Singing Glossary: The Beginner’s Cheat Sheet to Singing Words

Whether you're new to vocal technique or just looking to understand your voice better, it’s easy to get confused by all the singing words teachers throw around. This glossary breaks it all down, with clear explanations and super simple versions too.

Chest Voice

The voice quality used when speaking or singing low notes. Dominated by the TA (thyroarytenoid) muscles, it creates a fuller, richer sound. Extending chest voice too high can lead to strain, which is why learning to mix is so helpful.
Beginner explanation: This is likely your normal speaking voice. Like saying “Hey!” across the room.

🎙️ Strengthen your chest voice by doing the exercises in the Train Your Lower Voice section inside the membership.

Head Voice

A lighter register quality used for higher pitches, often associated with a floaty or classical sound. Governed by the CT (cricothyroid) muscles, it often feels like the vibration moves up in your head, hence the name head voice.
Beginner explanation: It’s kind of like hooting like an owl.

🔗 VoiceScienceWorks explains the different registers in technical detail (nerd alert!).

Mixed Voice

A vocal blend that happens at your bridge (also known as the passaggio). It's a muscular balance between chest and head voice, giving you a smooth, connected sound.
Beginner explanation: It’s like a smoothie made of chest voice and head voice — not too heavy, not too light. When done well, it removes the obvious "gear change" or flip between registers. Instead of sounding like two different voices, everything flows like one unified instrument.

🥤 Check out our Straw Phonation course for exercises that help you mix naturally.

Belt (or Belting)

A powerful, speech-like singing style often used in musical theatre, pop, and gospel. It involves singing higher notes with chest voice resonance or chest-dominant mix. It shouldn’t feel strained or excessively loud.
Beginner explanation: You sing with power, but still controlled. It’s important to get feedback to know you’re doing it right. If you can’t bring the volume down, you are shouting (harmful for the voice!), not belting.

Mix Belt

A specific sound that feels powerful and “belty” without dragging up chest voice. It uses pharyngeal resonance and twang to sound intense, while staying safe and sustainable. Belt and mix belt are styles of singing, whereas mixed voice is a blend of the chest and head registers.
Beginner explanation: It sounds strong like yelling, but it’s actually a trick! You're using a shortcut to make it sound loud without hurting your voice.

Passaggio (The Bridge)

The place in your range where your voice wants to “flip” between registers. It’s tricky for many singers but can be trained to sound smooth.
Beginner explanation: It’s the bumpy part of the road when your voice wants to switch gears — learning how to drive over it smoothly takes practice.

ℹ️ We talk about this in the How the Voice Works course, available to all members.

Falsetto

A light, airy sound usually used for very high notes, especially by male singers. The vocal cords don’t close completely, making it softer and breathier.
Beginner explanation: It’s the kind of voice you hear in Bee Gees’ Staying Alive.

Pharyngeal Voice

A buzzy, forward tone that resonates in the pharynx (middle of the throat). It’s often used in safe belting and musical theatre singing.
Beginner explanation: It sounds a little like a witch or cartoon character — bright and zappy in the middle of your mouth.

Twang

A bright, focused resonance often used in speech-level singing to add clarity and intensity. It’s efficient and helps your voice “cut through” sound.
Beginner explanation: It’s like when someone talks with a sassy or country voice — sharp, strong, and not shouty.

Onsets (Attacks)

How the vocal folds come together at the start of a note. There are different types (glottal, breathy, balanced) that affect your tone and ease.
Beginner explanation: It’s how you “start” a note, like the difference between slamming a door or gently closing it.

Vocal Fry

A low, creaky sound at the bottom of your range. It can be used as a warm-up or stylistic tool. It also engages the muscles responsible for closing the vocal folds, meaning that we can use it as a workout if we have a problem with breathiness.
Beginner explanation: It’s the sound your voice makes when you're really tired or lazy — like a little creaky door sound.

Resonance

Where your voice vibrates in your body and how that affects tone. Learning to shift resonance helps with style and range.
Beginner explanation: It’s where the sound “echoes” inside you — like the difference between yelling into a cave or a closet

Want more terms explained? Drop your question inside the membership in the Feedback Forum — we love helping singers feel confident and informed.

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