vocal range

how far apart should the alto line be from the soprano and tenor lines?

In general, the alto and soprano lines should always be within an octave of each other and (even more preferably) should stay within a sixth of each other. If the soprano line starts on high E, your alto line should be no lower than low E and preferably above F. On the other hand, the alto should stay about the same distance above the tenor line. You don't want your tenor to be more than a seventh below the alto and again preferably within a sixth. By keeping the alto within this range, you bridge the distance between the tenor and soprano voices and ensure that they remain harmoniously connected.

how do we use the alto in four-part writing?

In general, the upper voices (tenor, alto, and soprano) ought to be grouped together and react strongly to each other's movements. It's important to keep a fair amount of distance between all the upper voices and the bass, which kind of gets to do its own thing. Among the upper voices, the alto plays the important role of filling in the space between the tenor and soprano voices.

Barbershop music is divided into what four parts?

Tenor, Lead (Melody), Baritone and Bass

tenor di grazia

a high-range, light-toned type of tenor voice especially well-suited to singing fast musical passages

heldentenor

a lower-range, dark, very powerful voice often used for heroic characters

When the bass is extremely low, it's common to do what to one of the upper registers?

double it or divide it into multiple parts

average tenor range used in choral music

from D below middle C to A above middle C.

tenor (within the 3 types)

the highest of these types

soprano

the highest-pitched human voice type, though it can also refer to a singer who possesses that voice type. Both women and children (boys or girls) can be sopranos.

bass (definition)

the lowest line of the four-part harmony

bass

the lowest of these types

mezzo soprano

the medium-range voice type

baritone

the middle of these types

average range of an operatic tenor soloist

two octaves, from C below middle C to C above middle C.

alto

The alto is the second-highest of the four voices, sitting above the tenor but below the soprano.

In many scores, the alto and soprano voices will be written in the same space. This is especially true when written for piano, as soprano and alto voices typically occupy the treble clef, while tenor and bass voices are typically written in the bass clef. So, how do you tell the alto and soprano lines apart?

The alto's notes are traditionally written with stems facing down, while the soprano's point up.

contralto

The lowest of these voice types

the average range of a baritone

about an octave and a half, from low G to E above middle C.

inner voices

alto and tenor "the glue that holds it all together"

countertenor

an adult male may have a singing voice higher than the average tenor range and can be designated a countertenor

what part sings the lead in barbershop music?

another baritone

why do community choirs usually have more "basses" than "tenors"?

because most men are baritones

why is choral music usually separated into only four parts: soprano and alto for women, tenor and bass for men?

choral music doesn't use the terms 'tenor' and 'bass' the same way that vocal soloists do. In choral music, 'bass' just means the lower male part, and 'tenor' means the higher one. Since most baritones don't have vocal ranges high enough to sing tenor parts, they generally sing bass in choirs.

3 types of operatic sopranos

coloratura, lyric, dramatic

what is the typical range for basses?

from the E above middle C all the way down to the second E below middle C

lyric baritone

has a range on the higher end of the baritone category and a sweet, light tone color. Composers have written many comic roles for this voice

dramatic sopranos

has a voice of great power and volume, and she often specializes in music that makes heroic statements

lyric tenor

has an average soloist's vocal range and a supple voice that specializes in singing flowing melodies. Lyric tenors often play romantic leads

coloratura sopranos

has an especially high range and a smaller vocal volume and is skilled at singing very fast and intricate musical passages.

dramatic baritone

have darker and lower voices than lyric baritones. They're often cast as villains

bass-baritone

just what it sounds like: a baritone with a lower bass extension. Bass-baritones often have powerful, commanding voices. They sing roles like the mythical god Wotan in Wagner's Ring of the Nibelungs.

3 subcategories of baritones in operatic music

lyric baritone, dramatic baritone, bass-baritone

The average vocal range used by sopranos in choral music

middle C to high A above the treble staff

range of sopranos who are trained as soloists

middle C to high C above the treble staff

does the bass have to follow the "sixth" rule?

no, you can find the bass at a 10th, 11th, or even 12th below the tenor line. That's because the upper voices are supposed to maintain a good degree of distance from the bass at all times.

baritone (defintion)

refers to the medium-range voice category in adult males or to a singer who possesses that voice. The term comes from a Greek word meaning 'deep voice,' and that's just what a baritone has.

outer voices

soprano and bass

what are the 3 general categories soprano women's voices fall into?

soprano, mezzo soprano, contralto

lyric sopranos

specializes in a warm, beautiful tone and flowing melodic lines. Lyric sopranos play many of the romantic females in opera

3 types of operatic tenors

tenor di grazia, lyric tenor, heldentenor

three main types of adult male voices

tenor, baritone, bass

typical range for altos

the F or G below middle C, to second D above middle C

range

the distance between the lowest and highest notes that a voice or instrument can produce

tenor

the highest common voice category in adult males, or to a singer who possesses that voice type.