Why the Popular “Hissing Exercise” Might Be Destroying Your Voice — And What to Do Instead

Do you practice the classic hissing exercise for singing, hoping it will give you better breath control… yet your voice still feels strained or tired?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

That very exercise might be the reason your voice feels sore.

After 15 years teaching adults, I’ve seen this drill do more harm than good. And today, I’ll explain why — and show you a simple, safer alternative that can transform your singing immediately.

A Student’s Story (That I’ve Seen Hundreds of Times)

A new student walked into my studio recently. She’d been diligently following the “inhale and hiss out” exercise recommended by her former teacher. You probably know the one:

1. Breathe in

2. Then hiss sharply while pulling the stomach inward — SSSSS…

She told me she practiced it all the time.
She also told me she always felt:

• tired after singing,

• tension in her throat,

• and soreness after songs.

My response?

Not “in spite of the exercise”… but because of it.

By the end of our first lesson — after swapping this exercise for something functional — she was singing without strain for the first time in her life.

Let’s talk about why.

Why the Hissing Exercise Causes Damage

The intention behind the hiss is good — breath control.
The problem is that it’s based on old traditions, not updated vocal science.

1. Faulty Breath Mechanics From the Start

Most singers inhale incorrectly when attempting this drill. They either:

• pull the belly in aggressively, immediately creating tension, or

• push the belly out unnaturally, overstretching the abdominal wall.

Both options create rigidity in the rectus abdominis (your six-pack muscle), which runs from the sternum to the pubic bone. This tension forces the diaphragm to react in ways that sabotage healthy singing.

2. The Forced Exhale Is the Real Villain

During the hiss, singers are taught to contract the abs sharply and push the air out.
What this does internally:

• The rectus abdominis contracts hard

• The diaphragm is forced to relax too quickly

• Air pressure shoots upward too fast

Here’s the key:

Vocal folds close in response to air pressure.
Too little pressure? They stay open.
Too much? They slam shut and over-compress.

The hiss creates excess pressure, so the folds don’t “choose” a healthy singing configuration. They’re just reacting — violently.

That reactive closure forces everything around the larynx to tighten.

Result?

• strain

• fatigue

• soreness

• and a voice that never finds true efficiency

This is the opposite of functional singing, where the vocal folds close gently and precisely for phonation.

So What Should You Do Instead?

Here’s a simple movement-based exercise that immediately reduces pressure and encourages healthy vocal fold closure.

The Arm-Opening Inhalation Exercise

This exercise teaches the body to inhale in a way that supports the voice — without force, tension, or that damaging pressure spike.

Step 1 — Raise Your Arms to the Sides

• Begin with arms down by your hips.

• Start lifting them outward.

Step 2 — Rotate the Palms as You Lift

This part is crucial:

As your arms rise, rotate your palms gradually so that by the time you reach shoulder height, your palms face upward and your elbows are straight.

This rotation influences ribs 5, 7, and 8 — which play a major role in efficient vocal closure.

Step 3 — Inhale Through the Mouth Softly

• Open the mouth gently.

• Let the air flow in without noise, without force.

Noise is actually a sign of tension and reduced airflow efficiency.

Step 4 — Sing the Moment Your Arms Reach 90 Degrees

No pause.
No holding.
No “click” at the onset.

For example, on a simple three-tone pattern:

“Ah-ah-ah”

The magic is in the timing:

movement + inhalation + phonation
all coordinated without delay.

This eliminates the micro-hold that so many singers do unconsciously — the one that creates the harsh onset that damages vocal folds over time.

Why This Works

• It opens the ribs in the regions that improve vocal fold efficiency

• It prevents over-engagement of the abs

• It reduces high-pressure exhalation

• It removes the harmful pause between breathing and phonation

• It guides the voice into its singing function instead of a reactive, compressed state

Almost no student gets it perfect on the first try — and that’s okay. Your body is relearning a new, healthier coordination.

Final Thoughts

The hissing exercise isn’t harmful because it’s “bad” — it’s harmful because it teaches the body to sing with tension and high pressure, the opposite of what functional singing requires.

You deserve ease, freedom, and a voice that feels good.

Try the arm-opening exercise today and notice the difference in your tone, your onset, and the comfort in your throat.