The psychological impact of voice timbre on the effectiveness of advertising. Types of singing voices What is the name of the timbre of the voice

We, the singers, are the main instrument of the orchestra. Maria Callas

For a beginner singer, it is important to analyze the types of voices and classify their own timbre, this is not just information “for show”. The belonging of a voice to a specific type (and this is exclusively natural data) determines the direction in which it is best for a vocalist to develop in order to improve his voice. By analogy with sports: anyone can be taught to play basketball, but a tall player will always be more comfortable and easier. Also, a natural tenor works confidently with high notes, while a baritone is much more difficult with them. The correct definition of the voice will allow you to create an individual program for vocal lessons and select a repertoire for future performances.

The surest and easiest way to classify your own voice is to see a professional. Even if for some reason you do not want to constantly study with a teacher, it is still advisable for you to take at least a few lessons. During these basic lessons, the teacher will help determine the timbre of the voice and show the basics that you can practice at home.

You can get the basic knowledge and skills necessary to master your own voice at the Benefis Theater Studio. Already at the first lesson, we begin to study the techniques of proper breathing, because breathing is the key to beautiful (and safe!) singing. Also in the lessons we study the resonant technique of singing and speech, learn the correct pronunciation of various sounds.

Basic types of voices

Correctly determining the type of voice is a difficult task, which is not always within the power of even an experienced teacher of vocal courses or oratory courses, and sometimes it is completely impossible to do it on your own. The difficulty lies in the fact that typical features appear as the singing voice opens up. For beginner vocalists, the ligaments have not yet been developed, respectively, the signs are scarce and blurred, and in some cases may be absent altogether. But it is still possible to draw approximate conclusions. To begin with, let's consider the existing types of singing voices according to the classification of the Italian opera school (from high to low):

• soprano,
• mezzo-soprano,
• contralto,
• tenor,
• baritone,

The Italians compared singing voices with the sound of four stringed instruments: violin, viola, horn and double bass.

Male voice

There are the following types of male voices:

• tenor - a high male voice in the range from C to a small octave to C to the second octave, there are tenor-altino, lyric, mezzo and dramatic tenor;
• baritone - an average male voice in the range from A of a large octave to Sol of the first octave, there are tenor-baritone, lyrical and dramatic baritone;
• bass - a low male voice in the range from Mi of a large octave to Mi of the first octave, distinguish between high, central and low bass.

Among men, singers who own the female range of voice are quite rare. However, they do occur and are still used in opera. During the renaissance, such singers were created artificially by castration of teenage boys in order to prevent age-related changes in the voice.

Female voice

The following types of female voices are distinguished in the classification:

• soprano - a high female voice in the range from C to the first octave to C to the third octave, distinguish coloratura, lyric-coloratura, lyric, lyric-dramatic and dramatic soprano;
• mezzo-soprano - an average female voice in the range from A small octave to A second octave, distinguish between lyrical and dramatic mezzo-soprano;
• contralto - a low female voice in the range from Mi of a small octave to Fa of the second octave.

It is important to understand that in practice there are no voices that fit perfectly into the framework outlined above. Two octaves for each type of voice just give an idea of ​​the location of the working range in which the voice is best revealed and the vocalist is most comfortable singing. However, there are singers whose voice range covers both 3 and 4 octaves. All this is a very conditional classification, but one should not think that it does not mean anything at all.

How to determine your voice type yourself

If you have just started singing, then the task of determining the type of voice is difficult. Do not rush, just practice vocals, and as you study, look at your own successes. At first, it will be difficult to say anything for sure, because the range is still too narrow and is at a conversational level. You have not yet mastered the voice enough to draw conclusions about the tessitura (the most convenient part of the range) and the quality of the sound of notes in different keys. As you sing, pay attention to the notes that are best and the most difficult notes. Watch for the expansion of the voice range by the highest and lowest notes that can be played. You can always compare this indicator with the ranges of the main voice types described in the previous section of the article and roughly determine the tone of your voice. In the case of a child's voice, the definition is even more difficult, because. The voice has to go through several stages of formation. The kid is best given to a theater group for children, where he will be taught to use his voice and speech comprehensively. If you are the owner of a more or less set voice, the task is simplified. Choose a piece of music (a song spanning at least one and a half octaves). If you have a musical instrument at hand, pick it up. Sing the piece in different keys and pay attention to two things:

1. Convenience. The further you get from the tessitura, the harder it is to sing. If you are not a beginner who still finds it difficult to sing everywhere, then you may well be guided by your own feelings. Find the most comfortable range and check with the list of typical voice characteristics from the previous section of the article.
2. Timbre. The unique timbre characteristics of the voice are best revealed when you sing in your working range. This means that if you have a natural bass, then singing loses the beauty of timbre at high notes. As the pitch increases, the notes will become dull and inexpressive. And vice versa, lowering the key, you will hear how each note fills with a thick and colorful sound, acquires a shade and character.

