Circular Breathing for Beatboxers: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction to Circular Breathing in Beatboxing
Beatboxing is an art form that pushes the limits of vocal percussion, blending rhythm, creativity, and endurance. One technique that sets advanced beatboxers apart is circular breathing. In this blog, we’ll delve into what circular breathing is, how it can be applied to beatboxing, other uses for circular breathing, and the steps to mastering this essential skill.
What Is Circular Breathing?
Circular breathing is a technique that involves inhaling through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth, using the cheeks to maintain a continuous stream of air. This technique is crucial for musicians who play wind instruments, such as the didgeridoo or saxophone, and is equally valuable for beatboxers. By mastering circular breathing, beatboxers can add a new layer to their routines, enhancing both the complexity and endurance of their performances.
Why Circular Breathing Is Important for Beatboxers
In beatboxing, the ability to maintain a steady flow of sound without stopping for breath is crucial, especially in live performances or battles where stamina is key. Circular breathing not only helps sustain longer routines but also opens up new creative possibilities. By mastering this technique, beatboxers can execute a new level of complex patterns while maintaining a seamless flow, making their performances more dynamic and captivating.
Understanding the Basics: Inward and Outward Sounds
Before mastering circular breathing, it's essential to understand the distinction between inward and outward sounds in beatboxing. As Danny Ladwa, the founder of School of Beatbox, explains in his video (scroll down for the video), certain sounds are naturally produced while inhaling, such as the inward K snare. These sounds allow the beatboxer to take a breath in while continuing the rhythm.
On the other hand, other sounds, like the bass drum or hi-hat, are typically outward sounds. However, beatboxers can learn to produce these sounds followed by an in-breath immediately afterwards. This has a similar benefit to circular breathing but it's not quite the same. With circular breathing you are able to make the outward sound while breathing in at exactly the same time.
The Two Methods of Producing Sounds
When working toward circular breathing, it's essential to recognise that there are two distinct ways to produce sounds in beatboxing:
Full Lung-Supported Sounds: These are the conventional sounds where the lungs are fully engaged, providing maximum force and volume. For example, when you produce a bass drum sound with full lung support, your lungs are actively pushing air out, giving the sound its full power.
Mouth and Lip-Supported Sounds (Isolated Sounds): In this method, the sound is produced using just the lips and mouth, without the support of the lungs. This is the crucial difference when preparing for circular breathing. By isolating the sound production to just the mouth and lips, you can close off the throat and lungs (for the outward sound) and allow them to take in air while the sound continues uninterrupted.
To check if you're producing isolated sounds correctly, try humming continuously while making the sound. If you can hum without interruption, it means you’ve successfully isolated the sound, and you’re ready to start practicing circular breathing. Then simply produce the same outward sound without the hum.
Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Circular Breathing
Now that you understand the basics, let's break down the process of learning circular breathing for beatboxing:
Practice Isolated Sound Production: Begin by practicing the isolated version of your sounds. Start with simple sounds like the bass drum, hi-hat, or snare. Focus on creating these sounds without engaging your lungs. Instead, rely solely on your lips and mouth.
Check for Continuous Humming: As you produce the isolated sounds, try to hum continuously. This will help you confirm that you’re not using your lungs and that you’ve closed off that area. The continuous hum is a sign that you’re ready to move to the next step.
Integrate Breathing In Through the Nose: Once you’ve mastered the isolated sounds, begin practicing inhaling through your nose while continuing to produce the sound. This is the essence of circular breathing. The goal is to keep the sound consistent and uninterrupted while you take a breath in through your nose.
Build Endurance: Circular breathing requires practice and stamina. Start with short bursts of circular breathing and gradually extend the duration as you become more comfortable with the technique. Over time, you’ll be able to sustain longer sequences without needing to stop for a breath.
Apply Circular Breathing to Your Beatboxing Routine: Once you feel confident with the technique, start integrating circular breathing into your beatboxing routines. Experiment with different sounds and patterns, and notice how this technique allows for greater creativity and fluidity in your performances.
