Voice
Soprano
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly C4–C6; every voice differs
- Its role
- The highest voice in classical and choral music.
- Technique
- Breath, resonance and diction.
- Practice
- Even out the registers without strain.
Mezzo-soprano
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly A3–A5; every voice differs
- Its role
- A middle-high voice with a wide range of color.
- Technique
- Register transitions and diction.
- Practice
- Balance resonance across the range.
Contralto
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly F3–F5; every voice differs
- Its role
- The lowest female classical voice.
- Technique
- Breath, legato and registration.
- Practice
- Stay in a comfortable tessitura.
Tenor
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly C3–C5; every voice differs
- Transposition
- Usually written in treble clef an octave above sounding pitch
- Its role
- The highest male classical voice.
- Technique
- Passaggio and vowel modification.
- Practice
- Sing the upper register without pushing.
Baritone
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly A2–A4; every voice differs
- Its role
- The middle male classical voice.
- Technique
- Legato, diction and breath.
- Practice
- Keep the upper-middle notes free.
Bass
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Commonly E2–E4; every voice differs
- Its role
- The lowest male classical voice.
- Technique
- Resonance and breath management.
- Practice
- Support low notes without forcing.
Choir
- Family
- Voice
- Range
- Depends on the ensemble
- Its role
- Many singers organized into parts.
- Technique
- Blend, tuning and timing of consonants.
- Practice
- Listen across sections and release together.
Other chapters: Strings · Woodwinds · Brass · Keyboard · Percussion · Global and Contemporary
Ranges are a guide. They vary with the player, the instrument and the style, and a voice type is never decided from a range chart alone. Ranges are given in sounding pitch unless the entry says otherwise.
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