falsetto
Strained upper register
Falsetto is a method of singing that produces a high, light voice by vibrating only the edges of the vocal cords rather than their full mass.
Male singers use falsetto to reach notes above their normal range: He hit the high note in falsetto.
The technique creates a breathy, ethereal quality distinct from the fuller sound of a trained countertenor.
The word also describes speaking in an artificially high voice, often for comic effect.
Disco-era brother trio
- Frankie Valli
- Smokey RobinsonMotown singer-songwriter, Miracles leader
- Jeff Buckley
- Justin Timberlake
Upper singing register
- chest voiceSinging from the ribcage
- vocal breakInvoluntary pitch change mid-speech
- passaggioVocal register transition zone
- mixed voiceVocal register between extremes
vocal range · tessitura · cracking · flip · shift · yodeling · pharyngeal · full voice
Oscillating pitch effect
- melismaMulti-note syllable singing
- legatoUnbroken musical phrasing
- trillRapid pitch oscillation
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
belting · crooning · breath control · placement · resonance · projection · sustain · vocal run
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- airyLight and well-ventilated
- breathyHaving audible exhalation
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
thin · reedy · wispy · soft · floating · pure · clear · fragile
Seventies dance music
- doo-wopFifties vocal harmony genre
- soulInnermost animating essence
- R&BSoulful pop genre
- MotownDetroit's soulful moniker
opera · baroque · gospel · funk · new wave · synth-pop · art rock · psychedelic
Sound-producing throat membranes
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- glottisVocal cord opening
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
- soft palateFlexible rear mouth roof
diaphragm · vocal folds · tension · vibration · airflow · adduction
Bee Gees
Disco-era brother trio
- Frankie Valli
- Smokey RobinsonMotown singer-songwriter, Miracles leader
- Jeff Buckley
Justin Timberlake · Michael Jackson · Barry Gibb · Mariah Carey
head voice
Upper singing register
- chest voiceSinging from the ribcage
- vocal breakInvoluntary pitch change mid-speech
- passaggioVocal register transition zone
mixed voice · vocal range · tessitura · cracking · flip · shift · yodeling · pharyngeal · full voice · supported
vibrato
Oscillating pitch effect
coloratura · belting · crooning · breath control · placement · resonance · projection · sustain · vocal run · riff
ethereal
Delicate beyond earthly measure
delicate · thin · reedy · wispy · soft · floating · pure · clear · fragile · silky
disco
Seventies dance music
Motown · opera · baroque · gospel · funk · new wave · synth-pop · art rock · psychedelic · a cappella
vocal cords
Sound-producing throat membranes
soft palate · diaphragm · vocal folds · tension · vibration · airflow · adduction
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- high voicessoprano, boy soprano, head voice, coloratura
- phonationscreaky voice, voiceless, voiced, whisper, vocal fry
- singingsoprano, lead vocals, vocalist, alto, backing vocals
- choir termssoprano, alto, tenor, bass, baritone
- high-pitched soundssqueak, squeal, shriek, screech, shrill
falsettobass
Deep pitch or fish
chest voice · baritone · low-pitched · deep voice · full voice
false, falsehood, falsely, falsify, falsity, falseness, falsification, falsifying, falsehoods