He who sings scares away his woes - Cervantes
When you attend singing classes, you begin to understand your vocal range. The latter helps you to identify your voice type and lets you expand your repertoire as a singer. As a singer, it is important to know your limits and be able to sing beautifully within those. You can, of course, try to sing outside your vocal ranges, but the result could be potentially damaging to your vocal cords as well as your music career.
There are about eight different voice types and it is possible that yours falls in between two different types. Quite often, your singing teacher trains you on singing beyond your higher or lower notes just to help you explore the vocal ranges. This, in fact, helps you identify your highest and lowest extremes, that eventually defines your voice range. It may also be the case that within a single voice type, you may have different sounding voices - darker or heavier or lighter. This is perfectly normal as it helps you portray the different parts of a song better. You will often find this type of singing in a London opera house. But no matter the voice type, there are some non-negotiables that you must follow as part of your music routine which include a proper warm up and regular practice for at least 30 minutes every day.
Remember that while voice types might be similar, your voice is unique to you. And the different male vocal ranges differ widely from female ones. This is discussed in detail in this article.
Male Vocal Registers Taught in Music Classes
There are fundamental differences in the classification of vocal ranges in classical music and choral music. While classical music uses parameters like vocal range, tessitura, weight, transition points, and timbre to categorize vocal ranges, choral music only uses the vocal range of a singer to assign a voice type. The vocal register is nothing but the span of vocal tones that are produced through laryngeal vibration patterns in the vocal folds.
4 Vocal Registers Taught by A Music Teacher
1. Whistle Register
The highest range and the most difficult to phonate is the whistle register. It is rarely used by professional singers.
2. Falsetto
This is produced when the ligaments at the edges of the vocal cords vibrate. The falsetto overlaps the modal register by an octave.
3. Modal Register
This is the most common vocal register used by singers and generally, for speaking. It is really your normal voice.
4. Vocal Fry
The lowest range of voice register, characterized by rattling, low frequency and popping sounds is the vocal fry. The sounds thus produced are because of the air that passes through the glottal closure of the larynx.
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Different Male Vocal Ranges | Countertenor
Ask your singing teacher about the most difficult vocal range and their answer will be this - countertenor. It is almost the male equivalent of the female contralto or the mezzo-soprano. This vocal range typically spans from G3 to D5 or E5. On the piano key, it lies between E3 and E5. Male singers who sing in this range use the falsetto register on higher notes and the modal register on the lower ones.
Sub-Categories of Countertenor
The countertenor can be further classified into three voice types, namely -
- Soprano - A male singer who uses a vocal range and tessitura of a soprano through the falsetto voice is called a sopranists. There are, however, some male singers who can also sing at soprano range using the modal register.
- Castrato - A male singer who can sing in the female vocal range is called a castrato. This is primarily due to an underdeveloped physical condition resulting from prepubescent castration. Due to this condition, the male singer is able to retain their prepubescent voice.
- Haute Contra - This is more like a French alternative to castrato since castration is banned in France. This voice type is almost similar to tenor contraltino with the vocal range falling between C3 and D5.
Different Male Vocal Ranges | Tenor
Singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer - Ellen G. White
Another male vocal range that you will learn in your music classes is the tenor, which is the highest male voice within the normal voice register. The typical repertoire of the tenor extends from C3 to C5.
Sub-Categories of Tenor
The tenor can be further broken down to seven different sub-types:
- Tenore Contraltino - This is characterized by a dark and heavy lower octave. It has sufficient vocal dexterity of the coloratura singing.
- Leggero Tenor - This is probably the most confusing voice type that is often mistaken for a lyric baritone. But the distinctive feature of this type is its vocal ability in the higher extension that allows a singer to sing in the modal register but make it sound like a falsetto.
- Lyric Tenor - Here, the vocal range stretches from C3 to D5 and you will typically find a strong and full vocal timbre.
- Spinto Tenor - Also called the dramatic lyric tenor, this type is similar in characteristics to the lyric tenor. But it has a heavier vocal weight.
- Dramatic Tenor - Rich, powerful and heavy vocal weight are the main features of this voice type, that has a tenor range of C3 to C5.
- Heldentenor - Unlike the dramatic tenor, the heldentenor possesses a strong passaggio at higher notes, but has similar traits with the former. It is often referred to as the baritone with higher extensions.
- Baritenor - This is characterized by its dark and heavy lower range and has a vocal repertoire extending from a low C4 to a high F4.
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Different Male Vocal Ranges | Baritone
Baritone is yet another male voice type taught by a music teacher. It is a mid-ranged voice type, lying between the bass and the tenor ranges, with a vocal repertoire extending from A2 to A4.
Sub-Categories of Baritone
There are seven sub-types of the baritone vocal range, namely -
- Baryton-Martin Baritone: Also known as the light baritone, this voice type is almost identical to the tenor without the G2 to B2 range. It has a vocal repertoire extending between C3 and B4. This sub-type is names after Jean-Blaise Martin and can only be found in French music.
- Lyric Baritone: Another baritone sub-type taught in singing classes is this sweet and mild baritone with higher tessitura. It has a vocal range of A2 to G4.
- Kavalier Baritone: The mark of this sub-type is a metallic voice that can be sung both in the dramatic and lyric sub-types. Its vocal repertoire extends from A2 to G4.
- Dramatic Baritone: The vocal range in the dramatic sub-type extends from G2 to G4 with a fuller and darker voice quality.
- Verdi Baritone: Often considered to be a sub-type of the dramatic baritone, this category has a vocal range spanning across G2 to B4.
- Baryton-Noble: The noble baritone is characterized by strong declamation and seamless vocalization.
- Bass-Baritone: With a vocal repertoire between F2 and F4, this sub-type has a distinct lower range that is ripely resonant.
Different Male Vocal Ranges | Bass
Singing classes also teach about a fourth male vocal range called the bass. Also called the bottom end, the bass refers to tones of low frequency, range, and pitch. It is also used to denote bass instruments that can produce low-pitched tones.
Uses of Bass
How is Bass Used in Composition?
The lowest-pitched parts of a harmony in a musical composition is the bass. In a chorus, it is usually the male singer who provides the bass in a composition without instrumental accompaniment. In case the choir is accompanied, it is usually the piano or a pipe organ that provides the bass. While in an orchestra, it is the double bass or cellos that provide the bass. In rock and pop band, you will find the use of an electric bass or a bass synthesizer.
How is Bass Used in Musical Ensembles?
In a musical ensemble like an orchestra, a bass is usually used to provide a counterpoint or counter-melody. In a harmony, the bas sis used to juxtapose or outline the progression of chords or to underline the rhythm.
How is Bass Used in Rhythm?
In popular music, the bass provides rhythmic and harmonic support to the band. Typically, the bass player is a part of the rhythm section and plays or sings along with the drummer, the rhythm guitarist and the bass keyboard player.
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