Determining the voice type of a child and an adult

Each voice is unique and inimitable in its sound. Thanks to these features, we can easily recognize the voices of our friends even over the phone. Singing voices differ not only in timbre, but also in pitch, range, and individual coloring. And in this article you will learn how to correctly determine the voice type of a child or an adult. And also how to determine your comfortable range.

Singing voices always fit one of the vocal characteristics that were invented in the Italian opera school. Their sound was compared to the musical instruments of a string quartet. As a rule, the sound of the violin was compared to the female voice of a soprano, and the viola – with a mezzo. The lowest voices – contralto – were compared to the sound of a horn (as was the timbre of a tenor), and low bass timbres – to the double bass.

This is how a classification of voices appeared, close to the choral one. Unlike the church choir, in which only men sang, the Italian opera school expanded the possibilities of singing and allowed the creation of a classification of female and male voices. After all, in the church choir, women’s parts were performed by treble (soprano) or tenor-altino. This characteristic of voices has been preserved today not only in opera, but also in pop singing, although in the stage the presentation of sound is different. Some criteria:

Professional singing has its own definition criteria. While listening, the teacher pays attention to:

1. This is the name for the unique coloring of the voice, which can be light and dark, rich and soft, lyrically tender. Timbre consists of the individual voice color that each person has. One’s voice sounds soft, subtle, even a little childish, while another’s has a rich, chesty tone even in his early years. There are head, chest and mixed timbres, soft and sharp. It is the main characteristic of color. There are voices whose harsh timbre sounds very repulsive and unpleasant to such an extent that it is not recommended for them to practice vocals. Timbre, like range, is a distinctive feature of a singer, and the voice of outstanding singers is distinguished by its bright individuality and recognition. In vocals, a soft, beautiful and pleasant to the ear timbre is valued.
2. Each voice type has not only its own characteristic sound, but also a range. It can be determined during chanting or by asking a person to sing a song in a key that is convenient for him. Typically, singing voices have a certain range, which allows one to accurately determine its type. There is a distinction between working and non-working voice ranges. Professional singers have a wide working range, which allows them not only to replace colleagues with other voices, but also to beautifully perform opera arias for other parts.
3. Any voice has its own key in which it is convenient for the performer to sing. It will be different for each type.
4. This is the name of a certain part of the range in which it is convenient for the performer to sing. There is one for each voice. The wider this area, the better. It is often said that there is a comfortable and uncomfortable tessitura for a voice or performer. This means that a song or part in a choir can be comfortable for one performer to sing and uncomfortable for another, although their ranges may be the same. This way you can determine the characteristics of your voice.

Children’s voices do not yet have a formed timbre, but already at this time it is possible to determine their type in adulthood. They are usually divided into high and short, for both boys and girls. In the choir they are called soprano and alto or treble and bass. Mixed choirs have 1st and 2nd sopranos, and 1st and 2nd altos. After adolescence, they will acquire a brighter color and after 16-18 years it will be possible to determine the adult voice type.

Most often, trebles produce tenors and baritones, and altos produce dramatic baritones and basses.. The low voices of girls can turn into mezzo-soprano or contralto, and the soprano can become a little higher and lower and acquire its own unique timbre. But it happens that low voices become high and vice versa.

The treble is well recognizable by its ringing high sound. Some of them can even sing parts for girls. They have a well-developed high register and range.

Both boys and girls violas have a chest sound. Their low notes sound more beautiful than their high notes. Sopranos – the highest voices in girls – sound better at high notes, starting from G of the first octave, than at low ones. If you determine their tessitura, you can understand how it will develop. That is, how to determine the range of this voice as an adult.

There are currently 3 types of female and male voices. Each type has its own differences.

It has a bright feminine timbre and can sound high, ringing and shrill. He is more comfortable singing at the end of the first octave and in the second, and some coloratura sopranos easily sing high notes in the third. In men, the tenor has a similar sound.

Most often, it has a beautiful deep timbre and range that opens beautifully in the first octave and at the beginning of the second. The low notes of this voice sound full, juicy, with a beautiful chesty sound. It is similar to the sound of a baritone.

It has a cello-like sound and can play low notes of a small octave. And the lowest male voice is the bass profundo, which is very rare in nature. Most often, the lowest parts in the choir are sung by the basses.

After listening to outstanding singers of your gender, you will easily understand how to determine your type by color.

How to accurately determine the tone of a voice? You can do this at home if you have a musical instrument. Choose a song that you like and sing it in a comfortable key. It should have a wide range to cover at least one and a half octaves. Then try to match its melody. In what range do you feel comfortable singing it? Then lift it higher and lower.

Where does your voice shine best? This is the most convenient part of your operating range. The soprano will sing comfortably at the end of the first and beginning of the second octave and above, the mezzo in the first, and the contralto sounds most clearly in the last tetrachord of the small octave and in the first sixth of the first. This is a good way to correctly determine the tone of your voice.

Here’s another way, how to determine what your natural voice is. You need to take a chant in the octave range (for example, do – mi – la – do (up) do – mi – la (down), and sing it in different keys, which will differ for a second. If the voice opens up when you sing up, This means that his type is soprano. And, if it fades and loses expressiveness, it is mezzo or contralto.

Now do the same from top to bottom. In what key did you become most comfortable singing? Has your voice begun to lose its timbre and become dull? When moving down, sopranos lose their timbre on low notes; they are uncomfortable singing them, unlike mezzo and contralto. This way you can determine not only the timbre of your voice, but also the most convenient area for singing, that is, the working range.

Select several soundtracks of your favorite song in different keys and sing them. Where the voice reveals itself best is where it is worth singing in the future. Well, at the same time, you will know how to determine your timbre by listening to the recording several times. And, although you may not recognize your voice out of habit, sometimes a recording can most accurately determine its sound. So, if you want to define your voice and understand how to work with it, go to the studio. Good luck!