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Singing is more athletic than many people realize, requiring disciplined training to be successful and safe. Singing properly requires knowing some anatomy, and how singers use this knowledge to create and manipulate sound. Successful vocal technique depends on strengthening the muscles that produce and control sound, as well as identifying how to correct bad habits that can damage the voice.

This guide reviews the requirements for healthy singing: respiration, resonance, and articulation. Additionally, it explains vocal types and why these differences are important.

Terminology

• Alto/Contralto: The lowest female vocal type, generally F3-F5.
• Baritone: The middle male vocal type, generally A2-A4.
• Bass: The lowest male vocal type, generally E2-E4.
• Belting: Vocal style that pushes the chest voice beyond its natural range.
• Chest Voice: Using resonance in the chest, sometimes associated with lower notes.
• Dramatic: Usually a fuller and darker sound.
• Falsetto: Higher, breathier quality of the upper register.
• Head Voice: Using resonance in the head, sometimes associated with higher notes.
• Legit: Traditional musical theatre sound that relies on more classical and operatic training.
• Lyric: Usually a lighter and brighter sound.
• Mezzo: The middle female vocal type, generally A3-A5.
• Mix Voice: Mixing the resonance of both the head and chest voice.
• Resonance: The vibrations of sound through the body.
• Soprano: The highest female vocal type, generally C4-C6.
• Tessitura: The area of your voice where the majority of a song sits.
• Tenor: The highest male vocal type, generally C3-C5.
• Timbre: Tonal quality.
• Vibrato: A pitch variation, usually determined by how much and how quickly the pitch varies, but still centered around a single note.
• Voice Types: The classifications of similar vocal ranges.
• Vocal Fry: A technique that creates a croaky or froggy tone.