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Types Of Singing

Types of Singing

Are you wondering what type of voice you have? It is very difficult for a voiced type of one human being to be the same with the other human being. The singing voice can be identified by the characteristics in the voice like vocal weight, vocal range, transition points, vocal timbre, etc.

The speech levels and the physical characteristics are also some of the ways by which a human singing voice can be identified. If you are not sure about knowing your singing style, then this is an article that will help you out in identifying your voice type, and what kind of songs will be suited to your voice.

Characteristics to decide the voice type

There are a number of characteristics that need to be looked into to find out what your voice type is. It cannot be determined only by looking at your vocal range. The voice type that you possess is due to the following variables:

  • Transition points: These are the points where you change from chest to middle or head to the register
  • Voice weight: the light voices will be bright and agile and the heavy voices will be rich, dark and powerful
  • Voice timbre: This is a unique voice texture and quality
  • Tessitura: This is the part of the voice range that will be very comfortable to sing for a singer
  • Voice range: This is the notes that can be produced by your body
  • Voice register: The extent that each register can go
  • Speech level: The range at which you can speak

By reading all the above, you would be in a state of confusion as to why there are so many characteristics that play a role in your voice type. Apart from this, there is also one more important characteristic that will give shape to your voice type and that is your physique.

The voice classification systems

The voice types are classified based on criteria such as range of vocals, vocal timbre, pitch transition points, tessitura etc. There are seven types of voice categories that are part of the voice classification system. The women’s voices are separated into three groups: soprano, mezzo-soprano, and contralto. The voices of the men are classified into 4 groups: countertenor, tenor, bass, and baritone. There is also an eighth tone that you can add to the voice classification system and that is the treble. This is mostly found in children at the stage of puberty.

Women’s voices

Soprano

A female with soprano voice will be able to sing high notes without much effort. This is the highest voice possible for women. Any soprano voice will lay between middle C (C4) and high C (C6). The lowest extreme for soprano voice is just below middle C or A3 and the highest extreme is C6. However, there are sopranos with D6 or F6. The tessitura of sopranos is higher than other voice types in women. This voice has clear or bright tone and the female will have a good head voice and weaker middle voice.

There are different subtypes for soprano voice and this includes coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, dramatic soprano, sobriety, and spinto soprano. These categories are mainly based on range, the weight of voice, the dexterity of the voice and timbre. Dugazon and the Falcon are the two sopranos preferred by the French.

Mezzo-Soprano

This is the voice that lies between soprano and contralto range in women. This is the most common voice seen among females.  This middle –range voice overlaps the other two types.  The tessitura of mezzo-sopranos will be lower when compared to the soprano and higher when compared to contralto. The usual vocal range of the Mezzo Soprano voice would be between G3, the G note below middle C to C6, and the C note above 2 octaves. The middle voice will be stronger and the head voice will be weaker for mezzo-sopranos when compared to soprano voice. The voice will be deeper or darker for this voice type.

The three subtypes of Mezzo-sopranos include lyric mezzo-soprano, dramatic mezzo-soprano and coloratura mezzo-soprano.

  • Contralto

The contralto type is the lowest female voice. However, it is difficult to find a female with a true contralto voice as most of the women will belong to soprano and mezzo-soprano type. The vocal range of the Contralto type face would lie between E3, the E note below middle C to G5, the 2nd G note above middle C. This voice is highly similar to the tenor voice in males and hence will be able to sing songs that men sing.

Men’s voices

  • Countertenor

This is the highest voice among men. The countertenor singers can use the modal voice to get the lowest notes. The Countertenor voice ranges from E3 to E5.The person with Countertenor voice would usually be able to sing the high head voice notes with great ease and brightness in tone. It is similar to a contralto voice of women.

  • Tenor

The highest male voice within the modal register is the tenor range. The perfect tenor voice lies between C3 to C5. Tenors are divided into seven subcategories:  Lyric Tenor, Tenore Contralto, Spinto Tenor or Tenor Spinto, Dramatic Tenor, Leggiero Tenor or Tenore Di Grazia Heldentenor, and Baritenor

  • Baritone

Baritones will have vocal range that lies between tenor and bass ranges and overlaps these two types.  This is the most commonly found voice in men. The typical baritone range is from A2 to A4. The tessitura of the baritone voice is lower than the tenor and higher than the bass types.

There are nine sub categories for baritone. This includes Lyric Baritone, Baryton-Martin, Dramatic Baritone Kavalier Baritone, Bel Canto or Coloratura Baritone, Helden Baritone, Verdi Baritone, Bass-Baritone, and Baryton-Noble.

  • Bass

Bass is the lowest voice in men with the lowest tessitura. The typical bass range lies between E2 to E4. Basses are divided into different subcategories: Bass-Baritone, Basso Profondo, Bel Canto Bass, Basso Buffo, Basso Cantante and Dramatic Bass.

When classifying the singers, four important qualities of voices are considered. This includes vocal range, timbre, tessitura and vocal transition points. If you are looking for some assistance to learn singing and to know more about types of singing, you can always visit the Singorama website.