A common mistake beginning singers make is to choose the wrong songs to sing.
They choose songs by singers with a different voice type.
And doing that puts you at a huge disadvantage.
You can’t possibly sound your best when singing a song for singing voice types other than yours.
That is why it is important to know what your voice type is.
Then you can choose songs by singers with the same voice type, so you can sound your best.
Keep reading to learn all about the different voice types for singing, as well as how you can determine your own voice type.
Table of Contents
Different Voice Types
A voice type is the classification of different groups of voices based on similar vocal ranges. Knowing your voice type can help you choose their repertoire, musical instrument (or group of instruments), or even musical pieces from a certain period or era, based on your voice.
Voice types are often distinguished based on the singer’s gender and age. Based on these factors, there are eight types of voices.
Female Voices
Women’s voices are differentiated into three types.
Soprano
The soprano voice type is the highest singing voice, known for its bright and clear sound. Sopranos can easily hit high notes, making them stand out in choirs and opera performances.
Their vocal range typically spans from middle C (C4) to high C (C6) and beyond. Its low extreme can hover around A3 or even lower.
While soprano voices are predominantly found in women, young boys (before their voices deepen) can also reach the soprano range due to their undeveloped vocal cords. Sopranos usually sing in tessitura G4 to A5. Tessitura is the range of pitches that feel comfortable to the singer.
Each voice type also has sub types. This is not something you need to worry about for now. I’ll list the sub voice types in this article for completeness sake, but that’s it. For now, we just want to figure out your main voice type (which we will do below).
Soprano Sub-types
- Coloratura Soprano
- Soubrette Soprano – this voice type is characterized by light, bright, sweet timbre.
- Lyric Soprano – this voice type has a warm quality.
- Spinto Soprano – this voice type is rich and has a resonant quality.
- Dramatic Soprano – this is a powerful voice that can cut through an orchestra; they are, however, less agile than lighter voices.
Mezzo-Soprano
Women with this voice type have voices lower than soprano but higher than contralto. This is a versatile voice range that allows singers to play both powerful and dramatic, as well as soft and emotive roles.
The range of a mezzo-soprano typically spans from around A3 (the A below middle C) to A5 (two octaves above middle C), although some mezzo-sopranos may have a slightly broader or narrower range, depending on their vocal capabilities.
Mezzo-Soprano Sub-Types
- Lyric mezzo-soprano
- Coloratura mezzo-soprano
- Dramatic mezzo-soprano
Contralto/Alto
A contralto soprano is a rare type of female voice with the lowest pitch. This voice has a deep and rich quality, often described as velvety or smoky.
Contralto sopranos sing in a range that usually starts from around F3 and can extend up to F5. Some contraltos may have even lower or higher ranges. They bring a unique and soulful sound to the music, often portraying roles like maternal or wise characters in operas and musicals.
Contralto Soprano Sub-Types
- Coloratura contralto
- Lyric contralto
- Dramatic contralto
Male Voices
Male voices are of four types.
Countertenor
A countertenor is a special kind of male singer who sings in a very high pitch. It is the highest male voice and also the rarest of all voice types.
Countertenors sound like a mix between a woman’s voice and a man’s voice. They have a unique and ethereal quality to their sound, often described as haunting or angelic.
What makes a voice countertenor is that they can sing in the same high range as a female alto or mezzo-soprano, but their voice is still distinctly male. Their range typically extends from around E3 to E5.
Countertenor Sub-Types
- Sopranist/male soprano – male soprano who sings with falsetto or head voice technique
- Haute contre – the French operatic tenor voice
- Castrato – a male singer who has undergone castration before puberty to retain soprano, mezzo-soprano or contralto.
Tenor
The tenor is the highest voice in a typical male choir. This voice type lies above the baritone voice and below the countertenor’s voice. Range-wise, this type has the smallest range – between C3 and C5 with low extreme at A2 and highest up to F5.
Tenor Sub-Types
- Tenorino
- Tenore contraltino
- Leggero tenor
- Lyric tenor
- Spinto tenor
- Tenore spinto
- Dramatic tenor
- Heldentenor
- Baritenor
Baritone
This is a common male voice type that is considered very attractive and sexually appealing, due to its depth and warmth. The baritone range is from A2 to A4 and can extend to F2 or up to C5. It often overlaps tenor and bass ranges.
Baritone Sub-Types
- Baryton-Martin
- Lyric baritone
- Bel canto
- Coloratura baritone
- Kavalierbariton
- Heldenbaritone
- Verdi baritone
- Dramatic baritone
- Baryton-noble
- Bass-baritone
Bass
This is the lowest singing voice with a low vocal range extending from E2 to E4. Its timbre is darker than the baritone voice and it is the rarest male voice.
Bass Voice Subtypes
- Basso profondo
- Basso buffo
- Bel canto bass
- Basso cantante
- Dramatic bass
- Bass-baritone
What Is My Singing Voice Type?
To find your voice type, begin by determining your vocal range. One common method to do this is to do a vocal range mapping.
You can conduct this test with the assistance of a piano- have the pianist play notes ranging from C2 to E6, while singing vowel sounds like “Ahhhh” or “Eeeee”. This will help you gauge the full extent of your vocal capabilities.
Start by singing your lowest comfortable note, then proceed to sing your highest comfortable note. This mapping helps establish the boundaries of your vocal range.
For instance, if your lowest note is A3, your lower boundary of prima voce (prime voice or the range you are comfortable singing in) could be approximately a fifth above that, around E4. This will vary from singer to singer.
Next, identify your highest singable note to establish the upper boundary of your prima voce. Record these notes and ranges for reference.
Use the following reference:
- Soprano: C4 – C6
- Mezzo-Soprano: A3 – A5
- Contralto: F3 – F5
- Tenor: C3 – C5
- Baritone: G2 – G4
- Bass: E2- E5
While determining your voice type, consider that most people can sing notes within the tenor range at the top and the baritone range at the bottom. This gives you a general idea of where your voice sits within the spectrum.
However, keep in mind that voice classification is not solely based on range; many other factors play crucial roles.
After completing these steps, you should get a clearer understanding of your voice type. Remember, finding your voice type is not about fitting into a category; rather it is about understanding your unique vocal characteristics.
And once you know your voice type, you can choose songs by singers with a similar voice type. That ensures you can sound your best. Choosing songs for the wrong voice type puts you at a huge disadvantage and is a common reason singers don’t sound as good as they could.
Singing Voice Types: Final Thoughts
When you start out as a singer, it is important to figure out what voice type you are. Not only will that help you understand your voice, it also allows you to make sure you choose songs to sing that are right for your voice type. This means you have the capability to hit all of the notes in the song and you can sing the song in the right key.
Did you manage to determine what your voice type is? Your next step is to make a list of singers you like with the same voice type. That will then give you a whole list of songs that are perfect for you to practice with.
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