One of the things you need to know at the initial stage of your singing lessons is your voice type. Knowing what type of voice you possess can help you choose the appropriate songs for you. It also helps you assess your capacity during a performance, contest or audition. Vocal teachers identify different voice types of their students based on variables such as range, tessitura, and timbre.

Different aspects of a voice

As mentioned earlier, range, tessitura, and timbre are some of the variables voice teachers look into to identify the type of voice of their students. Voice range can be identified through the notes that your voice can produce. Tessitura is described as the range where you are most comfortable with, while timbre is the quality and texture of your voice.

Additionally, your voice type is measured by its weightwhether it is light, bright and swift, or powerful as well as other physical characteristics that is uniquely present in your voice.

Types of Female Voice

For the female voice, soprano is the highest. However, the soprano type of voice is still divided in various types such as the coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, spinto, and soubrette to name a few.

The coloratura soprano or operatic soprano is described to be agile matched with elaborate adornment. There are still subcategories under this subcategory, and they are further divided by the lightness of the female singer's voice. Just like the coloratura soprano, spinto, soubrette, and lyric sopranos are all operatic types of voices with slight differences from one another.

Singers with mezzo-soprano on the other hand, typically fall under the classical music genre. This voice type offers heavier, darker tone than the other soprano subcategories. Just like the coloratura soprano, mezzo soprano is further divided into subcategories namely: lyric mezzo-soprano, coloratura mezzo-soprano, and dramatic mezzo-soprano.

Another major female voice type you learn during your singing lessons is the alto. Opposite the soprano, alto is the lowest female voice. Such voice type is in-charge with the supporting melodies in a chorale. Among the famous mainstream singers with alto voice are Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Norah Jones and Alicia Keys.

Types of Male Voice

The three major types of male voices are tenor, baritone, and bass which are the highest to the lowest, respectively. Tenor is the male voice which is the counterpart of soprano. Not many male singers fall under this category, which choirs often look for. Classical singers Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli are very famous tenors. Under the non-classical musical genre, notable tenors include Michael Jackson, Bono, and Bruno Mars.

The most common type of voice for malessingers or notis baritone. Baritone is powerful and very masculine which is often found useful in roles of generals and noblemen in the opera and musical theatre.

Lastly, bass is the lowest male voice. It has two subcategories which are basso cantante and basso profondo. The former is deep but agile, while the latter is described as deep, dark, and dramatic.

Voice teachers are often particular about learning about the voice type of their students to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the students in terms of singing.