Am I a Baritone or Tenor? Questions from Comments 17

[@mattl14]

Thanks as always Jeff. So much value in all that you put out.

[@SasutoSan]

My long awaited question! Soon to be answered!

[@davidduncan1362]

I kept singing various five note scales until I have hit the notes where my voice transitions. My voice transitions from chest to mixed on A3, then from mixed to head on Eb4, which totally makes sense, since I am used to belting around middle C. That middle C is smack dab in the center of that middle part of my voice, between my primo and secondo passagios. Give me a such 1980's female power ballad as "Alone" by Heart, where Ann Wilson keeps belting out notes around C5 and I will constantly go an octave down, being a guy who is used to belting out notes around C4 and being good at low notes, too.

[@jackmagradey5300]

Thanks for addressing my question! I am going to have to spend some time to digest what you have so thoroughly explained. I have struggled with straining on high notes throughout my professional career. I took a long hiatus from performing which with age has amplified the issue. I have been considering getting back into some live theatre again and have been studying with a voice teacher now for the last six months. I regularly use your videos as supplemental exercises. Figuring out how to transition from chest to head voice is imperative. Thanks again!

[@JeffRolka]

You're welcome! Thank you for being a part of the channel! I wish you all the best! Jeff

[@noinimod]

Great educational and practical video, Jeff. Much appreciated

[@QuitzeMartinez]

Thank you so much for clarifying this for me! I am classified as a tenor by my teacher who was an Opera singer. My question to you is are there tenors that sit in the baritone range that are classified as dramatic tenors? As I have gotten older my voice has dropped considerably and I can sing much lower than I used to, but I can still hit my head voice or higher notes into falsetto, so I'd that common?

[@sophisitcated1194]

Yes. Whether u lose top noted or not. You're still s tenor. As the voice ages, it drops. It's normal.

[@ThingsILikke]

You should make a class or video series on learning new songs- I have trouble with this and wear my voice out learning new songs!

[@JeffRolka]

I have been meaning to do just this. Thank you for mentioning it! Thank you for being a part of the channel! Jeff

[@freak1sees714]

"Step 1: Align your vowels and adopt an arpeggio breath management practice in the thyroid arytenoid scene voice..." Exsqueeze me... do what now?? Side note: I was lost at 'align your vowels' and it took me nearly ten minutes just to find the correct spelling and definition of thyroid, arytenoid and arpeggio... and honestly, I still have no idea what you just said. 🤷‍♂️

[@JeffRolka]

If one truly wishes to know their voice, learning how a few muscle groups operate and what they do for their voices is a low bar for entry in my opinion. I understand that that may not be the case for everyone. While we're here, though, it's not arpeggio breath management, it's appoggio breath management. Best, Jeff

[@JonatanCuevasSena]

I was waiting for this video. Thanks

[@JeffRolka]

Thank you! I hope that it offers some insight on how one can get started figuring our one's fach! Jeff

[@SlashMC08]

As far as I know, you may be born with one type of voice, but successfully train yourself to sing with another type. am i right?

[@JeffRolka]

One of my teachers used to say that he 'masquerades as a tenor.' Which is to say that he's a baritone, but his technique is so good that he could sing repertoire that would normally be sung by tenors. People hearing him would not know the difference. One does not 'become' another fach, but you can emulate the characteristics and attain much of the overall range. Great question! Jeff

[@SlashMC08]

@@JeffRolka Thank you )

[@davidthieme1985]

@@JeffRolka Thank you! That is what I think I did over the years. My range flows from deep male C to falsetto f''' (that is the range I can control it well) and I was able to work it out with my vocal trainer in my city and with your videos. I have heard that a voice starts to imitate the singing of the person you listen to. It really seems to work if that person is "vocally" somehow connected to oneself. So it was extremely helpful training with your videos, especially during the preperation for our recording session. It really helped me out with too flat notes, which I think happended because I actually am a Baritone. It helped me a lot to brighten my voice and clear the "speaking" of the lyrics. So thanks a lot! When the album is done (hopefully somewhen this year), I would like to send you one as a little thanx ;) All the best! Dave

[@joshuamclean4588]

You are born with the voice you have (with changes to puberty and onset of adulthood and aging)- but you have you’re natural voice which is your genetics. What you do is train yourself to use that voice to the best that you can. What can sometimes happen is a for one example someone may start out singing in the baritone range but when they develop their higher range discover they are really a tenor. Or someone may be mistaken for a tenor because of a brighter tambre, but as they get older and develop discover they are better baritones. But if you are a tenor you cannot train your voice to become a bass, and vice versa. But you can extend your range and use different registers and “connect” your voice- that is using all the parts of your voice as one

[@UzairKhan-qd3xu]

@@joshuamclean4588 tenor voice is unusual per se because the region it resides in has to be developed by every tenor so every tenor starts as a baritone because that range is to be developed ! this question of what am i should be asked after learning core concepts like breathing , tone clarity , etc!

