Vocal registration
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vocal registration is the term used to denote various theories of how the human voice changes, both subjectively and objectively, as it moves through its pitch range.
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[edit] General features of vocal registration
Nearly all untrained voices have noticeable differences in timbre at different pitches. This is most easily seen in males, who are generally aware that they can speak in both their usual voice, which sounds "male," and in another, higher voice that is lighter, breathier, and sounds "female." Each of these timbres is referred to as a "register," hence "vocal registration." This is the clearest example, though it is also extremely common for singers who have recently begun studying voice formally to notice more subtle differences in their voice as they move through their vocal range.
Beyond these facts, it should be noted that registration is somewhat controversial, with disagreement on how many registers there are and indeed whether they exist at all. Further complication arises from the fact that registration is, broadly, unique to a particular singer and is to some extent subjective - a head note for a bass is a chest note for a soprano.
[edit] Theories of registration
As mentioned above, registration is a controversial topic in vocal pedagogy. In this section, we outline the more popular theories of vocal registration.
[edit] No registers
Some believe that registration simply does not exist. They argue that any technique for any given pitch that does not lead to optimal vocal production for a given singer is harmful and should not be used at all. The more extreme adherents of this view hold that, in essence, any person can produce any pitch with sufficient practice.
[edit] Two registers
[edit] Chest register
The chest register is roughly the lower half of a person's vocal range. It is called chest voice because, subjectively, the pitch resonates in the chest cavity, creating a deep and complex sound most notable in lower voices.
[edit] Head register
The head register is roughly the upper half of a person's vocal range. It is called head voice because, subjectively, the pitch resonates in the head, particularly the face and forehead.
[edit] Three registers
This is similar to the two register theory, but the middle of the singer's range is considered distinct from the chest and head registers. Alternatively, some three register theoreticians hold that, for men, there is a chest voice, a head voice, and falsetto, while for females there is a chest voice, a head voice, and a whistle register, at least for some singers.
[edit] Other theories
In addition to those detailed here, a variety of theories of register have been proffered. At the extreme, they may propose more than a dozen distinct vocal registers. Those listed above are the most commonly seen today. For an introduction to other theories, see Caldwell, 2001.
[edit] References
- Caldwell, Robert. Excellence in singing: multilevel learning and multilevel teaching. Redmond, WA: Caldwell Publishing, 2001.
