Bass baritone Tenors

[invictious]

I am 15.
My vocal range, ranges from F2 (low f below middle C) to Middle D, and that range is pretty small if you haven't noticed.

That'd put me in the bass/baritone category, which I don't like, especially the 'bass' part. I have always wanted to be a higher baritone, baritone tenor.

I have been always trying to expand my vocal range, but I don't know where to start. I want to expand my range upwards, I want to become a tenor, which require almost a middle G.

Also, when I start singing louder, I feel my throat starting to get tired, which I suspect i am not using my lungs to project my voice, most of the volume comes from my throat, which is not good, of course.

Please help,

thanks

/EDIT: My falsetto range can outrange many other females+males by the way, I think I have whistle register, I can sing the E 2 octaves above middle C, after some warm up though, but I can force out an A, but that's almost like screaming. BUT my falsetto can't get lower than the middle A
So how is it that I have a high falsetto voice, but a low normal chest voice?

[arbisley]

I don't think it's time to worry yet. If your lowest is an f below middle c, you're not a bass (I can judge being a bass who goes to e nearly two octaves below middle C). For a bass, you'd actually have to sing c2 at least.

My singing teacher, who is extremely good, says that all male voices more or less start baritone, and then depending on diet, exercise, and other unknown factors, the voice goes up or down. He also said that, although he sings like an angel and is a tenor now, he used to be absolutely terrible at 15, 16 years of age. There again, don't worry about it, don't put pressure on yourself to sing higher or anything like that.

It would be good to have a teacher if you don't, and learn from them how to do all the things you want to, breath control etc., and gradually build up a greater range starting from where you are now. Or else you could actually go falsetto instead, if it's so easy for you to sing up there, or then it could be that your voice hasn't completely broken yet.

Just give yourself the time to judge how good your singing is, arcady volodos (senioe) said that singing is something you can learn later because the voice doesn't finish developing fully in males until about 22 or 23.

I might be a bit patronising saying all this, since I'm also only 16, but I get it all directly from excellent teachers!

[invictious]

I meant the f an octave below middle C, my range is not THAT junk.

Well I usually do tenor for school choirs, and some notes are just too high for me occasionally (that bloody middle F!!)

Well what can I do to make it 'move up'

[arbisley]

I meant the f an octave below middle C, my range is not THAT junk.

Sorry about that!

That's actually not that bad, considering even some of the best (male) only do two octaves.

You can't really do much to move your voice up, because you'd end up just straining it unnecessarily and would crack up completely as a singer at the age of 35.

well, as I was told, voice plaving also comes from character, say someone hyperactive and jumpy is more likely to be a tenor; maybe you could do some radical character change....
But anyway, it's not fixed yet, but otherwise don;t try doing anything unnatural. Actually, you can have a lot of fun fishing for the lowest possible notes in the bass , and then quickly singing the soprano part or something, try to get everyone confused.

Can't really say much more, be happy with what you've got!

[dnephi]

Basses can sing down to below the c below the c below middle c with training.  Some go lower.
Tenors can go up to C above high C and down to about c-e below middle range at least.  
Baritones vary.  I personally have F below C below middle c to the "Middle B".  I am a baritone.  

If you have the f below the f below middle c, which is what I think you are trying to say, then you can consider yourself a bass.  You should never attempt Barbershop quartet because you would need to sing lower as a bass and much higher as a baritone...  Have you been trained in singing?

To work on range, all you can really do is receive proper training (I am from the German operatic school) and that's it.  You can't do much else.  If you aren't born with a good range and a good voice, then you just don't have good range or a good voice.  You should be able to help a choir, for instance, but there isn't much you can do.

By the way: do you have a falsetto?  If you do, then you are not a tenor. You would then be a baritone because you can't sing low bass.

[pianistimo]

my husband is a baritone.  he was born with a deep voice and if he was anything like my son - his voice never really changed, per se - but just got gradually deeper.  i was expecting a really dramatic change of voice.  i didn't realize this happened to some guys.

anyway, he's got a routine he goes through (for what it's worth) on days he's intent on singing.  he goes into the shower and instead of starting on the lowest notes and working up - he starts with the highest comfortable (or not comfortable note to sing) and uses (uuuuuw - eeeeee -uuuuuw- eeeeee - uuuuuw -eeeee - three times).  it sound like he's calling pigs or something.  i'm not joking here.  but, it works through any 'crack's of voice ' until he has a smooth transitioning from vowel to vowel.  usually one time through going through the higher register of his voice.  then, he just starts singing repertoire.  he used to have a bunch of vocal exercises that i would play for him.  each one worked something different.  i don't think these particular exercises stretched the range terribly - but the did reach the peak and low notes of the typical baritone range.

[thalbergmad]

By the way: do you have a falsetto? 

Will someone please explain to me what a falsetto is.

Ta

Thal

[berrt]

but, it works through any 'crack's of voice ' until he has a smooth transitioning from vowel to vowel

rather from vowel to towel?

