Ren Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I just got confused by this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenor. It basically says that tenor is one of the highest male voice types. So that means that the highest is countertenor? But I thought tenor and countertenor has the same range. And the difference is, tenors are singers who sing more in a male range, while countertenors sing more in a female range. It also says that C5 is the tenor high C. But I remember reading somewhere that C6 is the tenor high C. So I'm confused. And I also know that Wikipedia can sometimes be wrong, because anyone can just go on there and write stuff. So I'll just ask this question here. Idk what tag I should put this in, because I have very little singing and voice knowledge, and Idk what a bunch of those tags mean. So I just put it in chest, head, and mixed voice. Because this question includes those stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonJon Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 c5 I think C6 would be Soprano high C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Beast Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Countertenors are basically singing in a trained falsetto, they have a beard and sound like chicks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Mohler Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Tenor: Countertenor: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VideoHere Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I think Countertenors sound cool...LOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Robert Lunte Posted August 17, 2016 Administrator Share Posted August 17, 2016 Countertenors are really more like, reinforced falsettoists to my ears. That would imply, among other things, that they have a lower closed quotient on the vocal folds (more thinning) and therefore actually do produce a sound color that is leaning more towards the Falsetto spectrum. They don't sound as "chesty" as contemporary singers do in the head voice. Less belt musculature / TA engagement. More CT dominance, less TA engagement. Countertenors, do to their repertoire also tend to posses great agility due to the coloratura and runs they have to master in their genre. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draven Grey Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I recently got a student who was trained as a countertenor, and I'm teaching him to belt. Definitely learning a completely new technique for him, but I find his ability to go between and belting reinforced falsetto to be strikingly beautiful and amazing. It has also helped him circumvent the urge/tendency to yell higher notes that most contemporary singers deal with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonJon Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 14 hours ago, Jeremy Mohler said: Tenor: Countertenor: that counter is a little freaky to me lol. Almost looks like an overdub. The voice not matching the face etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Ashe Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 1 hour ago, Robert Lunte said: Countertenors, do to their repertoire also tend to posses great agility due to the coloratura and runs they have to master in their genre. I sing in the choir at my church. i know some of you might be having a good little giggle about that. " What the, that potty mouth old hippie goes to church and sings in a choir?! anyway, hah! yes i do. but that's a story i won't contaminate your brain with. So in this choir we usually have two parishioners singing in each vocal fach (sprano,alto,tenor,bass), and one paid pro also in each category of singer. Everyone in this choir can sight read music but me, and these pros the musical director hires are a fascinating group of singers, all trained, some with extraordinary talent, a few teachers of voice, some who sing in the L.A. and San Fran. opera. I've seen one of the tenors (as praised in Robert Lunte's quote above) walk in to the room, pick up the sheet music for a song he's never seen before, and sing it flawlessly (a solo part) on the first run through with the choir. I'm just guessing, but I'd bet they're not getting paid more than $100 per 4hr Sunday gig. (anyone who might know correct me, i hope i'm wrong, they deserve more). What I find humorous and humbling is, (as a rocker) it's really hard for me to sing in that classic style and not sound like a parody act. Yet, it is an interesting challenge to try and phonate that smooth, warm, lowered larynx sound color; a supported, subtle and "in the pocket" vibrato, and sound like the real deal. Big time volume control, they're good at sustaining chesty texture regardless of the volume or pitch of the note. They practiced the "classic version" of the messa di voce onset in their training routine extensively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Ashe Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 3 minutes ago, JonJon said: that counter is a little freaky to me lol. Almost looks like an overdub. The voice not matching the face etc sounds like a woman to me Jonjon. hee hee. Here's a guy i know who's a pro tenor (not counter) but you can hear his "man color" edge is still present. btw, beware the performance following him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronws Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 18 hours ago, Sexy Beast said: Countertenors are basically singing in a trained falsetto, they have a beard and sound like chicks. And they wear speedos that are NOT yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Robert Lunte Posted August 18, 2016 Administrator Share Posted August 18, 2016 ... Tenor C is any C a tenor sings. But the popular term, "Tenor High C" is referring to C5, which is what I think you are hitting at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VideoHere Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 If anyone of the beginner folks are serious about developing a strong head voice you'd better resign yourselves to the fact that you are going to need to get comfortable with
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