What's my voice part?

Ever wondered which voice part you are and which artists most sound like you?  Read on to find your vocal doppleganger!

Finding your tessitura (comfortable singing range) is easy.  Your teacher will listen to your voice as your complete some ascending warmups on one pitch and listen for your passaggio (aka your "switch"), the place where you switch from more robust chest resonance which vibrates in the chest to lighter and airy head resonance which vibrates primarily in the skull.  The placement of this switch determines whether you are a bass, baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo or soprano. Contrary to popular belief, your overall range (how high and low you can sing) has much less bearing on your ultimate vocal catagory than the placement of your tessitura.  Knowing your tessitura is important.  You should never try to sing for an extended period of time in an uncomfortable range, or allow a choir director or other music group leader to place you among singers that don't match your tessitura, even if you can reach the notes and they need more members in that group. Doing so is unsafe and can result in permanent vocal injury.  Your tessitura also determines the structure of your lesson warmups, your particular vocal challenges and strengths, as well as the repertoire you should be singing.  Figuring out your voice part should always be the first step in lessons. [caption id="attachment_3631" align="alignnone" width="160"] what's my voice part?[/caption]

Switch at E3 or lower:

Bass

Strengths: Resonant Sound, Full and Rich. Chest Voice Weaknesses: Switching to Falsetto, and head voice without tension.  Basses Feel Comfortable down low. Famous Basses: Barry White, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong

Switch at F3 to G3:

Baritone

Strengths: Rich, flexible sound.  Usually has plenty of power. Weaknesses: The supposed "Baritone Curse" .  The idea that not many modern singers sing in a Baritone range, so repertoire and role models are limited.  Most men are baritones Some famous baritones: George Ezra, David Bowie, Michael Buble, John Meyer

Switch above G3:

Tenor

Strengths: Most male repertoire is in a tenor range.  The tenor voice is generally bright, flexible and has an easier time moving into head voice and falsetto than the other male voices. Weaknesses: Will tend toward nasality more than the other Male voices. Famous Tenors: Pavorotti, Justin Timberlake, Freddie Mercury

Switch around E4:

Alto

Strengths: Powerful chest voice, rich sound Weaknesses: Difficulty switching to head voice. Famous Altos: Lana del Rae, Adele, Patsy Cline Switch around F4-G4

Mezzo

Strengths: rich, smoky sound.

Weaknesses: tendency of voice to "pull away" from forward resonance and become breathy and uncontrolled Famous Mezzos: Cecilia Bartoli, Beyoncé, Idina Menzel

Switch around A5-C5

Soprano

Strengths: bright sound, flutey in quality, largest range (including possible "whistle register"), very flexible Weaknesses: more risk for developing vocal health issues, straining in sound Famous Sopranos: Renee Fleming, Mariah Carey, Julie Andrews

This list is a very superficial account of the many voice types available.  Voices may also be "brighter" or "darker", has more lyric or "trumpety" sounds.  To learn more about you unique voice, please ask your voice teacher!

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