Belting is a vocal technique used by women to get strength out of their lower range - ie the chest register. As a style it was pioneered for use in Broadway musicals by singers such as Ethel Merman (eg "There's no Business Like Show Business, from 'Annie Get Your Gun'), in the days before microphones were used in theatres, and when, as today, a powerful sound was needed to carry over the orchestra. Not much has changed in music theatre in this respect, as theatres are larger and orchestras are also miked. These days belting is also used as a technique in all forms of contemporary singing, as well as in music theatre, whenever a strong, gutsy, penetrating sound is needed. The down side of belting is that it can appear harsh to some listeners, and tends to push the voice flat in the upper section of chest. Also, if the style is imitated but not sung correctly from a technical viewpoint, the singer can easily destroy their voice by stripping their vocal folds.

The essence of the technique is thick vocal folds that are working strongly, while the throat is held open; ie no forcing, constricting or yelling. Start by calling out loudly in an energetic manner, as though slightly annoyed with someone, eg "Hey there!" or "Stop that!". If you physically do this you will feel the vocal folds go into action in the belt position. Then try to sustain this sudden sound on pitch, and you will have the beginning of belt technique. For many it is as simple as belting out a song. But there is a limit for most women as to how high they can belt, before the sound gets ugly, so in that context they need to switch over to a strengthened high voice tone.

I wouldn't really recommend learning belting without supervision from a singing teacher, as the potential to harm your voice if you do it wrong is high.

Men can also use belt technique, but they rarely need to as their normal singing usually has enough power to carry to the audience.

Having learned belting, it should be used selectively during any particular song, as any effect, no matter how dramatic and impressive, will soon become dull if overused, I've often had to sit through performances by (usually) young women belting out an entire 'Power of Love' style pop song, with no artistic variation. It just becomes irritating after a while. Sure Celine Dion may seem to belt large sections of a song, but firstly she does it extremely well, and secondly she mixes it with gentler vocal phrases that show she is aiming for variety as well as thinking intelligently about the lyrics.