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How to Identify a Tenor or Baritone Voice

Some singers can hit very high notes, others very low. For men, the highest range is the tenor. Baritone is the next vocal range, but there are some baritones who can hit notes as high as tenors do. The difference is not so much between the tones that a singer can hit, but the quality of the voice and the average of the range.

Things You'll Need

  • Absolute tonal recognition
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Instructions

    • 1

      Vocalize a three-tone scale. Start in the extreme low register.

    • 2

      Sing while sliding two octaves without vocalizing, like a siren. The singer should use a "U" sound, like the German umlaut which mixes "U" and "I." This should be done in full voice, meaning that the tongue will not pull back in the throat.

    • 3

      Sing the notes of the scale as high as possible in full voice.

    • 4

      Listen to the high notes. If the voice goes to high B-natural or high C, or even higher, then the singer is a true tenor.

    • 5

      Listen to the timbre. The singer should vocalize a "hum", keeping the tongue between the lips while singing a 5-tone descending scale.

    • 6

      Sing while stretching the back of the throat, keeping it separate from the tongue root while humming. When singing, vowels should originate in the space behind the tongue. The tongue must remain forward in the mouth.

    • 7

      Sing a five tone descending scale on the five vowels while keeping the open vowel space in the back of the throat.

    • 8

      Listen to the vocal timbre. A baritone sounds dark, a tenor will retain many more high overtones on the descending scale.

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