Welcome to the Voice Type Test—a resource designed to help you explore and identify your unique voice type based on vocal characteristics beyond just your vocal range. Understanding your voice type will aid you in choosing suitable repertoire, enhancing vocal techniques, and guiding your educational journey. Our focus here is strictly on voice type distinctions.
Not sure of your voice type? Measure your range first.
In 2–3 minutes, Vocal Range Test Pro detects your lowest and highest comfortable notes using your device’s microphone. Use that result to navigate the steps below confidently.
Best in a quiet room; allow microphone access; headphones recommended.
Voice type vs. vocal range: how they work together
- Vocal range is the span of notes you can phonate (e.g., A2–E4). Voice type also considers tessitura, timbre, passaggi, agility, and vocal weight.
- Start with your range to narrow likely categories, but confirm type using the assessments below.
- Tip: If your range varies day to day, use the most consistent result from several tries.
What You Will Assess:
- Timbre and Vocal Color: The natural quality or tone of your voice.
- Tessitura: The most comfortable part of your range where your voice feels and sounds its best.
- Vocal Weight: The perceived ‘heaviness’ or ‘lightness’ of your voice.
- Flexibility and Agility: The ability to navigate through fast passages or melismatic singing.
- Role Identification: Common roles associated with each voice type and how they align with your vocal characteristics.
What You Will Need:
- A quiet room with minimal distractions
- A computer or mobile device with a microphone
- Headphones (recommended)
- Vocal Range Test Pro to measure your range
- Optional: a piano/keyboard or scale tracks for additional reference
- A recording device or app for playback and analysis
- Sheet music or scale exercises
- A good sense of self‑observation or assistance from a vocal coach
Quick setup — take your range reading (2–3 minutes)
- Open Vocal Range Test Pro and allow microphone access.
- Warm up gently for 3–5 minutes.
- Follow the prompts to find your lowest and highest comfortable notes without strain.
- Note the output (e.g., “A2–E4, 1.5 octaves”) and keep it handy for the steps below.
- Button: Measure my vocal range now
Step-by-Step Voice Type Test
Timbre and Vocal Color Assessment
- Sing a simple scale or exercise in your comfortable range.
- Pay attention to the natural brightness, warmth, or darkness in your voice. Record yourself and listen back.
- Compare your timbre to descriptions of the different voice types: Soprano (bright/clear), Mezzo-Soprano (warm/rich), Contralto (deep/mellow), Tenor (bright/clear), Baritone (rich/full), Bass (deep/resonant).
- Note: Refer to your range result from Vocal Range Test Pro to check whether your perceived color aligns with typical starting points shown below.
Tessitura Analysis
Tessitura is the range within which a singer feels most comfortable. It is not just about reaching high or low notes but singing comfortably over a range.
- Identify the part of your range where your voice feels most comfortable and stable for sustained singing.
- Notice where your voice is most expressive without strain. This is your tessitura.
- Match your tessitura with typical voice type characteristics.
- Different voice types are associated with specific tessitura regions (e.g., a mezzo-soprano has a comfortable tessitura around the middle of the female vocal range).
Vocal Weight & Power
Vocal weight refers to the ‘heaviness’ or ‘lightness’ of the voice, indicating the volume and intensity a singer can naturally achieve.
- As you sing through your range, notice whether your voice carries naturally with authority (heavier) or feels lighter and more agile.
- Test soft, medium, and loud dynamics on sustained pitches or familiar repertoire.
- Heavier voices (dramatic soprano, bass) manage louder dynamics more easily; lighter voices (lyric tenor, coloratura soprano) favor clarity and agility.
Flexibility and Agility Practice
- Attempt singing quick, agile passages (simple melismas or musical phrases).
- If agility feels effortless, you may lean toward lyric/coloratura subtypes; if it’s challenging but power feels easy, you may lean dramatic.
Role Identification and Style Preference
- Perform excerpts from songs or arias traditionally associated with different voice types.
- Reflect on which roles feel most natural or resonate emotionally with your voice’s characteristics.
Map your range result to likely starting points
Use this as an orientation tool—there’s natural overlap, and training shifts limits. Always prioritize tessitura and timbre from the steps above.
Bass: Often E2–E4; comfortable low tessitura; deep/resonant tone. Note: Your Vocal Range Test Pro result helps you choose where to start, but voice type is confirmed by comfort (tessitura), color, and role suitability.
Soprano: Often spans roughly C4–C6; comfortable high tessitura; bright/clear tone.
Mezzo‑Soprano: Often A3–A5; comfortable mid tessitura; warm/rich tone.
Contralto: Often F3–F5; comfortable low tessitura; deep/mellow tone.
Tenor: Often C3–C5; comfortable high tessitura; bright/clear tone.
Baritone: Often G2–G4; comfortable mid tessitura; versatile/full‑bodied tone.
Not sure your reading was accurate? Re‑check your lowest and highest comfortable notes with Vocal Range Test Pro. Retake my range
Reflecting results — your voice type
- Sopranos & Tenors: Typically have a bright, clear timbre. They excel in roles with high tessitura and require agility.
- Mezzo-Sopranos & Baritones: Known for their rich, warm voices, often comfortable in both higher and lower parts of their range, suited for roles of emotional depth.
- Contraltos & Basses: Present with a deep, powerful tone, thriving in roles requiring robust sound.
The voice types
Explore all voice types and learn more about each of these unique types.
Interpreting the results of your Voice Type Test
- Your combined observations (timbre, tessitura, weight, agility) + your measured range should give you a clearer picture of your vocal identity and repertoire choices.
- We recommend regular re‑assessment—voices evolve with training, health, and age.
- If you don’t have a mentor, use Vocal Range Test Pro to track your range over time, then review changes alongside your comfort and timbre.
The results from this test should give you a clearer understanding of your vocal identity, guiding your repertoire choices and vocal development. While this assessment provides an insight into your voice type, working with a vocal coach can deepen your understanding and refine your classification.
We strongly suggest you try out an app to find your voice type and vocal range if you don’t have a mentor who you can consult about this. If you’re already in voice lessons, you’ve probably already used these tools before.
Seeking Professional Feedback
Recommendation:
- Consult a vocal coach or experienced choir director for an assessment based on professional observation.
- Discuss your results and determine a tailored training path.
- Remember: this test reflects your current state. Revisit it periodically as you grow.
Remember, your voice can evolve, and this test reflects your current state. Regular re-assessment is beneficial as you grow and learn.
Next Steps, exploring your voice type
This detailed approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation of one’s voice type, empowering singers to choose the most compatible and rewarding musical roles.
