How to Not Sing Nasally

Avoid tension in your body to avoid a nasal sound.

People that sing with a nasal tone have problems with their breath support and holding unnecessary tension in their bodies. A nasal sound is the result of several issues, including poor posture, improper breathing, and the position of the jaw and tongue. By controlling your physical response to singing, you can decrease and eventually remove the nasality in your voice. A qualified voice instructor can help you isolate these issues and other problems in your voice.

Instructions

1. Learn the difference between the soft and hard palate. The front part of the roof of your mouth, where it feels hard, is the hard palate. The soft palate is toward the back of the throat right before the epiglottis. Direct your air toward the hard palate and avoid using the soft palate to sing as much as possible.

2. Breathe properly. Take air into your stomach by expanding the muscles of the diaphragm. Then, when you expel air, use the diaphragm to control the airflow. Aim for a steady and moderate airstream. The goal is to keep the vocal folds vibrating at an even and controlled tempo.

3. Avoid thrusting your jaw forward. This will create tension in your throat and create a nasal sound. Keep your jaw relaxed and slightly back.

4. Stand with proper posture. Keep your neck straight and relaxed, your head high, your shoulders slightly back and your legs about shoulder-length apart. This will remove tension in your body, lowering the amount of tension in your throat and decreasing nasality.

5. Relax the tongue when singing. Avoid bunching the tongue toward the back of your throat, as this will limit the airflow and create a nasal sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat your allergies if you have them. Allergies will contribute to a nasal sound when singing or talking.

• Avoid singing while you are sick. When you are sick, you need to recover, and you can injure yourself by attempting to overcompensate and straining your voice.

• It is highly recommended you work with a vocal instructor to develop your voice.

References

• Voice Teacher: Nasality in the Tenor Voice: Causes and Solutions