[pianistimo]

one could say that.  he's very fastidious about that, too.  btw, thanks thal for no meanness here.  i was expecting something about calling pigs and did i join him in the shower.  well, anyway...the first time i heard him do this (after a day or two into marriage) i thought he was getting wierd.  but, then he explained how it helped him manage his upper register.

falsetto, as i understand it, is where the voice changes from it's real range to a sort of 'harmonics' of the voice.  it is a 'pretend' extension of range - which often can be used for ulterior motives.  say, when your car alarm accidentally goes off - you can use it for a diversion and people think it's just you singing and not your car.

according to wikipedia, the beegees were experts at falsetto and only sang in that.  also, it said that people sometimes confuse head voice with falsetto - but head voice uses 1/4 of the vocal chords and not just expanding and separating them and vibrating the edges.

[invictious]

Thal doesn't know what falsetto is?!?

Well I don't get what it means by if you have a falsetto then you are not a tenor, I mean my falsetto is easily outrange all of the girls in boys in my school (hehe  ) but I want to become a baritone tenor.

So there is basically nothing I can do except hope that my voice will develop it's high range?

I used to be able to sing a middle E, but all of a sudden, in a months time (when I was still 15) I can't do it anymore. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH (in middle D)

[dnephi]

In strict definition if you are a tenor you do not have a falsetto.  Its normal range is too close to the falsetto range, I believe. 
Falsetto is when guys sing very high by changing how they sing.  Just try singing a note higher than your range  .

"Baritone tenor" is a misnomer and makes no sense. 

[pianistimo]

i was thinking that,too.  thanks for putting it into words.  it makes sense that the tenor range is too close to the falsetto to have a 'harmonics' effect.  they must only have head voice?  or is that only sopranos?

[invictious]

Heh, usuauly my falsetto allows me to go to the high a (A3), then almost push it up to the C4!
I am still trying to sing higher, gah, stupid middle Dsharp, it just likes to sit there and taunt me.

I think it's the projection problem..

[dnephi]

I can't fix you, and I definitely don't suggest just trying to sing higher, you'lll hurt yourself.  Get a good voice teacher to help with positioning.  Don't try to sing as high as you can falsetto, it's not too good. 

[ako]

I am a 35-year-old soprano and I sing semi-professionally. My advice is you should not force yourself to be something you are not. It is true that you can increase your range by training your voice but even if you can sing a middle F, that does not automatically mean you are a tenor.  Voice categorization depends not only range but also on quality and character of your voice. A mezzo soprano can sing as high as a soprano (maybe even higher than some sopranos) but the quality of her voice will still make her a mezzo.

I can understand you might be frustrated because you wanted to be a tenor. I have a light voice and when I first started taking lessons 8 years ago, I always wanted to sing heavier arias  and art songs (Berlioz, Brahms, etc.) Yes, I can probably develop my middle and low register to sing songs in the lower range, but I would not sound "right" vs. someone who naturally has that characteristic in their voices. It has taken years before I have accepted myself and my voice.

Being a good singer is not being able to sing the highest note possible. It is about knowing your capabilities and showing off your voice the best way that you can.  Since you are 15, you might develop into a tenor as you've always wanted or your might be a baritone, baritone-bass...who knows? Your voice is still changing and it is best to take good care of it with the proper training. I'd suggest you go find a voice teacher if you don't already have one and listen to his/her advice. It is a critical period when your voice is changing. You definitely do not want to hurt yourself and ruin your voice for the rest of your life.

Good luck and just think about this: What if nature has intended for you to be something else other than a tenor?  Are you going to be unhappy for the rest of your life? Maybe you're a much better baritone than tenor...and get more parts in school choir solos, plays, etc. as a baritone...what are you going to do? Are you going to still force and hurt your voice or are you going to be the best singer that you can be and embrace your own uniqueness?

[invictious]

my voice is pretty thick, and can get really sharp and bright as I go from A3 onwards, then I die at middle D.

So what have you done?

I think I might begin on 5 note scales with..what syllables?

Your advice, ako has been extremely helpful, and I feel so englightened.

[ako]

Invictious,

I work with a really good teacher and we pick the right repertoire for my voice to work on. I cannot overstress the key is to find a good teacher. An experienced professional can help you find your voice and develop it. S/he will also diagnose your "issue" and help you achieve what you want.

If you want to try it on your own first, buy (or check-out from the library) some books on singing that talks about basic breathing techniques, posture, use of the body, etc. If you want try something even before reading the books, you can try the most basic warm-up exercise --a 5-note descending scale on "ah". Keep a good posture, good breathing and airflow while "relaxing". Tension is not good for vocal production. The "yawn-sigh" on a descending 5th---"Ah" like you are yawning on the 5th and "sigh" (not breathy) as you slide down to the tonic----is also a good way to warm-up. Stop when you hear yourself cracking as you go up. Definitely stop if your voice feels tired or strained. You should never be tired....if you are, something is not going right and you should stop or you'll strain yourself.   

Be patient as singing is hard as you have to take control of your whole body. And don't be afraid to ask for advice from more experienced people around you, choir directors, music teachers, older singers in your school etc. They are usually very happy to help.