Know Your Voice Type

Why is it important to know your voice type?

Because to know your voice type tells you about your working range, which is a good indication of what you are able to sing, and where your limits lie. Singing outside of your natural range is not only potentially harmful but it will also most probably not be a lot of fun!

If you would like to know your voice type, it is important to remember that not all voices will fall neatly into one type. Often a persons range will extend higher or lower than the main voice types. This is perfectly normal and actually there is confusion as to exactly which notes are correctly identified as the highest and lowest of each range.

It should also be noted that within each voice type singers can have a very different sounding voice, some are darker or heavier than others and this may affect whether they are chosen for certain parts in a musical or opera for example. So it is best to keep an open mind when deciding which voice types and ranges your voice falls in to.

These are the main voice types listed from lowest to highest - bass, baritone, tenor, contralto, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano. The three lowest are male voices and the four highest are female. The most common male voice type is the baritone and with female voices it is more common to be an alto or mezzo-soprano.

In Opera there are actually 25 different voice types, the lowest being the basso serioso and the highest the coloratura soprano. Many of these voice types are actually sub-dividing the main types depending on the quality of the voice as well as just the comfortable working range. So you can see that voice types and ranges can be used as an indication of your working range or they can be expanded to describe much more accurately the type of voice which a person has.

As a singer, you are better off having a smaller range and being able to sing within that range very well than having a large range and a voice that no one wants to listen to.

It is also very common for performers to transpose popular songs into a key which allows them to use their comfortable range. So when you know your voice type it can make it really easy for you to sing your favourite tunes!

If you are keen to know your voice type then the best way is to actually be assessed by a choir director or singing teacher who will judge your voice and place you within one voice type. You could also make a note of the highest and lowest notes in your comfortable range and use a singing book or resource to determine your voice type.

Whatever your voice types and ranges, it is always advisable to follow a proper warm-up and practice programme and to get professional advice on your singing technique.

Voice types and ranges vary greatly from person to person and every voice is special. When you do know your voice type, remember that it is just a type and the way your voice sounds is unique to you.