[@JonatanCuevasSena]

I will practice this. It was awesome

[@Dylanklinemusic]

How exciting! The age old question!!!

[@JeffRolka]

Right on! Thanks for chiming in! Always a pleasure to hear from you! Yes, this question comes up frequently, so this video will go over the process of working towards a determination between the two fachs. All the best! Jeff

[@Dylanklinemusic]

@@JeffRolka Sounds awesome! Can’t wait!

[@davidwalsh944]

Sneaking in a question: when doing exercises, such as sustained 'S' sound or fricatives or the Farinelli exercise, should you be doing those with (in?) appoggio? I would think so because you are trying to develop endurance, strength, and control of those muscles. Will you still do exercises as long as you sing or once you reach a certain level of ability, does singing warm-ups, technique directed exercises, doing your repertoire keep you in respiratory shape? Two questions. I get carried away...

[@JeffRolka]

Always nice to hear from you, David. In brief - yes, always practicing appoggio, and yes again, fundamentals never go out of style! The focus can feel different though. More of a reminder of what you do, rather than trying to consciously do something, if that makes sense. Best, Jeff

[@davidwalsh944]

@@JeffRolka yes." Reminder of what you do rather than trying to consciously do something" hits the nail on the head. Thank you.

[@thechangeofyes8179]

I’m 16 years old and so far my range is G2-G#4 and when I started at 15 years old my range was G2-D4. My voice tone is very light and I’m wondering if I’m a baritone or tenor? Or am I too young to still tell? Will my voice and range change?

[@sophisitcated1194]

Wait until 30. But for now you seem to be a young baritone. Give it time

[@edisonirua3403]

Hi¡ Jeff from Ecuador... your videos are really cool...

[@Spitek1974]

Thank you 🙏

[@Spitek1974]

@@ulquiorra635 11:07 mówi „over the break” - nad przerwą,czyli np.G4

[@rdmansion7355]

I have a question. I can get over the secondo passaggio, but I really strain very hard and my teacher doesn t know how to solve it. I can go over f f sharp(I believe I m a tenor) but I can t sing the notes properly because I strain.

[@JeffRolka]

Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties! I'll help with this and answer your question in Questions from Comments 41

[@Minunmaani]

Really good information!

[@alejandroleon3121]

Yess good job!

[@noahlibra]

How much do you think timbre and range are correlated?

[@JeffRolka]

One informs the other.

[@alejandroleon3121]

I am a tenor in the choir I sing in!

[@gustavopaulette3496]

No one cares!!

[@alejandroleon3121]

@@gustavopaulette3496 hahahahaha true

[@javiersuarez0202]

@gustavopaulette3496 why so rude dude?

[@christopherripley2745]

is there a video with all of these exercises in them?

[@JeffRolka]

Care to elaborate? Which exercises? There are quite a few videos on my channel, all of which have a lot of exercises. If you're specifically interested in vocal ranges, have a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmqUfp6Diqydg7M

[@jeremiahtsen9889]

Im still confused on all of this. Im gonna have to rewatch the videos to fully understand. 😂😂😂 But my range starts G2 and my zona di passagio is from D4 to F4to F#4, my register breaks are from F4 to G4 and for headvoice (which can be expanded) but for now starts at G4 ends also precisely at F#5. I know you cant judge straight away like that but it would help if you could give a rough idea on what i could be. I feel like I am a baritone but my mother (a vocal teacher) says that she would put me in tenor which i dont understand why. And if it would help, my voice tone sounds very "chesty" or dark as my friends describe. The notes after my passigi are weak at G4 but get more powerful as they go up and have been described as Whitney head voice tone. My chest voice is from my lowest note to F4. My belting range starts from C4 and ends at F#4 (I know I can go higher, I never properly Experimented.) To describe how I feel, A D4 is a comfortable belt for me and a B4 is a very high belt for me 😅😅. I can't belt higher than that.

[@krennymagazine2935]

we have the same range, damn it!

[@chaithanyabai1595]

Sir , I am untrained 17 year old boy . Just sang a song and my lowest note was G2 and highest note was G4 from male voice and in female voice C4 to F5. So am I tenor or baritone.

[@gustavopaulette3496]

That range is a baritone range

[@joshuamclean4588]

It’s hard to say when you are untrained but the above comment is correct but don’t assume that will always be the case once you develop your full potential. You could be a baritone but may not.

[@joshuamclean4588]

Chances are you may be. At that range more likely to become a baritone.

