When learning how to sing the first thing a person should learn is how to know their voice type. Male and female voices are classified into different voice types depending on their characteristics and qualities. There are seven major voice type categories that are widely acknowledged in the world of music. Men’s voices are divided into four types or groups that is, tenor, countertenor, bass and baritone. Women on the other hand are divided into mezzo-soprano, soprano and contralto. Each of these seven major categories has several sub-categories, which identify vocal qualities such as vocal weight to distinguish between the voices. Soprano, which is the highest voice in females ranges between middle C and high C. There are a few sopranos who are able to vocalize below the middle C and others are able to vocalize above the high C. The soprano voice tone is ringing and bright. This voice type is very strong and is normally the lead in most singing.
Mezzo-soprano is lower than the soprano and is the voice most common with female singers. This voice type is between soprano and contralto voices. Although those who sing mezzo-soprano can manage to sing soprano they are not able to stay that high and are more comfortable singing mezzo-soprano to avoid straining their voices. A person should first identify what range fits their voice and where they are comfortable before they start singing. Contralto is the lowest of the three female voices. It is divided into lyric and dramatic contralto. To avoid making the wrong assumption that alto and contralto mean the same a learner should know that while contralto is a voice type alto is a vocal line based on designated vocal range in music. The alto range in most choral music is less similar to contralto than mezzo-soprano.
Countertenor is the highest of the four male voice types and its range can be approximated to be between G3 and F5 or E5. The sub types in this voice type include sopranist also known as male soprano, modern castrato and Haute-contre. Tenor is a high singing male voice type that is mostly in the lead. Its range is almost two octaves and many within this range can sing slightly below C and just above high C for males. It is a ringing a bring voice that is normally the head voice. The bass is the lowest of all voice types. A person who sings bass sings all the low notes in the music. This voice mostly ranges between F and E. A person who sings bass finds a lot of strength in his low voice but finds his voice weak if he attempts to sing high notes. Bass singers produce the heaviest, darkest, deepest male sounds. The treble voice type is that of a young male or female singer whose voice has not yet changed. This voice is mostly in the soprano range.
