Vocal Weight

A voice's vocal weight is its ability to handle changes in vocal dynamic. A voice's weight is determined by the thickness of the vocal cords. All voices can sing loudly or softly to some degree, but different voices handle changes in dynamic differently. A voice can be said to have a dramatic or lyric quality.

There are three basic voice types that are common to all genders and singing ranges: lyric, spinto, and dramatic.

Lyric - This voice is smooth and mellow. When it gets loud, it can sound strenuous or very pushed. It does not like to sing loudly frequently. Agility, as well as crisp diction are its strong points. Examples include Kathleen Battle, Sade, and Amel Larrieux.
Spinto - This voice has a more robust and full sound than the lyric voice. It can be pushed (hence its Italian name) to dramatic climaxes, but also has a very lyric quality. It handles vocal dynamic changes very well. Examples include Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson.



Dramatic - This voice can sing over the orchestra, the choir, and any other accompaniments. As the vocal chords are thicker, agility is usually compromised. Singers who are classified as having dramatic voices have very strong, vigorous and puissant singing voices. When referring to popular singers, dramatic singing voices are loud, strong and full of emotion. Examples include Anastacia, Taylor Dayne, and Patti Labelle.



Full - Although not direct related to vocal weight, a full voice is a voice rangy enough to be capable of executing two or more vocal ranges with equal ease. A full soprano (e.g. Wagnerian soprano) has significant abilities below Middle C (but can execute Soprano C, effortlessly again and again). Full voices tend to be lyric in quality (but can very well be dramatic), as vocal thickness tends to hinder agility. Examples include Beyoncé Knowles.

The following subcategories apply to women:

Soubrette - This is a very lightweight voice, that is best in its middle voice. It does not handle changes in vocal dynamic very well. Its range is limited to about one and one-half octaves. Examples include Britney Spears.

Splint - This is a very rare lyric coloratura soprano, whose voice starts at the D or E above middle C and extends to the High F (or above). This voice has virtually NO low tones. This voice is RARE indeed.

Piccolo - A rare (and usually lyric) coloratura that can execute vocals in the seventh octave, where notes lose any real human color. The sometimes strident whistle register notes at that altitude can be said to mimick a piccolo, hence its name. Examples include Minnie Riperton, and Adam Lopez.

Full Dramatic Coloratura - This rare soprano voice can sing contralto very comfortably, sing over the orchestra, AND execute vocal acrobatics and melismas. This voice is at LEAST three octaves, is always capable of executing at least the High F, and its EXTREMELY rare. Examples are Mariah Carey and Rachelle Ferrell.

The following subcategories apply to men:

Leggiero - The male equivalent of a splint, this tenor voice is very light, but has a nice trumpetty quality and is capable of high altitude.

Heldentenor - A rich, dramatic voice capable of singing to the low G or A below Middle C and execute the Tenor C (or B one step below) effortlessly. This voice is not common.
The difference between dramatic high voice and the lyric voice one class down, as they have about the same range, its the power and robustness of the voice. The lyric voice is more mellow and less powerful than the dramatic voice.

i dont even think i qualify to fall under any cats. lols.

Vocal Weight

A voice's vocal weight is its ability to handle changes in vocal dynamic. A voice's weight is determined by the thickness of the vocal cords. All voices can sing loudly or softly to some degree, but different voices handle changes in dynamic differently. A voice can be said to have a dramatic or lyric quality.

There are three basic voice types that are common to all genders and singing ranges: lyric, spinto, and dramatic.

Lyric - This voice is smooth and mellow. When it gets loud, it can sound strenuous or very pushed. It does not like to sing loudly frequently. Agility, as well as crisp diction are its strong points. Examples include Kathleen Battle, Sade, and Amel Larrieux.
Spinto - This voice has a more robust and full sound than the lyric voice. It can be pushed (hence its Italian name) to dramatic climaxes, but also has a very lyric quality. It handles vocal dynamic changes very well. Examples include Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson.



Dramatic - This voice can sing over the orchestra, the choir, and any other accompaniments. As the vocal chords are thicker, agility is usually compromised. Singers who are classified as having dramatic voices have very strong, vigorous and puissant singing voices. When referring to popular singers, dramatic singing voices are loud, strong and full of emotion. Examples include Anastacia, Taylor Dayne, and Patti Labelle.



Full - Although not direct related to vocal weight, a full voice is a voice rangy enough to be capable of executing two or more vocal ranges with equal ease. A full soprano (e.g. Wagnerian soprano) has significant abilities below Middle C (but can execute Soprano C, effortlessly again and again). Full voices tend to be lyric in quality (but can very well be dramatic), as vocal thickness tends to hinder agility. Examples include Beyoncé Knowles.

The following subcategories apply to women:

Soubrette - This is a very lightweight voice, that is best in its middle voice. It does not handle changes in vocal dynamic very well. Its range is limited to about one and one-half octaves. Examples include Britney Spears.

Splint - This is a very rare lyric coloratura soprano, whose voice starts at the D or E above middle C and extends to the High F (or above). This voice has virtually NO low tones. This voice is RARE indeed.

Piccolo - A rare (and usually lyric) coloratura that can execute vocals in the seventh octave, where notes lose any real human color. The sometimes strident whistle register notes at that altitude can be said to mimick a piccolo, hence its name. Examples include Minnie Riperton, and Adam Lopez.

Full Dramatic Coloratura - This rare soprano voice can sing contralto very comfortably, sing over the orchestra, AND execute vocal acrobatics and melismas. This voice is at LEAST three octaves, is always capable of executing at least the High F, and its EXTREMELY rare. Examples are Mariah Carey and Rachelle Ferrell.

The following subcategories apply to men:

Leggiero - The male equivalent of a splint, this tenor voice is very light, but has a nice trumpetty quality and is capable of high altitude.

Heldentenor - A rich, dramatic voice capable of singing to the low G or A below Middle C and execute the Tenor C (or B one step below) effortlessly. This voice is not common.
The difference between dramatic high voice and the lyric voice one class down, as they have about the same range, its the power and robustness of the voice. The lyric voice is more mellow and less powerful than the dramatic voice.

i dont even think i qualify to fall under any cats. lols.