[@joshuamclean4588]

I had a similar range when I started. I am now more comfortable with lower and higher end. I found I could go only a little lower, but have developed a c5 and higher in mixed. But I don’t spend a lot of time singing up there yet. I havent been singing long enough to know for certain. I was more comfortable in the baritone range, but could still possibly do well as a lower tenor depending on how my voice developes over the years.

[@joshuamclean4588]

I’m still more comfortable singing more in the baritone range with some tenor high notes. I have done a bb4 live in a mixed voice but thats getting a little high. I may be able to pull off higher at certain times but do better in the baritone range for now.

[@thomasnguyen6144]

I’m a tenor.

[@Johnhasa1]

So, what characterises a baritone vs a tenor? Is it just the quality of the voice, like a baritone sounds heavier than a tenor? Or is it determined by where one's bridge is?

[@JeffRolka]

All the aspects of one's phonation inform fach. It isn't one over another but all aspects combined. Best, Jeff

[@Johnhasa1]

@@JeffRolka thnx

[@RafhaelCedeno]

This is great! But if we find the note for our passaggio what’s the note that separates the fachs ? Thank you

[@JeffRolka]

It's more than just the transition point, but that, and other elements to consider can be read about here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach

[@flyhightowers]

What can you do to rejuvenate your voice? I used to hit Amy Lee (from Evanescence) high Notes effortlessly! I used to regularly practice in those ranges. Now I'm 10 or so years older than when I last able to hit that high note. Snoozing hasn't helped, and yes I know i should quite. Can I regain any of that range?

[@JeffRolka]

Absolutely, but it may take some time and diligent practice. If you're not already in a daily routine and have an appoggio practice, that would be where I would begin.

[@addywass9298]

I NEED to sound and become a barritone how I NEED to sound like Elvis Presley

[@JeffRolka]

Right on! Best of luck!

[@addywass9298]

@@JeffRolka Hey I could use a little help getting down to Elvis Presley's scale I have a big addition for my school play and I was wondering if you could anyway possible help me

[@akhilgada602]

R u a Tenor, Jeff?

[@JeffRolka]

Yes.

[@Theshortyjudge]

​@@JeffRolka Everyone that knows something about voice by hearing you can tell you are tenor

[@keagonwinton2262]

So Jeff my lowest can sing as low as a baritone And my secondo passagio is D# E4 possible up to F4. I’m however working on increasing my range to like or even G or A4 for the start i don’t like putting limits to what my voice can do but what am I classified As?

[@JeffRolka]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach

[@jordanmoss6488]

@@JeffRolkawhy don’t you just tell him?

[@FerylMusic]

I’m here!!!

[@JeffRolka]

Hey Feryl! I'm so sorry I missed this!!! I specifically wanted to get into the chat but I was caught up in a session that ran over. Sorry I missed you! Jeff

[@rungleingamtuikhar]

Hello Jeff! My vocal range begins from A2 (Lowest) and my highest note is B5. Would I be considered a Tenor? I still cannot figure out. I feel more comfortable singing in Baritone (lower) range though. And my break usually occurs between A4 to B4. Thanks you for your video.

[@JeffRolka]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach

[@sovietunion6109]

@@JeffRolka mine is from E2 to F#5 (with head voice) is thag tenor?

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@sovietunion6109 it depending on where you sing 90% of the time within that range. All in all it sounds like ur a baritone with incredible range.

[@sovietunion6109]

@@sophisitcated1194 I mostly sing in the lower potion cuz the high notes are both hard to hit and sound horrible, only head voice is kinda ok, although I do plan to train them more

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@sovietunion6109 okay. My final question is how comfortable is that E2 for you? Is it as easy as breathing or do you have to put in a good bit of effort to hit E2? And what is your comfortable top note to sing consistently?

[@maskarone]

If you have it at E4, are you just extremely average and somewhere in between a baritone and a tenor?

[@JeffRolka]

It depends on who you ask. Some would suggest lyric baritone, some would say baritenor, others may say tenor robusto - but I have to check on that. I'm traveling and can't double check the tenor robusto passaggi at the moment.

[@wongjunhyen9472]

Bro i have light tone and like.. range A2-B4,what am i 💀💀💀💀

[@JeffRolka]

Have a look here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach

[@marcoschiattarella2528]

can a tenor break at eb4/e4?

[@JeffRolka]

Not according to the techniques I study, but you could also check here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fach Thank you! Jeff

[@marcoschiattarella2528]

i can’t really understand my break, sometimes i can feel chest resonance til F4 without straining maybe i just start preparing myself at E4, could that be possible?

[@Dominicabbate1]

you only have to watch this for a few seconds to know ur a tenor

[@wandajames143]

9:40

[@alexj.denton7453]

Do re mi fa sol la si do C. D. E. F. G. A. B. C