Understanding the Human Voice: Types and Techniques
The Human Voice
The voice is the sound that occurs when air returning from the lungs passes through the larynx. Following the brain’s instructions, this air causes the vocal cords to vibrate.
The Vocal Cords
These are two folds of muscle within the larynx that define the glottis. They contract and vibrate when air passes from the lungs, producing sound.
Natural Voice
A natural voice is untrained and does not use vibrato.
Impostata Voice
An impostata voice is crafted to achieve a homogeneous, full, and powerful sound. It often uses vibrato.
Tessitura
Tessitura refers to the comfortable range of notes for a voice or instrument. It encompasses the notes that can be produced consistently and comfortably.
Female and Children’s Voices
Soprano
The highest female voice, often taking the lead role in operas.
Mezzo-soprano
A middle voice with great expressive capacity.
Contralto
The lowest female voice, less common, especially in Mediterranean countries.
Male Voices
Tenor
The highest male voice, often the protagonist in operas. Scores are typically written in the treble clef with an 8 below, indicating the voice sounds an octave lower than written.
Baritone
A middle male voice, with scores written in the F clef on the fourth line.
Bass
The lowest male voice, also with scores written in the F clef on the fourth line.
Countertenor
A male voice that achieves high notes by utilizing head resonance, reaching soprano-like ranges.
Singing Styles and Techniques
Singing Redoblat
A singing style from Ibiza and Formentera, characterized by vocal oscillations at the end of each phrase.
Valencian Style Singing
A popular Valencian style featuring powerful vocals, ornamentation, and improvised lyrics.
Jota
A singing style from parts of Spain that uses a powerful chest voice.
Flamenco
A song of Andalusian origin that often uses long melismas on a single syllable.
Jodl
A type of acrobatic singing from the Alpine mountains of Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, featuring sudden jumps between high and low registers.
Singing Monks of Tibet
Religious chants from Tibetan monasteries, consisting of a very low monody without apparent melodic movement that can last for extended periods.
Scat
A vocal jazz technique that imitates the sound of instruments using nonsensical syllables.
Diphonic Singing
A vocal technique used in Tuva and Mongolia, among other places, that allows a singer to produce two notes simultaneously.
Song
A short musical composition designed to be sung.
Vocal Groups
Vocal
A group of singers performing vocal music together.
A Cappella
Performing a vocal work without any instrumental accompaniment.
Set of Equal Voices
A vocal ensemble consisting only of male, female, or children’s voices.
Set of Mixed Voices
A vocal ensemble comprising male, female, and/or children’s voices.
Chamber Choir
A smaller choir, typically with 9-20 singers.
Children’s Choir
A vocal group of children who typically perform children’s or popular repertoire.
Boys Choir
A children’s choir linked to a religious organization, performing mostly religious repertoire.
Orfeó
A large mixed-voice vocal group.
Hearts Keywords
Choral groups created in the nineteenth century by Josep Anselm Clave within the Catalan labor movement.
Groups Caramelles
Vocal groups that take to the streets during the Easter period, especially in the Catalan countryside, singing happy songs with social criticism.
With Boston
Vocal groups, typically male, with five or six members, singing seafood-related songs in different voices, accompanied by instruments like the guitar and accordion.