With these two indicators, you can also work on chants - to sing not a work, but octaves. The result will be the same: when singing from bottom to top, a low voice will fade and lose its expressiveness, a high voice, on the contrary, will acquire bright colors, etc. If you have a recording studio at your disposal, then determining the range of your voice will be even easier. As in the previous version, you will need a song covering at least one and a half octaves, and phonograms for it in various keys. The beauty of a recording studio is that you record your voice, then listen to it from the side. Indeed, in the recording, the voice sounds completely different, you hear an objective sound, and not the one you are used to. The recording will allow you to objectively evaluate the opening of the voice and the beauty of the sound of notes.

Come to the theater studio "Benefis", and you will receive all the necessary knowledge for the independent development of the voice. The most effective methods, regular practice and, of course, professional teachers with extensive acting experience are waiting for you.

Of course, you can do without a competent vocal teacher, but in this case you risk losing a lot of time, making common mistakes for beginners and even risking harming your vocal apparatus. In the classes at Benefis, teachers individually work with the mistakes and weaknesses of their students, helping to develop their potential to the maximum.

We will learn to work with resonators (thoracic and head), include the whole body in the work, and not just the vocal cords. During the training, you will learn to express your thoughts and emotions more expressively and believably - like real artists.

Timbre as a personality

No two voices are absolutely identical in timbre. Ivan Levidov, a specialist in singing technologies, says that "the main characteristic elements of the timbre of each voice are a constant value that does not change from the moment of voice mutation."
Sometimes, without seeing a person for a long time, we may not recognize him, but as soon as he speaks, we immediately remember him. The timbre of the voice alone determines a person in many ways. The French phoniatrist Jean Abitbol once even refused to perform an operation on a patient - he believed that changing her voice would change her personality.

What is timbre

The term comes from the French timbre (bell). This is a psychoacoustic characteristic of the voice. Its exclusive coloration. Therefore, when analyzing the mastery of vocals, they often use definitions from the dictionary of painting - “color”, “palette”, “paints”. And it is these "color" nuances that make it possible to distinguish people's voices. Even if the pitch, volume and duration of their sound is the same.

From the density of the bow of the vocal cords, from their length, width, elasticity and tension. The latter is created by the plasticity of the cricothyroid muscle, which the professor and imperial otiatrist N. P. Simanovsky called "musical", since it acts like a violin peg.

Another timbre depends on the volume of the trachea and the shape of the internal resonator. So Chaliapin had a domed palate, from which, as from a cathedral vault, sound was repelled. And this palate became the subject of study not only for phoniatrists, but also for otolaryngologists, anthropologists and anatomists.
Overtones are responsible for the “coloring” of the timbre. The more overtones - the "tastier" the voice.

overtones

These are sounds above sounds. A trained throat produces two sounds at the same time - a tone and an overtone. Overtones are high-frequency and ranged according to the laws of the "golden section". What it is? When we look at a person's face and find it attractive, this means that it is "tailored" by nature in proportion to the ratio of parts. In the same way, overtones harmonize the timbre of the voice with the help of intervals.

The voice seems to climb up the overtone ladder - from one step to another. Pauses between them. “The first overtone is an octave away from the tone. The second one is less. This is a quint." And in the same way - according to the "steps" of overtones - the ordinary human ear gradually adjusts, which initially may not distinguish overtones.

How is a response to a sound wave generated?

On average, a person consists of 60% of a liquid substance, which responds to sound with vibration. The German sound researcher and photographer (cymatic - from "kyma" - wave) Alexander Lauterwasser conducted a series of experiments - he played sounds of different frequencies near the reservoir - the clang of the rolling stock of the train, the cries of seagulls, phrases from Bach's toccata. And he recorded the wave “response” of water on the camera. Each sound has its own pattern. So a person vibrates after the timbre of the voice.

What do we say

"Mouth", "throat", "chest" and even "belly". The latter is responsible for the increased corpulence of the overwhelming majority of opera singers - they "put their voice in the womb." And they involve the whole body in the process of sounding. Like a baby. When he cries, he resonates from head to toe. With age, a person "clamps". The voice loses its ability to turn on the whole organism. And its vibrations "get stuck" at the level of the throat. But we are created by nature as a single resonator.

