7 Different Types of Singing Voices Explained

There’s something magical about finding your own rhythm and letting your voice soar. Our voices are as unique as our fingerprints, categorized by range, timbre, and transition points. By exploring these elements, you can uncover the hidden strengths of your singing voice and boost your confidence in ways you never imagined.

Welcome to your ultimate guide on vocal types! Whether you’re a shower singer or an aspiring star, this guide will highlight the different types of singing voices and their distinctive traits.

List of Different Types of Singing Voices

1: Soprano

The Italian word “soprano” is the source of the word meaning “above.”

• Sopranos are the classical female singers with soprano singing voice and with the broadest vocal range among all voice types.

  Sopranos are categorized into five distinct types: coloratura, soubrette, lyric, spinto, and dramatic. They are known for their ability to produce a clear, pure, and resonant tone, capable of ranging from delicate and soft to powerful and dramatic. In choral music, sopranos often carry the melody and contribute shimmering, ethereal harmonies that elevate the overall sound of the choir.

  Some of the famous singers with soprano voices include Jessye Norman, Maria Callas, Angela Gheorghiu, Montserrat Caballé, and Lise Davidsen.

• A Sopranista is a male singer who sings in the soprano range using a specialized vocal technique, falsetto. They are also known as male sopranos or sopranists, and their vocal range is between C4 and C6.

  Sopranists are renowned for their high-range singing abilities and unique voices. Their distinctive tones and timbres, arising from their male personality, enable them to create high notes and vocal quality.

  Samuel Marino, Simone Bartolini, Michael Maniaci, Aris Christofellis, and Edson Cordeiro are renowned sopranist singers for their exceptional singing.

2: Mezzo-Soprano

Mezzo-sopranos, derived from the Italian term “mezzo,” meaning “half,” represent a classical female singing voice with a range that bridges the soprano and contralto voices.

Mezzo-sopranos are generally categorized into three types: coloratura, lyric, and dramatic. These types are characterized by their rich tonal quality, powerful middle voices, and distinctive lower registers.

Due to their versatile range, which typically spans from A3 to A5, mezzo-sopranos can reach pitches comparable to sopranos while also conveying a broad spectrum of emotions.

Famous singers with mezzo-soprano voices include Cecilia Bartoli, Janet Baker, Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, and Joyce DiDonato.

3: Contralto

A contralto is a classical female singing voice with a low vocal range, characterized by a rich, deep, and resonant tone. It typically ranges from F below middle C to second F above middle C, although the exact range varies according to the individual. There are three types of contraltos: coloratura, dramatic, and lyric.

Contralto singers are celebrated for their powerful, full-bodied tone, which suits lower-pitched genres such as jazz, blues, and gospel. Their voices often feature a strong vibrato that adds warmth and depth, possessing a lower pitch and authoritative tone, conveying confidence and intensity in both professional and personal contexts.

Prominent singers who excel in contralto voices are Marian Anderson, Kathleen Ferrier, Maureen Forrester, Ewa Podles, and Sara Mingardo.

4: Tenor

Among different types of singing voices, tenor is a classical male singing vocal type that falls between countertenor and baritone, ranging from C3 to B4. This voice type is known for its bright, clear, and ringing vocals and is frequently used by lead singers in popular music genres like rock and pop.

Tenor voices are divided into seven types: leggero, lyric, spinto, dramatic, heldentenor, Mozart, and tenor buffo or spiel-tenor.

Some of the famous singers with tenor voices include Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Fritz Wunderlich, Beniamino Gigli, and Jussi Bjorling.

5: Baritone

A baritone is a classical male singing voice that falls between the bass and tenor voice categories. It is deep, warm, and rich, with a comfortable tessitura ranging from G2 to G4. There are six types of baritone voices: light, lyric, verdi, kavalier, dramatic, and bass-baritone.

Baritone voice types include singing with higher notes than basses but lower notes than tenors. Their powerful voices make them suitable for a wide range of music, and they frequently appear in operas but can be used in different musical genres, such as opera, classical jazz, musical theater, and contemporary music.

Renowned baritone singers include Tito Gobbi, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Simon Keenlyside, Gerald Finley, and Matthias Goerne.

6: Bass

The bass voice, a male voice with the lowest vocal range among different types of singing voices, is a marvel of nature. Ranging from E2 to E4, it can reach a vocal range from C2 to G4, with upper and lower extremes that are truly unique.

The bass voice can be classified into six types: basso profundo, basso buffo, bel canto bass, basso cantante, dramatic bass, and bass-baritone.

Bass voice types, with their low, resonant voice and lower vocal range than tenors or altos, play a crucial role in music. They produce a deeper pitch and richer tone, and they often sing the lowest notes in choirs or vocal groups, establishing a powerful foundation for harmony.

Some of the most famous bass singers are Barry White, Johnny Cash, Boris Christoff, J. D. Sumner, and Tim Storms.

7: Countertenor

A countertenor is a classical male singing voice with a vocal range equivalent to the different types of singing voices, including contralto and mezzo-soprano. It ranges between E3 and E4 and is capable of hitting the high notes.

Countertenors have a unique vocal technique that involves singing falsetto or using their head voice to produce high-pitched, agile, and clean notes. Their voice is distinguished by smooth vibrato and a seamless transition between chest and falsetto, creating light and beautiful tones.

Andreas Scholl, Alfred Deller, James Bowman, Russell Oberlin, and Michael Chance are among the famous singers with countertenor voices.