Voice Types: The 8 Singing Classifications. Find Yours Here!

Introduction: (0:00)
Definition of Voice Types: (1:12)
8 Vocal Classifications: (3:37)
Tessitura: (5:33)
Timbre: (7:28)
Vocal Weight: (7:40)
Bass Voice Type: (9:21)
Baritone Voice Type: (12:24)
Tenor Voice Type (15:10)
Countertenor Voice Type (17:23)
Contralto Voice Type: (19:21)
Alto Voice Type: (21:06)
Mezzo Soprano Voice Type: (23:58)
Soprano Voice Type: (26:15)
Final Notes: (29:31)

Every singer wants to find their voice type! That's because knowing your voice type (bass, baritone, tenor, countertenor, contralto, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano) will help you know exactly what kind of music that you can sing.

For instance, if I'm a bass, then singing a Sam Smith song might be very difficult for me. Or, if you're in Alto, singing an Ariana Grande song might be difficult for you.

But today, we'll look at the 8 main singing voice types. I'll show you how to identify each and I’ll show you how to find your own voice type.

Your voice type is the vocal classification of your singing voice. It's based on the 8 major Italian voice types: bass, baritone, tenor, countertenor, contralto, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano. Now many people believe that the only way to find your voice type is just based on your vocal range.

While it's true that finding your vocal range is very important in establishing your voice type, it's not the only determining factor. You also want to look at the vocal weight, the tessitura and the Timbre of the singing voice. And before we jump into the main voice types, you should know that every voice type has its place and is important. So even if you're a bass that wants to sing high notes, you need to learn to hit your high notes for a bass as well as humanly possible. Those notes will sound just as cool as when a tenor hits a high note in their own voice.

The eight singing voice types are separated by gender. The four male voice types are bass, baritone, tenor, and countertenor. The four female voice types are contralto, alto, mezzo, and soprano. Now keep in mind when I discuss the different ranges today that they're based on a trained voices not because you just can't sing high.

The lowest male voice type is the bass with a tessitura of E2 to E4. Examples include Johnny Cash, Barry White and, Leonard Cohen.

The next higher male voice type is the baritone with a tessitura of A2 to A4. Examples include John Legend, Hozier, and David Bowie.

The second highest male voice type is the tenor with a tessitura C3 to C5. Examples include Freddie Mercury, Jason Mraz, and Sam Smith.

The highest male voice type is the countertenor with a tessitura of E3 to E5. Examples include Bruno Mars and Dimash Kudaibergen.

Now let's look at the four major women voice types. The lowest female voice type is the contralto with a tessitura of E3 to E5. Examples include Nina Simone and Annie Lennox.

The next higher voice type is going to be the alto with tessitura of F3 to F5. Examples include Lana Del Rey, Tracy Chapman, and Amy Winehouse.

The second highest female voice type is the mezzo soprano with a tessitura of A3 to A5. Examples include Madonna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

The highest female voice type is a soprano with a tessitura of C4 to C6. Examples include Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.

Remember, none of these voice types are more valuable or more important than any other. Whatever voice type you are, the most important thing is that you train your voice to get the most out of that you can.

[LadyVoldemort]

Me having the flu: baritone
Me talking to my friends: contralto
Me talking to strangers: mezzo soprano
Me talking to my cats: drunk soprano

[joe_momma]

My voice type is drunk guy at karaoke night

[spacecowgirl]

As a women who has a low voice naturally i tend to sing a males tenor. I feel like not alot of wonen with deep voices get as much hype as women with voices like ariana grande.

[MannyNamiro]

As someone with no musical education whatsoever, I really appreciate you putting in examples of different artists for every voice. Made it really easy to spot the difference.

[sebastians.]

Fun fact: Freddy Mercury was a natural baritone. His vocal range was just to huge that he could easily sing as a tenor.

