Singing Guide: The Nelons
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Nelons have been a mainstay in Southern Gospel music for over four decades as a family vocal group. Roger, Kelly, and Jason Page Nelons have sung with different lineups of family members and recorded numerous albums, often blending Southern Gospel, modern sounds, classical arrangements, and tight harmonies.
If you want to learn singing like The Nelons, here are some tips and Singing Carrots resources that may help you:
- Analyze your voice. Before you begin practicing, it's a good idea to know your vocal range, voice type, and strengths/weaknesses. You can take Singing Carrots' vocal range test and read articles on voice types and analyzing your voice to learn more.
- Listen to The Nelons' songs. To learn their unique style, you should listen to their recordings and live performances. Pay attention to their harmonies, vocal textures, phrasing, and use of dynamics. Some of their best-known songs include "We Speak Your Name," "Oh For a Thousand Tongues," and "Thanks."
- Practice breathing and breath support. Good breath control is essential for singing with clarity, power, and range. Singing Carrots' breathing basics article and breath support article offer practical exercises and tips to develop your breathing muscles and improve your lung capacity.
- Master vocal registers and transition. The Nelons use a variety of vocal registers, including chest voice, head voice, and mixed voice, to create their signature sound. Singing Carrots' voice registers article and mixed voice video offer insights and exercises to help you smoothly transition between registers and reduce strain.
- Open up your mouth and throat. To sing with a clear tone and avoid tension, you need to open your mouth and throat properly. Singing Carrots' open mouth and throat article and onset exercises can help you achieve a relaxed and resonant sound.
- Learn how to learn a song effectively. To master a new song, you need to develop a system of memorization, interpretation, and expression. Singing Carrots' song-learning article provides tips and techniques to help you break down a song into manageable parts, use visual aids, and personalize the lyrics.
- Incorporate contemporary techniques. The Nelons sometimes use contemporary vocal techniques, such as twang, belting, and vibrato, to create a modern sound. Singing Carrots' twang video, belting article, vibrato video, and distortion video offer exercises and explanations to help you master these techniques safely.
In summary, to learn singing like The Nelons, you should focus on developing good breathing, mastering vocal registers, opening up your mouth and throat, and paying attention to dynamics and harmonies. You can use Singing Carrots' range of resources, such as breathing and vocal exercises, song database, and educational course, to supplement your practice routine and broaden your knowledge of singing.
Good luck and keep singing!