VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNIQUES Flashcards
BELTING
A singing technique by which a singer produces a loud sound in his/her mid to upper range using thicker vocal folds
BREATHY TONE
Created by use of aspirate onsets and offsets – when
air/breathing is present in the vocal sound. May be an intentional choice to use or a natural characteristic of an individual’s voice
FALSETTO
: In male singers, a high register (actually, sung in the female range) similar to the head voice
GROWLS
Similar technique to shrieks but more subtle – achieved by putting momentary strain on the vocal chords
MELISMA
Multiple notes sung over one syllable of text, extremely common in pop/R&B from 80s-now.
RIFFS
A short repeated phrase, often used in the introduction or refrain in a song,
can be lyrical or on open vowel sounds
IMPROVISATION
A technique often used when singing jazz and contemporary music where singers use meaningless sounds and improvised notes, often imitating
instruments
SCOOPS
The act of sliding up to, or down from a note for emphasis or comedic purposes
SHRIEKS
Used a little or a lot, elements of song can have partial shrieks (created through vocal fry) on notes
SOTTO VOCE
Sotto Voce (translates to “whisper”) describes when a vocalist performs with a straight tone and dramatically lowers the volume of the voice to deliver the melody completely stripped of character for emphasis.
SPOKEN WORD
Moving between pitched singing and conversational tone – often used to seem casual, or to draw emphasis to a phrase (not to be confused with rap, which is still pitched).
STRAIGHT TONE
A note is held without vibrato or movement.
VOCAL FRY
Low raspy sound produced through loose glottal closure, this allows breath to rattle slowly through vocal chords. Can be used to ‘growl.’
