Voice type explanation

[lulu]

Hi guys!

Just found this website and I've been reading/learning about all sorts of interesting techniques. I have a question about the tone of people's voices. There are some people who sing and their voice just sounds so relaxing. I don't understand why or how. Can something like that be developed? Such as the placement of the larynx. Now These videos is of a korean guy and I have no clue what he is singing, but I find his voice so relaxing and soothing.

Also, would you classify his voice as a baritone or bass? It seems too high for bass.

[VideoHere]

hi,

your singer is singing in a light head configuration....the volume is generally soft with occasional breathiness added for effect.

his voice conjured up memories of a great singer i have always liked...

for comparison purposes...this singer brings a little more body and chestiness into the sound.

love this guy's voice!

[ronws]

Hey, Lulu, I'm going to use classical fach descriptions. They come as close as I can use to describe my impressions.

Definitely not a bass. And even though some of the notes are in baritone range, he is not a baritone. In fact, I think he is singing too low. Probably to have the soft, "romantic" effect. Nothing wrong with that.

I think he is really a tenor. And the tessitura, which is texture of the voice, more than it is range, is how one can place him. There are three main tessituras in tenor, that I am aware of. Dramatic, which has baritone or "chest" qualities. Examples of this muight be classical singers such as Luciano Pavarotti or a popular singer such as Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden. Then, there is lyric tenor. A lighter tone and a full range at full volume from about C3 to C5. Such as Steve Perry, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. Then there is leggiero, the lightest and highest of tenors. Such as Rob Halford, Robert Plant, Michael Sweet.

I think the singer you linked in is a lyric tenor, similar in tone and tessitura to that of singer/songwriter Richard Marx. And I do mean that as a compliment. A light, lyric tenor. Excellent at ballads, such as the songs you link. If I were him, I would stick with that. Guaranteed "babe" magnet. Women are not always won by the highest note. They are won by the "emotional" note. And it's women who buy the albums. Or their boyfriends and husbands buy the albums. David Lee Roth was the only one who understood this in depth.

[ronws]

To illustrate the point, at his prime, this song was huge and it didn't have a high note in it. It's all about grabbing women by the cajones, as it were.

On second listen, there were a few high notes. Note the satire of other video styles in this. The ultimate showman. It really is about presentation.

In the end, maybe voice type isn't so important.

Could this guy you linked be the korean version of Enrique Iglsesias? Sure. Nothing wrong with that.

[lulu]

Thanks guys. That's helpful. I find myself trying to determine vocal sounds and abilities for my own interest by finding youtube clips, but getting feedback is a lot better, of course. I would never have guessed that he was a tenor. That's interesting!

One other thing I was trying to learn is to differentiate between falsetto and head voice, so I was particularly intrigued when videohere mentioned the light head configuration.

I was watching a Brett Manning videos (I know he's not well liked in these parts, but I'm a newbie) and others videos on youtube about falsetto vs. head voice, but I'm not sure it's still clear to me. Using the same guy as an example of what is confusing me, I'm reading that falsetto has hissing, breathy quality to it. In the video below (sorry for the cheesy pop tune, listen at 2:25-2:40). It sounds like falsetto, but it is also clear and doesn't have the hissing sound. Is that note at the end a falsetto or head voice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpSLiCTd_AU

[Validar]

Interesting. To me, it sounded like he flipped between the two.

As for Brett Manning, I don't think it's that anyone necessarily dislikes him, they probably just don't agree with some of his claims, marketing tactics, and sometimes one dimensional outlook.

I have no doubt that he's an effective teacher with a lot of useful information and techniques, but I get the impression that he's trying to appeal to those who are looking to be an overnight sensation.

As others here have stated before, it's about long term dedication and hard work, which I believe Brett should be putting more emphasis on. Presenting it all as an "Instant Singer, Just Add Water!" package isn't really helping anyone in the long run.

[VideoHere]

lulu, the falsetto versus head voice question remains the most hard to explain/define topic in all of vocal pedagogy.

sometimes people regard them as synonymous and distinctly different within the same book!

i find the best way to deal with this is the following:

falsetto = hard to support, hard to contain air, tone cannot be sustained because little to no fold adduction.

head voice = can add support, tone can be sustained, fold adduction.

however, this is not correct depending on where you live, who you talk to...

for a singer (i.m.o.) falsetto is a breathy unsupported tone, a vocal accoutrement, which should used sparingly. head voice is a register that should be developed and strenghthened.

[lulu]

Thanks guys. This is definitely something that I have to study more.

[gno]

lulu - on the second clip you posted, at 2:35 he flips into falsetto for sure. Falsetto occurs when you let go or relax the TA muscle and the folds are vibrating only on the very outer layer. It differs from Head voice in that the TA muscle is still engaged and the folds are vibrating much deeper. The TA muscle is the muscle that runs along side the folds and is dominant in Chest Voice. TA makes the folds "thicker" and gives a "chesty" type of tone.

Think of someone "yodeling" - when someones yodels, they are flipping in and out of falsetto. What is actually happening is that they are turning on and off the TA muscle.