Falsetto singing can be a great way to expand one's vocal range and work on controlling their vocal cords. It's a type of singing where only a part of the vocal folds vibrate. With the proper training, it can be a good tool for many singers.
Keep reading to learn more about the falsetto register and how to make the most of it.
Most of the time, we sing or speak in the modal voice register. Of the four main registers, the falsetto voice falls just above the modal voice. That means using one's falsetto voice can help them sing slightly higher than they otherwise would.
When someone uses their falsetto voice, they can sound a bit breathy or like a flute. With the proper training, some singers can develop a much fuller falsetto register. It can sound just like their modal voice only higher in pitch.
It's unclear when singers started using the falsetto voice. However, some scholars believe use began around the 1400s. At the time, writers used the categories of chest, throat, and head voice.
Some experts theorize that the head voice the writers referred to was actually the falsetto voice. Around 200 years later, the Italians started using the term falsetto much more regularly. An early example included a doctor who spoke of a bass singer who could sing in the soprano range using falsetto.
These days, male countertenors frequently use their falsetto voice to sing in the same range as the contralto range. Rarely, countertenors can even produce notes in the soprano range. Some early music singers will use their falsetto when performing the alto line in a choir.
In the opera world, singers generally don't talk about singing falsetto unless they're countertenors. However, some claim a woman's head voice is like a man's falsetto, so some women may effectively use that part of their range.
When singing falsetto, the vocal cords vibrate just like they would when using the modal voice. However, only the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds vibrate when using the falsetto register.
Compare that to the modal register, where all of the vocal cords will vibrate. Because of this difference, it's vital to stay relaxed and to let the vocalis muscle relax. For a few singers, singing falsetto feels easier due to the more relaxed muscles.
But it's important to not overwork the voice. Proper training can help singers learn how to sing falsetto without damaging their vocal cords.
For better or worse, not everyone's vocal cords work the same way when singing falsetto. Some singers don't close the front part of the glottis. Others may completely close and open the glottis.
In a third group, more of the glottis opens in the lower part of the falsetto register. All of these functions can provide a good falsetto.
While it's more common for men to sing falsetto, women can do so as well. It wasn't until the middle of the 20th century that researchers discovered women can sing falsetto. Video studies have revealed that women's voices change in the same way as men's voices in the falsetto register.
It's possible that experts didn't acknowledge female falsetto due to how the voice changes from modal to falsetto voice. In men, it's much easier to hear the different dynamics and sound quality compared to women.
Some singing teachers embrace the idea of female falsetto, such as in Germany. In the French and English schools of singing, there are mixed opinions. Meanwhile, singing teachers in Italy refuse to acknowledge female singers singing falsetto.
The Italians' reasoning is that the female voice doesn't have as pronounced of a change in quality when shifting between the modal and falsetto registers.
Unfortunately, the lack of recognition can lead to some problems. One consequence is misclassifying some mezzo-sopranos and contraltos as sopranos. Some members of these voice types can sing in the soprano range, but they're using their falsetto voice.
Outside of classical music, it's possible to use falsetto. Well-known singers who've used the technique include Smokey Robinson and Phillip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire. Brian Wilson also used his falsetto voice when singing with The Beach Boys.
Many singers of Mexican music, including Miguel Aceves Mejia, also use falsetto. Hawaiian songs also feature the use of the falsetto voice.
Another culture where falsetto singing is popular is in some African countries. The South African Mbube genre calls for falsetto, especially in all-male choruses.
The falsetto singing voice doesn't have as much range as the modal voice. It can sound much quieter, and the tone will differ. Most singers won't be able to access as many tone colors when singing falsetto.
However, with the help of a voice teacher, some singers may be able to develop their falsetto voice. Still, the falsetto voice won't be as flexible or versatile as the modal voice. Where the falsetto voice shines is that it can require less effort than the modal voice.
While we often think of singing when using falsetto, the falsetto voice can also be used when speaking. In Western cultures, falsetto is most commonly used when expressing humor while speaking.
But it's slightly more common in the southern US. African Americans and gay men may also speak using their falsetto registers. When children grow up and their voices change, they may also be said to speak using falsetto, particularly young boys.
Singers use falsetto to produce pitches above their standard vocal range. It's most common for men who are countertenors to use the falsetto register.
However, singers of any voice type, including men and women, have a falsetto register. Some women who are mezzo-sopranos or contraltos may use their falsetto registers to sing in the range of a soprano.
Falsetto singing is a type of singing that uses a higher vocal register than the modal voice. It's more common for men to sing falsetto, but women can too, according to recent research. Be sure to consider the anatomical differences to make singing falsetto feel more comfortable.