Singing 101
Most people sing a little bit in their everyday life whether it’s in the shower, the car, while they work, at karaoke, or just in general! But, do you know the correct way to sing and what your range is? This post intends to teach you all you need to know about the ins and outs of singing. Keep reading to learn something new about your own voice.
An Overview
Singing has been around since the beginning of time, which makes sense when you think about it since you are the instrument. Most ancient singing took its form in groups. The oldest record of this that we know of are the Greek Delphic hymns from the 2nd century BC. Singing took off from there, having an essential role in religion and society. We experience singing today with individual bands or artists and the everlasting choir. Music education has helped the act of singing in a choir remain part of society because it gives kids a space to learn about music and their own musical talents. As music students ourselves, all of us at BTB are eternally grateful for the music education we received and can pass on to our own students. (source)
How to sing
Although we sing for fun all the time, there is a correct way to do it that involves proper posture, diaphragmatic breathing, and correct vocal placement. Sitting or standing up straight is the first step in singing correctly because it will help you control your breathing while also giving your body enough room to work with you when you sing. Your lungs can fully expand, your larynx is completely vertical, and you have better control of your abdominal muscles when you have good posture. Breathing from your diaphragm is the perfect way to breathe when singing because you can control your projection and air flow. You do this by taking deep, deep breaths and controlling the air in your lungs with your abdominal muscles. Once you can control air this way, you sing correctly and avoid using your throat to sing. Singing only from your throat makes it difficult to sing and can strain your muscles. Singing correctly is all about control, especially when it comes to singing very high or low notes.
Different kinds of voices
Now that we know how to sing correctly, we can talk about different kinds of voices. Everyone uses their bodies the same way to sing, but the sounds that come out are unique to you! The most important part of knowing what kind of voice you have is paying attention to your natural range, AKA the notes that you can sing with ease and no strain. Some people aren’t limited to one kind of singing voice if their natural range spans bigger. It’s all about finding what is comfortable for you. Let’s get into it.
Soprano
Soprano voices are the highest kinds of voices and can sing super high notes with ease. Soprano singers have a versatile upper register that can range from a middle C to a high C, giving them a beautiful brightness to their voice. In a choir, sopranos typically sing the melody. A good example of a soprano voice is Mariah Carey who can hit whistle tone notes.
Alto
Alto voices are the second highest voices with a natural vocal range that falls between the F below middle C to the F below high C. Many alto singers can hit higher notes, but their natural range is a little bit lower. Alto voices are usually tasked with singing harmonies that add depth in choral pieces. Adele is a good example of an alto voice. She can hit high notes if she wants to, but she typically sings a bit lower.
Tenor
Tenor voices are typically classified as the highest adult male classical singing voice. Their broader range can fall between the octave below middle C up to high C depending on an individual’s range. Like sopranos, tenors typically sing the melody in a choir. A great example of a tenor voice is Freddy Mercury from Queen, who could sing across three octaves.
Bass
Bass voices are the lowest possible voices that have a range between the second E below middle C to the E above middle C. With their deep and powerful voices, bass singers provide the foundation to music. They are actual known as the anchor of musical pieces. A good example to look to is Johnny Cash.
We hope you found our guide to singing useful in your music journey. Did you learn what kind of voice you have? Let us know with a comment below! If you still need help figuring out your vocal range or want to become an expert singer, you can take classes with us! Click here to sign up for your first singing lesson. Thanks for reading and we’ll catch you next week with a new addition to our blog. Always remember to sit up straight when you sing and never stop singing in the shower!
As an institution that is a beat above the rest, Breaking the Barrier School of Music provides quality music lessons in a family atmosphere to students of all ages and skillsets. For more articles like these or information on this school, visit https://btbschoolofmusic.com/
