Elizabeth T McKinney Ch. 6

List 5 usages for the term register.

1) A particular part of the vocal range (upper, middle, or lower register)

2) A resonance area (chest or head)

3) a phonatory process

4) A certain timbre

5) a region of the voice which is defined or delimited by vocal breaks

What are the 3 elements of the definition of register? a certain vibratory patter, a certain series of pitches, and a certain type of sound

All registers originate in _laryngeal___ function. 

The terms head voice and chest voice are more legitimate as descriptions of _____resonance____.

Many of the problems identified as register problems are really problems of __resonance adjustment_____.

According to McKinney, what are the 4 distinct vibratory forms (registers)?

For each register, summarize what you have learned about it.  Include information about

1.     vibratory pattern

2.     pitch range

3.     characteristic sound

4.     uses

Vocal Fry – Extremely low in pitch (mean fundamental = 36.4). It has a popping and rattling sound due to loose glottal closure allowing air through.  It is a routine part of speaking patterns on descending deemphasized syllables, but overuse can cause voice disorders.  It’s only used in singing in extremely low bass parts, particularly in some gospel or Russian choral music.  Excessive use of vocal fry by basses can cause them to lose their high pitches in modal voice, so be careful!  Vocal fry can also be used to help student who have trouble accessing low notes because of excessive tension.

Modal Voice – Normal register for speaking and singing (arguably).  The folds are thick and wedge-shaped in this register, the glottis being closed for a greater amount of time during vibration, and the entire length of the fold being used.  The register also has a broad harmonic spectrum.  Ideally, the high modal voice transitions quite easily into falsetto, so the characteristic depends upon the pitch level and muscle adjustment.  Modal voice is probably used by most professional classical singers at all times and in all pitch levels except for rare artistic occasions.

Falsetto Register – Characteristic sound is breathy and fluty.  In this register, on the ligament part of the fold is vibrating, not the entire body.  The vocal ligament gets so thin that vertical phase difference becomes negligible.  Some people close the chink, and others don’t.  Falsetto is limited in dynamic range and tone color choice.  It overlaps with modal voice.  Uses for falsetto register include:

- 1^st tenor parts in choir

- yodeling

- comedic effects

- folk songy tenors

- falsettists

- pitches that modal register can’t reach (isn’t that the same as whistle?)

- pianissimo

- vocal exercises    

Falsetto is not a replacement for modal voice, but means to an end.

Whistle Register – The pitch range starts above high C, and sounds like a whistle, hence the name.  It’s unclear have the vibratory pattern is, because the epiglottis covers it!  No prominent overtones. Passage of air through a triangular opening between the arytenoid cartilages?         

In modal register, how is frequency controlled?

Sometimes singers/voice teachers mistakenly identify an area of vocal problems as a register break.  What is often more likely the issue? Resonance adjustment?....

What is the shape of the vocal folds for the lowest tones?  thick and wedge shaped

What is one of the primary reasons for vocalizing in falsetto? So singers can be less afraid of high notes, and can then incorporate modal voice into it.

What are the essential differences between modal and falsetto? The body vibrates in modal and not in falsetto

Describe the different ways that singers produce falsetto? Some with chink open and other with chink closed!

Most professional singers have at least ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_________________________ range where modal and falsetto overlap. 

Why is it sometimes hard to tell whether a female singer is singing in modal or falsetto? Because of their smaller fold size, the difference is slight compared to men.