Important Definitions for Learning About Vocal Classifications
Those of you that study with me know I’m all about building a “toolbox” for your voice. If you’ve been reading the earlier blog posts, you should already have lots of “Breathing Tools”, “Vocal First Aid Tools”, “Vocal Register Tools”, “Self-Esteem Tools”, “Vocal Practice Tools”…LOTS of different and varied devices, tricks, tips, exercises, and disciplines. NOW, we’re going to talk about “Types of Voices” and their potential, approximate ranges. I will start at the LOWEST vocal type and move up. Voice classifications are only always used for Classical and Choral music, but they are very useful for: choosing song keys; general information; understanding Vocal Color and Texture; and understanding your voice with regard to other voices, as well as the different ways to produce those sounds.
First, let’s look at a few definitions: tessitura; timbre; vocal weight; and passaggio. These are very specific terms that have to do with your voice, so they are important to understand. Your “Tessitura” is the area of your range that is most comfortable, where your voice feels and sounds its best. In choosing the Key of a particular song, you must find the Key that matches the strongest, most obviously balanced, enjoyable, and pleasing sound in your voice. Usually, the Refrain or Chorus of a song is repeated and, therefore, holds more importance than other aspects of a song. Focus on matching your Tessitura with this “meaty” area of the song. There is NO SUCH THING as ONE key for a song UNLESS you are stepping into a recording or a role that has already be scored or where instrumental tracks have previously been recorded. OTHERWISE, the RIGHT key of any song is the one you feel and sound best singing!
Vocal Timbre or Color refers to the qualities of a voice that set it apart from every other voice. This could include breathiness, an edge to the sound, purity of tone, or, literally, some characteristic of the voice that distinguishes it from the “norm”. Unique voices are not always “pretty” or even pleasant, such as Joe Cocker or Bjork. However, truly, technically incredible voices like those of Luciano Pavarotti or Adele or Amy Lee also have amazingly distinctive voices whose vocal qualities span the spectrum of textures, colors, emotions, resonance, and
vibrato (a regular vibration, pulse, or change of pitch; anything from a quiver to a wobble), as well as any number of other singular characteristics.
Vocal Weight is just that; it is the darkness or heaviness of a voice, or the lightness, airiness, or detached, rather discontinuous sound. There is no right or wrong vocal weight but too heavy a vocal weight can make transitions to higher registers difficult. Pressing or essentially forcing a heavier vocal weight suppresses the Larynx and can even constrict breathing by adding pressure and unhealthy tension into breath production. Working with Vocal Weight is one of the keys to building an even, consistent, elastic vocal sound without “breaks” or discomfort.
Lastly, the Passaggio is the “bridge” or transition between Vocal Registers. Each Vocal Register has characteristic qualities (make sure you read my blog posts on the Vocal Registers from October 17, 2016; the first post is “Learning About Vocal Registers Versus Vocal Ranges”, followed by individual posts on the various specific Vocal Registers). Building and strengthening the Passage between each of your registers is of penultimate important to create your one seamless sound from top to bottom and back up.
I know this is supposed to be about the Vocal Types but now you’re ready to learn about the specifics of those. All the details will be in the next post. Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to hear from you about further questions you have or about any suggestions you might have for future blog posts. You are important to me and I hope you’ll believe me when I say, I only want to be a help to you. Let me hear from you! If you have questions about my lessons or about me, check out my website at http://cathyriso.blogspot.com/. Thanks again; see you next post! Sing it Forward!
First, let’s look at a few definitions: tessitura; timbre; vocal weight; and passaggio. These are very specific terms that have to do with your voice, so they are important to understand. Your “Tessitura” is the area of your range that is most comfortable, where your voice feels and sounds its best. In choosing the Key of a particular song, you must find the Key that matches the strongest, most obviously balanced, enjoyable, and pleasing sound in your voice. Usually, the Refrain or Chorus of a song is repeated and, therefore, holds more importance than other aspects of a song. Focus on matching your Tessitura with this “meaty” area of the song. There is NO SUCH THING as ONE key for a song UNLESS you are stepping into a recording or a role that has already be scored or where instrumental tracks have previously been recorded. OTHERWISE, the RIGHT key of any song is the one you feel and sound best singing!
Vocal Timbre or Color refers to the qualities of a voice that set it apart from every other voice. This could include breathiness, an edge to the sound, purity of tone, or, literally, some characteristic of the voice that distinguishes it from the “norm”. Unique voices are not always “pretty” or even pleasant, such as Joe Cocker or Bjork. However, truly, technically incredible voices like those of Luciano Pavarotti or Adele or Amy Lee also have amazingly distinctive voices whose vocal qualities span the spectrum of textures, colors, emotions, resonance, and
vibrato (a regular vibration, pulse, or change of pitch; anything from a quiver to a wobble), as well as any number of other singular characteristics.
Vocal Weight is just that; it is the darkness or heaviness of a voice, or the lightness, airiness, or detached, rather discontinuous sound. There is no right or wrong vocal weight but too heavy a vocal weight can make transitions to higher registers difficult. Pressing or essentially forcing a heavier vocal weight suppresses the Larynx and can even constrict breathing by adding pressure and unhealthy tension into breath production. Working with Vocal Weight is one of the keys to building an even, consistent, elastic vocal sound without “breaks” or discomfort.
Lastly, the Passaggio is the “bridge” or transition between Vocal Registers. Each Vocal Register has characteristic qualities (make sure you read my blog posts on the Vocal Registers from October 17, 2016; the first post is “Learning About Vocal Registers Versus Vocal Ranges”, followed by individual posts on the various specific Vocal Registers). Building and strengthening the Passage between each of your registers is of penultimate important to create your one seamless sound from top to bottom and back up.
I know this is supposed to be about the Vocal Types but now you’re ready to learn about the specifics of those. All the details will be in the next post. Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to hear from you about further questions you have or about any suggestions you might have for future blog posts. You are important to me and I hope you’ll believe me when I say, I only want to be a help to you. Let me hear from you! If you have questions about my lessons or about me, check out my website at http://cathyriso.blogspot.com/. Thanks again; see you next post! Sing it Forward!
Comments
Post a Comment