How timbre betrays the speaker

Already by the timbre, each of us is able to assess the psychophysical parameters of a person. Viennese linguophysiologists have empirically confirmed that people can only judge by their voice whether a person is tall or short, full or thin. True, with age, a misfire can come out, because the timbre of a happy person makes the voice younger by 10 years. Anger and fear - “age”.

He will show the timbre and level of intelligence of the interlocutor, his occupation, temperament. Like his condition - happy or not, sick or healthy, tired or alert. The timbre of the voice will reflect, and who speaks - a leader or a follower, a liar or a champion of truth, an envious person or a generous soul, whether he is capable of betrayal or will be faithful to the grave.

It was the connection between timbre and trust in a partner that interested the specialists of the Canadian research University McMaster. The participants of the experiment were given to listen to the voices of 20 men and women. One male - low, insinuating - everyone noted as "dangerous". “From the point of view of sexual strategy,” stated the author of the project, Gillian O’Connor, “both sexes regard such a timbre as a warning about future betrayals.” Trust was elicited - higher male and lower female. They were considered "reliable".

British researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Stirling, working with the Hadza tribe in Tanzania, have discovered that the owners of timbres in the lower voice register have more children. So the Tanzanian "baritones" outstripped the "tenors" by an average of two children. Scientists at the State University of New York have found the dependence of the sexual attractiveness of the timbre of women on fertility.

Psychologists at the University of South Carolina, having analyzed telephone conversations, revealed the difference in timbres in the process of communicating with indifferent and loved people. The latter even copied each other's intonations, as if putting their voices on the same tone wave.

Anthropologists at the University of Pennsylvania - Sarah Wolf and David Poots - first tried to figure out "how signs of masculinity affect a person's opinion about his ability to dominate." Experiments have shown that men with voices of deep timbre coloration are perceived by other individuals of the same sex as "pride leaders".

Timbre in the service of politics

In 2012, Proceedings of the Royal Society correspondents, in collaboration with PR technologists and neuropsychologists, conducted surveys of Americans who answered the question: “What tone of voice gives them the most confidence in politics?”

Timbre is one of the objective collations, which is taken into account by the special services when compiling psycho-portraits of criminals. FBI and CIA profilers pay attention to how the voice rattles and “stumbles”, as it were. When he bustles and keeps silent, the timbre becomes spasmodic, indistinct. Anxiety will make him "bully", raising his tone. Cognitive dissonance will be expressed in sharp voice fluctuations and demonstrate the precariousness of the position, uncertainty. Tense timbre - control over every step. Metal notes - conviction. Increased volume - the desire to suppress. But the main timbre pattern remains unchanged forever.

Uniqueness

Previously, the Italians' passports included - along with the date of birth, height, hair and eye color - the timbre of the voice. Currently, courts in the US and UK accept - as evidence of guilt / innocence - voice recordings. Why? Because the timbre is as unique as the genetic code in the DNA molecule, the papillary pattern on the fingertips or the structure of the ear.
The timbre is so unique that the largest banks in the world are not afraid to encode safes with the voices of their owners.

Many novice singers do not understand what is voice timbre. Yes, it is understandable. Some confuse timbre and voice type, although these are different things. Let's talk today about the timbre of the voice, how it differs from the type of voice, how to change it.

If you want to become a professional singer, you must understand what voice timbre and how it differs from type. We talked about the latter in the article "".

There are no absolutely identical two people who would have the same timbre of voice. Imagine how many people there are on the planet, and each has its own timbre of voice. This is what nature has tried 🙂

What determines the timbre of the voice?

The timbre of the voice depends on many factors. Firstly, the timbre of the voice is determined by the structure of the vocal cords and what is above - the cavity (they are also ""). It is the cavities (voids filled with air) that determine how your voice timbre will sound.

Chest and head resonators (cavities) of the voice

Secondly, the color of the voice is also affected by which organisms are involved in singing. After all, we sing not only with our mouths, but also with our throats, chests, and stomachs. Not in the literal sense, of course, but all this is involved in singing, and depending on the extent to which all this is involved in singing, the timbre of the voice is formed.

Thus, in childhood, a lot of things are involved in the voice. And when we grow up - we appear, which in one way or another affect the timbre of the voice - the voice becomes clamped, heavy.

You will be surprised, but the timbre of the voice can still depend on your life. It is believed that a happy person's voice sounds freer, more beautiful and 10 years younger. And in an unfortunate person - on the contrary, the voice is clamped, quiet, deaf and ugly.

