Voice types are broad categories that are used to describe different types of singing voices. It’s important to remember that these categories can be a bit hazy at times, and that people can move between them, especially with the help of a good teacher. Most singers spend years honing their voices before performing, and it’s common for instructors to wait until their students have fully developed their voices before categorizing them.
Soprano, mezzo-soprano, and contralto are the three basic voice types for women, from highest to lowest range. Voice types for men include countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass. Boys are thought to have treble voices, which change as they grow older. There is a lot of variety within each of these voice types, and many musical traditions divide the voice types more precisely.
People will talk about a singer’s individual range, which can vary, as well as the dynamics of his or her voice and other unique qualities that can influence a singer’s sound, in addition to describing a singer’s range with a voice type. Some singers have voices that are instantly recognizable, and in the field of opera, some roles have even been written specifically for such voices, making them difficult for other singers to perform.
There is a great deal of variety among sopranos. Coloratura sopranos are known for their ability to reach the top of the soprano range, with light, clear voices that are well-suited to ornate, complex music. Dramatic sopranos have dark, rich voices that can border on mezzo-soprano. Lyric sopranos have silkier voices that reach the mid range, whereas dramatic sopranos reach the low end of the range with dark, rich voices that can border on mezzo-soprano. Mezzos are very common, and their ranges are often dynamic and flexible. Contraltos, on the other hand, are extremely uncommon, with rich, intense, almost grainy voices that can sound eerie.
The male counterpart of the contralto, the counter-tenor, is an extremely rare voice type. Tenors have light, clear voices that are divided into categories similar to sopranos, such as “lyric” and “dramatic.” The baritone is the most common male voice range, with a rich, mid-range voice that can fit into a variety of categories. Basses have the deepest male voices, with a rich, deep timber that suits comedic roles well.