[earljustineromero]

Mariah
Bass
Baritone
Tenor
Countertenor
Contralto
Mezzo Soprano
Soprano
Carey

That’s the voice classification hun

JK

[katevgrady]

I've always felt really self conscious hanging out with my girlfriends and hearing how they speak compared to me. They sound like the auditory equivalent of bubble letters while I sound like, idk, helvetica. No nonsense, no fun, deep. It always felt.. un-feminine. It feels a lot better to think I sound like Tracy Chapman. Thanks, seriously.

[ryansutt]

I like the way you made this video. You didn’t choose the blasting whistle notes of each range, you just showed their comfort, which was comfortable and nice.

You speak well and are nice to listen to.

[Pastafasta]

Did I intend to watch a 30 minute video about voice types today? No.

Did I just discover I'm either an alto or mezzo soprano? Yep!

[mitzimar]

Some people categorize sopranos as great singers than other lower voice types that is why you actually made me smile when you said 'all voice types are equal and valid!'
I really appreciate your videos!! (happy tears!)

[curlsandflowerss]

I had no idea this classification existed. All my life I was so frustrated that I couldn't sing high notes like all the singers. And now I know that I am not supposed to. I am one of the lowest female types. It was very good to know.

[GlitterSkies]

As a girl I’ve always had a heavier singing voice compared to my friends. I loved singing Demi or Kelly but I couldn’t sing Ariana because it wouldn’t sound “right”. But I’ve learned to work more with my voice and accept that it won’t ever sound light and airy which is okay. Now I find myself singing more sultry songs and they work really well for me.

[juliajones]

I am a contralto (even down to most of the baritone range), daughter of a bass so I got it naturally. When I started leading contemporary worship, many ladies thanked me for singing in ranges they could reach. Finally, they heard songs that weren’t so high they couldn’t follow. Every voice does indeed have value, especially since most women I know can’t reach the stratosphere.

[apetrie]

Every vocal coach I've seen has "reassured" me that I'm not a contralto and have a "normal enough" voice (not kidding!). Thank you for making this video and confirming for me that I AM a contralto with your simple, clear explanations and examples.

Why would anyone see having a voice type like Annie Lennox, or Nina Simone as a flaw? I don't get it! Glad to be in that rare group.

[vincentvillareal]

I think I am a bass and my dog is tenor, plus my mum is a soprano when she's angry.

[jakeorzali]

I want to be friends with this guy.
Comes off as so genuinely himself with such love for everybody.
And the way he gets into the songs while watching clips, but is able to keep his teaching hat on… definitely subscribing.

[AlexandraMussar]

True contraltos scare me lmao. Insanely talented.

[karenk]

Because I hit puberty early, I adjusted both my speaking and singing voices higher not to sound like Lauren Bacall when I was eleven years old. I was classified as a lyric soprano all the way through public school. I auditioned for the head of the voice department in collage with art songs intended for a lyric soprano. Half way through my first college semester, my vocal teacher decided to exercise the lower part of my range. I had always liked to sing with the tenors when I was bored in choir practice so that day my teacher ran me up and down my comfortable range and proclaimed that, with a four octive range, I had sung my way into the alto section of the college choir. God had given me a wonderful instrument but I wasted and mistreated it for a very long time. Now, at sixty-eight, it is mostly gone. If you have any talents don't waste them. Get proper instruction and practice. I wish that I could still sing, even in the shower. It might be that you could thrill an audience of fifty thousand but the soul deep joy is in singing for yourself, your loved ones and your creator. Don't ever forget that a talent is a gift. Appreciate it.

[thecloudretainer]

I cant sing and i'm tone deaf. Best 30 minute of singing lesson in my life😍 Your explanation and examples are so easy to understand. And you're so respectful and warm. Thank you for making this video.

[laura-anne]

You've explained this perfectly! What I love about your teaching is how comfortable you make everyone feel about their own voices in each video you do. That shows the work of a great singing teacher 🙂. Thank you so much for this video! 🥰