Identifying your voice type is essential for unlocking your full singing potential and selecting the right repertoire. Whether you’re a budding vocalist or a seasoned performer, understanding your voice type helps you choose the right songs and develop your vocal abilities effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine your voice type and what it means for your singing.

Steps to Identify Your Voice Type

1. Determine Your Vocal Range

Start by finding the lowest and highest notes you can comfortably sing. You can use a piano, a tuning app, or a vocal range finder online. Play or sing notes starting from middle C and move up and down the scale to identify your lowest and highest notes. Actively marking your lowest and highest comfortable notes on a piece of paper or your phone can be helpful as general markers, so that you can track your voice over time.

2. Identify Your Tessitura

Your tessitura is where your voice feels most natural and comfortable over a sustained period. While your range might span several octaves, tessitura represents the notes where you feel most at ease and can sing with the most control. Your tessitura is a more refined reflection of your voice’s natural comfort zone and often gives you clues about your voice type. To find your tessitura, sing scales or songs you’re familiar with and pay attention to which range feels most relaxed, powerful, and easy to maintain.

3. Assess Your Timbre

Timbre is the unique quality of your voice. Take note of whether your voice is bright and light, rich and warm, powerful and resonant, or deep and dark. We recommend picking five adjectives to describe your voice and comparing them with common traits of the different voice types.

4. Consider Your Vocal Breaks

Vocal breaks, or transitions between different vocal registers, can provide important clues about your voice type. These breaks occur when your voice naturally shifts from one register to another, such as from chest voice to head voice. The area in your range where these transitions happen is called the passaggio, an Italian word meaning “bridge,” symbolizing the way your voice moves from one part to another. Each voice type has a unique passaggio, which occurs at different points in the vocal range. For instance, sopranos often experience a noticeable break between their chest voice and head voice in the middle of their range whereas tenors, on the other hand, might feel a distinct shift between their modal (full voice) and falsetto registers.

Identifying where your passaggio occurs can give you valuable insight into your voice type and help you work through these transitions smoothly.

5. Consult with a Vocal Coach

Though self-assessment is valuable, a professional vocal coach can offer expert guidance.A vocal coach can help confirm your vocal range, tessitura, and passaggios while identifying any areas you might overlook. With their experience, they can guide you on how to best develop and strengthen your voice based on its natural characteristics.

Final Tips

• Be Patient: It can take time to fully understand and embrace your voice type. Your voice might change as you mature, so stay open to discovery.
• Practice All Vocal Registers: Even if you identify as a tenor, don’t neglect your falsetto, and if you’re a soprano, working on your chest voice will enhance your overall control and versatility.
• Allow Your Voice to Evolve: As your voice grows and matures, embrace the changes. Regular practice and professional lessons will ensure your vocal development stays aligned with your abilities.
• Work with a Teacher: Consistent guidance from a vocal teacher can help you unlock the full potential of your voice, tailoring exercises to your specific needs.

Identifying your voice type is the first step toward developing your singing talent. By understanding your vocal range, tessitura, and timbre, you can choose the right songs, work effectively with a vocal coach, and enjoy a more fulfilling musical journey. Whether you’re aiming for high notes or deep tones, embracing your unique voice type will help you make the most of your vocal abilities.

Learn more with our Guide to Different Voice Types.