First, it must be said that the type (not timbre) of the voice is given to us from the moment of growing up (at a transitional age), and it cannot be changed. The type of voice depends on the vocal cords - on their thickness, width, closure.

In principle, it is impossible to completely change the timbre of the voice (only for a while, for example, when talking). However, in the process of learning, you can give your voice depth, brightness, flightiness, saturate your voice with various overtones, expand it, etc. And this is good news 🙂

Why change at all voice timbre? Many simply do not like their voice, so they want to change it. Believe me, this problem occurs for many beginners in singing, and they all try to somehow change their voice, adjust it in such a way that it looks like the voice of an idol. But this is not only pointless, but it can also harm the voice.

You don't need to change your voice, you need to develop it. That's what really matters. Believe that soon you will get used to your voice and love it - it is your voice. Do the right exercises to develop your voice, put your voice on the breath. By the way, this is the first thing to do. Take a look at the lesson "".

Conclusion

So now you will know what is voice tone and how it differs from type.

The human voice is a purely individual indicator, such as a papillary pattern or facial expressions. The timbre of the voice of women is traditionally higher than that of men. This is due to the physiology and structure of the ligaments. There are voices that are literally mesmerizing and have a hidden magnetism. For many people, by the nature of their activities, it is very important to communicate, trying to immediately locate the interlocutor and establish contact with him.

But even weak, inexpressive vocals can be developed with the help of special exercises. They will be discussed below.

1. High.
2. Average.
3. Short.

Women have a high timbre, children have a medium timbre, and men have a low timbre. This classification makes it possible to characterize registers in a simplified way, but in fact, in each class there is the same division. For women, these are soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto. This is how, according to the established tradition, singing female voices are determined.

Important. Both varieties of soprano are rarely compatible, in exceptional cases, when the performer easily performs the parts of the entire range, such a timbre is called coloratura.

Mezzo-soprano belongs to mature, strong-willed women, he has a deep and strong sound. Perhaps the most saturated with overtones (and rather rare), low and melodious voice is the contralto. The owner of such data, in addition to female parties, is also capable of voicing teenage boys.

How to correctly determine the timbre of a female voice

To more fully understand what is at stake, it is enough to give examples of famous opera characters:

• Soprano coloratura - Snow Maiden, Princess Swan.
• The lyrical timbre of the soprano is Tatiana from Eugene Onegin, Tamara in The Demon.
• Dramatic soprano - Lisa in The Queen of Spades.
• Mezzo - Carmen, Amneris from Aida.
• Contralto - Polina ("The Queen of Spades"), Ratmir in "Ruslan and Lyudmila", Lel from "The Snow Maiden".

The subtlety lies in the fact that opera arias are written for a certain range, the settings are set by the author and do not change over the years. Therefore, with a small error, you can compare your (tested) vocal data with the reference ones. Notable examples include the Spanish opera prima Montserrat Caballé (soprano) and the popular singer and songwriter Sia (lyric soprano).

1. individual complexion - body proportions, bone thickness, volumes of resonating organs (lungs, trachea, skull);
2. the state and structure of the vocal cords (including their mobility);
3. structures of living tissues (skin, skeleton, tendons, connective tissues);
4. temperament (as the ability to get used to the image, to convey inner feelings with the help of voice).

Use the adsense clicker on your websites and blogs or on YouTube

Important. In a dry climate, the range seems to be “clamped” at high frequencies, and in too humid it loses mobility.

Despite the fact that for the most part individual vocal abilities are predetermined by the human constitution and physiology, they can be developed with the help of special exercises, making the timbre deeper, more saturated with overtones and shades.

Features of the development of the female voice timbre

As you know, in the process of growing up and turning into a girl, a girl also undergoes mutations, including those related to the vocal cords. Only they are not as pronounced as in boys. According to the latest data, the complete formation of the larynx in women is completed by about 30 years.

At the same time, certain key points of age are noted that affect the normal and singing vocal range: 12-15 and 23-25. The mutation itself is completed within 6 weeks maximum, it proceeds so gently that it is almost imperceptible (both to others and to the girl herself). But this does not mean at all that there are no internal changes in the body: the larynx almost doubles in size, there is an intensive growth of cartilage. The timbre becomes lower, the vocal range is lost, but it gets a thicker color.

The beginning of the mutation is preceded by the activation of the hormonal background (the beginning of the menstrual cycle). A slight reddening of the larynx may appear, sometimes the ability to speak normally disappears for several days.

