, but times ten! Meaning it’s larger than life! It’s expressive and dynamic but also needs balance. When folks start to belt, they get too close to the yelling zone. This makes the belt super ridged and tightens the chords. As the pitch gets higher and higher, there is gripping on the chord to remain consistent with tone. When that pressure can no longer hold, the chords slip and relieve the pressure and that breaking sound is the result. Remember to keep your speech super flexible, and melodic. Play with lots of pitch on a medium level dynamic. Reading aloud of just being crazy with your natural speech will reinforce strength within the laryngeal muscles.

So there you have it folks! 4 great tips for finding your belt!
1. Support underneath
2. Bounce the sound
3. Add the cry
4. Engage the chord

I hope you liked this video, please feel free to give it a thumbs up, or click the subscribe button below for frequent singing tips. Thanks so much for watching! I’ll see you next time!

[suganspice]

“So don’t be afraid to scream or hoot or holler”
Me: *does exactly that*
My mom from the other room: SHUT UP!!

[chamomile]

3:38 Support underneath
6:45 Bounce the sound
10:28 Add the cry baby sound
12:35 Engaged the cord

[RachieBarbiee]

You look like the councilor in Glee omg

[drina]

My at 3am doing vocal exercises:

My sister on the bunk bed above me : wtf

[suzylamiason]

Thanks Madeleine, because of your lessons i won on a singing contest

[Will-Max]

Note to self: Belting definition 1:45.
1) Support underneath (whimper) 3:28.
2) Bouncing the sound (Hey!) 5:58
3) Adding pharyngeal (baby cry) 9:28 where nose meets throat
4) Engage the cord, sound one (mum, mum) 11:55
Adding inner edges of chord, sound two (vocal fry) 14:30

[Nathiofficial]

your way of teaching is so unique and its been helping me so so much!!!! LOVE IT

[anamariaorozco]

The only thing missing is you belting to see the principles applied

[sabinesimmermacher]

I just practised and then realized that I can reach belting without difficulties.
Thanks to you Madeleine and greetings from France !

[maesdaze]

My dad was just like “Hey, are you okay?” 😂😂😂

[Unknown]

I promise you'll be seeing me here quite often😂😊 cause I am a terrible Singer😭

[Shan-syer]

My voice is super soft and it makes it so hard for me to sing powerfully :( Help haha

[ritayung]

This is by far the best explanation of how belting is ‘assembled’ together!! The technique works!

[saraisabelzamoramunoz]

It has been the best belting explanation video I’ve seen. Thank you so much.

[renmk]

Practice this at night in my room. My parents must be confuse why suddenly I practice singing 😅

[tintadvice]

I've been having problems with tension in my throat while belting high for my whole life. In between this video and your other videos I've discovered another spot that resonates in the higher frequencies with less tension. Now all I have to do is unlearn a life time of squeezing to get high.

[compassionawareness]

I love that you added the vocal fry in this video. That's a great way to access thin fold singing, and I had never even thought to use fry in that way. Can't wait to experiment. I've always used light resonant buzzing exercises, but the fry seems great.

[mannyvargas]

note to self:
exercise 1: 3:34
exercise 2: 6:44
exercise 3: 9:37
exercise 4: 12:55

[bettochamon]

I have been singing for over 10 years. There is a free professional class available here.
Thank you, Madeleine!

[CDiamond]

Thank GOD! Someone has the ability to transfer knowledge in a very practical way.