Watch the Video - Circular Breathing For Beatboxers
Advantages and Limitations of Circular Breathing
While circular breathing is an incredibly powerful tool for beatboxers and musicians alike, it’s important to understand its advantages and limitations:
Advantages:
Continuous Sound Production: Circular breathing enables you to keep the sound flowing without interruption.
Expanded Creative Possibilities: By mastering this technique, you can explore new rhythms and patterns that would be impossible with traditional breathing.
Improved Endurance: Circular breathing enhances your stamina, allowing you to perform for longer periods without needing to pause. Once you have mastered this skill you may notice that you use it unconsciously. Which is great.
Versatility Across Disciplines: Beyond beatboxing, circular breathing is a valuable skill in various musical contexts, offering a deeper connection between breath, rhythm, and sound.
Limitations:
Reduced Sound Power: The isolated sounds produced during circular breathing are generally weaker compared to full lung-supported sounds. This trade-off is necessary to maintain continuous airflow. It is, however, a good practice to develop your isolated sounds so they are as close to sounding like their fully lung-supported counterparts.
Steep Learning Curve: Circular breathing is an advanced technique that requires patience and practice. It may take time to master, but the payoff is well worth the effort.
Circular Breathing Beyond Beatboxing: Other Applications
While circular breathing is a game-changer for beatboxers, it’s a technique that has been widely used in various other musical contexts for centuries. Understanding these applications can provide deeper insights into the versatility and importance of mastering this skill.
Playing the Didgeridoo: Circular breathing is most commonly associated with playing the didgeridoo, an ancient wind instrument from the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. The didgeridoo produces a deep, resonant sound that can be sustained indefinitely through circular breathing. By continuously cycling air through the instrument, players create complex rhythms and drones that are essential to traditional and contemporary didgeridoo music. This technique allows didgeridoo players to create a constant sound that can mimic the natural rhythms of the environment, such as the sound of a river or the hum of the earth.
Wind Instruments: Beyond the didgeridoo, circular breathing is also employed by musicians who play wind instruments like the saxophone, flute, and trumpet. Jazz musicians, in particular, use circular breathing to sustain long notes or phrases, adding intensity and drama to their solos. Circular breathing allows these musicians to maintain a continuous stream of sound, which is crucial for achieving smooth legato phrases and creating an unbroken melodic line.
Vocal Techniques in Singing: Some singers use a variation of circular breathing to sustain long notes without interruption. While not as common as in instrumental music, this technique can be particularly effective in genres that require extended vocal passages, such as opera or traditional chant. By mastering circular breathing, singers can enhance their ability to hold notes longer and maintain control over their breath, adding power and emotion to their performances.
Meditation and Mindfulness Practices: Circular breathing is also used in various meditation and mindfulness practices. By focusing on the continuous cycle of breath, practitioners can achieve a deeper state of relaxation and mental clarity. This rhythmic breathing pattern helps to center the mind and body, making it easier to enter a meditative state. For beatboxers, incorporating aspects of circular breathing into a mindfulness routine can help improve breath control and focus during performances.
Conclusion: Master Circular Breathing to Elevate Your Beatboxing
Circular breathing is a powerful technique that can significantly elevate your beatboxing skills. By allowing you to maintain a continuous flow of sound, it opens up new creative avenues and enhances your performance stamina. Moreover, circular breathing’s applications in other musical contexts, such as playing the didgeridoo or wind instruments, highlight its versatility and importance in the world of music.
Start by isolating your sounds, ensuring that you can produce them without lung support, and then gradually incorporate the circular breathing technique. While the process may be challenging, the results will undoubtedly make your beatboxing more dynamic and impressive.
At School of Beatbox, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what's possible with the human voice. By mastering circular breathing, you’ll have opened the door to yet another world of possibilities. Happy practicing, and keep the beats alive!
What beats do you use circular breathing for?
Would you like to learn how to beatbox? Check out this online beatbox course or get in touch with School of Beatbox here.
