Singing Guide: Nelly

Singing Guide: Nelly

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Learning to Sing Like Nelly

Nelly is known for his unique blend of hip-hop and country music. He is recognized for his ability to bring a unique vocal texture to his music, as well as his songwriting skills.

If you're interested in learning to sing like Nelly, you'll need to understand his vocal technique and song choices. Here are some tips to get you started.

Vocal Technique

Nelly is known for his laid-back singing style, infused with hip-hop and country twang. Here are some techniques to help you emulate his sound:

Twang

Nelly combines a slight twang with his singing voice in many of his songs. Incorporate this twang exercise to your warm-up routine and get used to the sound.

Chest Voice

Nelly's chest voice is essential to his singing style. Try incorporating exercises that use your chest voice like this singing comfort zone exercise into your warm-up routine.

Mixed Voice

Another technique Nelly uses is bridging the gap between his chest voice and falsetto with a mixed voice. Here is a great video explaining what is mixed voice.

Vibrato

Vibrato is important to Nelly's vocal style. Check out our vibrato singing tutorial to get started.

Song Choices

Now that some of the techniques are covered, it's time to choose songs that showcase his unique vocal style. Here are his two most iconic songs:

“Hot in Herre”

This hit song is the perfect example of Nelly's signature style, with a twangy, drawling chorus over an upbeat hip-hop sound. Use Singing Carrots’ song search tool to find the perfect pitch for your voice.

“Ride wit Me”

This hit song is another great showcase of Nelly's laid-back, hyper-rhythmic style. The song contains many falsetto parts, together with mixed voice. Check out our article on voice registers and falsetto in singing to learn more.

Practical Advice

Here are some additional tips to help you learn to sing like Nelly:

Relevant Singing Carrots Resources

Singing Carrots offers great online courses to help you improve your singing voice. Here are some recommended resources:

If you're looking to learn to sing like Nelly, make sure to incorporate his unique techniques and song choices. Practice regularly, using the helpful tools and resources provided by Singing Carrots, and you'll be well on your way to a great vocal performance.

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.