Attention. During this period, it is very important to be careful when practicing vocals, stressing the voice in general. At the slightest manifestation of breakdowns (wheezing, overwork), the load should be immediately removed. So it will be possible to save your data and safely transfer the mutation.

Voice Development Exercises

For the most part, the voice timbre is closely related to the condition of the ligaments, their density, as well as the vital volume of the lungs. This is achieved by training for - it is no coincidence that opera singers pay so much attention to chanting and practicing technique: without them, any natural data is nothing. There are also quite exotic ways (for example, throat singing at very low tones that require diaphragm work). Experts give some simple but effective tips:

• Stand in front of the mirror and pronounce the sounds “I”, “E”, “A”, “O”, “U” for as long as possible.
• Lead the sound "M" with your mouth closed. If you put your hand on your stomach, you can feel the vibration.
• Particular importance is attached to the sound "R" and the words in which it is: role, lynx, fence, frost and others. It is believed that this gives the voice strength and vigor.
• At the end of the gymnastics, the “Tarzan exercise” is done: for this you need, while pronouncing the sounds from task 1, at the same time knock yourself on the chest with your fists. It is believed that this practice also helps in the prevention of colds and myocardial infarction.

Proponents of the technique claim that in just a few weeks of classes, the voice will become deeper and richer. Vocal classes help to develop a sensual low timbre of voice in women: for this it is not at all necessary to visit special studios, you can sing at home or in an amateur choir. Various breathing practices, yoga, and meditation contribute to an increase in the muscular activity of the abdominal cavity.

The main condition in this case is the work of the diaphragm. This is the name of the muscular septum that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavity. You can strengthen it with the help of special practices:

1. Slowly, measuredly inhale air through the nose until the feeling of complete filling of the lungs (blowing of the chest), while counting (for example, from 1 to 10).
2. Hold your breath while counting to 10.
3. Exhale without releasing the air immediately, but still counting to 10.

Such exercises help to develop the vital capacity of the lungs, especially if you gradually increase the duration of the workout. This is the answer to the question of how to lower the timbre of the voice in men.

Finally

You can develop your timbre without having the talents of an opera singer with the help of simple and effective exercises. The effect of them will come pretty quickly, which will help in communicating with people, at work and.

​​​​​​​

The timbre of the voice is the sound coloring of the voice, which creates certain emotional and expressive shades of speech.

By nature, everyone is given a strong and beautiful voice. It is enough to listen to how babies use their voice. A pleasant voice is a voice in which all frequencies are present, from low to high. Why do some people have nice voices and others don't? Most often the reasons are as follows:

By the voice one can judge the character of a person, the level of his health, his mood. By the voice you can understand whether it is worth dealing with this person or it is better to stay away from him. The level of human development is heard in the voice. You can understand the true intentions of the interlocutor by the voice.

​​​​​​​Experts say that you can "talk with your mouth", "talk with your throat", "talk with your chest" and even "talk with your stomach". What is it about? - It's about involving the body in the process of sounding. By nature, in a person, the whole body sounds (resonates), from the top of the head to the heels (this happens in babies). But due to internal tensions (clamps) - the vibrations from the voice cease to pass through the whole body and remain only at the level of the throat (“speak with the throat”). This greatly impoverishes the timbre. “To speak with the chest” means to fill the chest with vibrations from the voice; "Speak with the stomach" - fill the stomach with vibrations.

Why not only men, but also women dream of making their voice lower? Don't men like gentle female voices? - Because, just low colors give tenderness to the voice. Low frequencies make the voice more velvety, juicy. But this, of course, if the voice contains medium and high overtones. It's like a well-tuned audio system (equalizer). If the voice is dominated by low frequencies, it will sound rough. If the voice is dominated by high frequencies, it will sound squeaky. If the voice is dominated by mid frequencies, it will not be perceived by ear at all.

The timbre and beauty of the voice are influenced not only by the vocal cords and breathing - but also by posture, the degree of fatigue and the speed of speech (the slower it is, the lower, richer the voice). Posture greatly affects the voice. Good posture is the key to good breathing. And good breathing is the key to a good voice.

You can recommend swimming regularly - to strengthen the muscles that support good posture. In combination with voice exercises, this gives good results. A lot depends on how long you sleep. Soloists of the Mariinsky Theater say that if you go to bed before midnight and wake up before 10 am, then your voice sounds much better that day!

A rich voice is a consequence of the inner calmness and relaxation of a person. If a person is internally calm and relaxed, his voice will sound richer and richer. Learn to enter into a state of inner calm, relaxation, and at the same time, remain cheerful and alert! Then the voice sounds as good as possible, and the speed of speech is natural.