If you’ve ever been told to sing from your diaphragm, open your throat, or avoid belting if you want to protect your voice, you’re not alone.

These phrases have been passed down through generations of singers and teachers. Most come from good intentions, but over time they’ve become disconnected from what’s actually happening in the body. Modern voice science gives us a clearer understanding — one that replaces confusion with coordination and helps singers work with their voices, not against them.

Let’s unpack three of the most common singing myths and see what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Myth #1: “Sing From Your Diaphragm.”

This is perhaps the most famous piece of vocal advice in the world. The trouble is that it’s anatomically impossible to sing from your diaphragm.

Why It’s Misleading

The diaphragm’s job is to help you inhale, not to push air out when you sing. When it contracts, it moves downward and draws air into your lungs. As you exhale, it relaxes and rises. You can’t consciously control it to power your sound or “support” tone directly.

When singers try to follow this phrase literally, they often tense their stomach muscles or push too much air through the voice, which can make the sound feel heavy or unstable.

A More Accurate Way to Think About It

Instead of imagining that sound comes from a single muscle, think of breath as a coordinated system involving your ribs, abs, and torso.

Try this:

• Take a relaxed, low inhale that expands your ribs and abdomen.
  
  
  

• Exhale steadily, maintaining a gentle sense of expansion rather than collapsing.
  
  
  

• Avoid “pushing” or forcing air. Let the airflow remain smooth and even.
  
  
  

A balanced exhale provides steady energy for phonation without unnecessary effort. Singing should feel supported but free, not muscular or tense.

Myth #2: “Belting Will Ruin Your Voice” (and “More Air = More Power”).

Belting has long been treated as risky territory for singers, especially those trained in classical technique. You may have heard that it’s shouting or that it leads to strain. Others assume that a powerful sound requires taking in as much air as possible and using force to project.

Both ideas oversimplify what’s really happening.

What’s Actually True

Belting is simply one way of organizing your voice — a particular balance of vocal fold closure, resonance tuning, and breath flow. On its own, it isn’t dangerous or damaging. What matters is how the sound is produced and how you manage the physical setup that creates it.

Belting uses firm vocal fold contact and precise resonance adjustments, not a blast of air. Taking in too much air or pushing can disrupt that balance and make singing feel effortful.

How To Approach Safe Belting

• Build awareness of chest coordination while maintaining flexibility and release.
  
  
  

• Use bright, focused resonance (sometimes called “twang”) to help the sound project with ease.
  
  
  

• Keep breath pressure moderate and consistent — not held or forced.
  
  
  

• Notice how your voice feels. Belting should feel energized, stable, and expressive, not heavy or tight.
  
  
  

A well-organized belt allows for clarity and power without overworking your system. It’s a functional choice, not a risky one.

Myth #3: “Open Your Throat for a Better Sound.”

“Open your throat” is one of the most common phrases you’ll hear in choirs or lessons. It sounds simple, but in practice it can create more tension than it removes.

Why It’s Misunderstood

You can’t consciously “open” your throat the way you open your mouth. Most of the muscles that affect throat space are involuntary, and trying to manipulate them often leads to stiffness — especially in the tongue, jaw, or neck.

Singers who chase that “open” feeling sometimes lower the larynx too much or stretch their mouth in unnatural ways, which can make singing feel forced.

What’s Really Happening

The feeling of an open throat comes from balance and release, not from a specific physical motion. When airflow, resonance, and muscle activity are well coordinated, the throat naturally feels spacious and free.

How To Cultivate That Feeling

• Think about releasing tension rather than “opening.”
  
  
  

• Keep your posture upright and flexible so the throat area stays neutral.
  
  
  

• Balance breath pressure and resonance to prevent overexertion.
  
  
  

• Use gentle exercises like yawn-sighs or straw phonation to restore a sense of openness.
  
  
  

• Check for jaw or tongue tension, which often disguises itself as a “closed” throat.
  
  
  

The sensation of space emerges when coordination is right. There’s no need to force it.

Why Understanding Function Matters

Metaphors like “open your throat” or “sing from your diaphragm” were created to describe sensations, not mechanisms. They can be useful starting points, but without functional understanding they quickly become confusing.

Every singer experiences sensations differently. What feels “forward” or “resonant” to one person may feel completely different to another. Learning the underlying coordination gives you more tools and freedom — instead of chasing a vague feeling, you can make targeted adjustments that work for your voice.

Knowledge builds flexibility. Once you understand what your body is actually doing, you can create any sound you want without guessing.

Conclusion: Function Over Folklore

Understanding how your voice works replaces uncertainty with confidence. When you know what’s happening inside your instrument, you can make clear choices and sing with ease and consistency.

Good singing isn’t about right or wrong — it’s about coordination that serves your sound and your goals.

If you’re ready to move beyond myths and build a technique that feels intuitive, join me at Eady Voice Co. I’ll help you develop reliable vocal skills grounded in evidence and awareness, so you can sing with freedom and trust in your own voice.

🎶 Ready to find clarity and confidence in your sound? Book a drop-in voice lesson today.