Belting is a specific technique of singing where a singer carries their chest voice above their break or passaggio with a proportion of head voice. It is sometimes described as "high chest voice" or "mixed voice". Belting is an advanced skill that requires proper technique and can be risky if done improperly. Proper belting technique comes from learning to mix the chest voice and head voice registers to achieve one smooth and powerful sound.
Some key features of belting include:
- Minimal airflow and maximum muscular engagement of the torso
- Produces a high-intensity, big, and powerful vocal sound
- Belting has more to do with the way the sound vibrates coming out of the face than it does with volume
Belting is prominent in most contemporary music genres, including pop, rock, soul, world music, and musical theatre. It is an important skill for singers who want to sing high notes with power and confidence. However, it is important to learn proper technique and avoid straining and pain to prevent damage to the voice.
