Vocal fold vibratory differences in different registers of professional male singers with different singing voice types

Abstract

Vocal register is an important concept of singing voices and have been related to vocal fold vibratory characteristics. This study examined the relationship between different singing voice types and the associated vocal fold vibratory characteristics. A total of 19 tenors, 10 baritones professional singers participated in the study. A total of 84 vowel sounds sung in chest, head and falsetto registers at a constant loudness and most comfortable pitch level were analyzed by using electroglottography (EGG). The open quotient (Oq) and fundamental frequency (F0) parameters were extracted and the gradient Oq/log(F0) were determined. Results showed that tenors had significantly higher Oq/log(F0) gradient than baritones in chest and head registers, while no significant difference was found in falsetto register between the baritones and tenors. Moreover, gradient Oq/log(F0) was significantly greater in falsetto register when compared with chest and head registers produced by baritone singers. The present results provide insights to the application of vocal fold vibratory characteristics in voice classification for male singers.