Falsetto (fall-SET-oh) is a singing technique that produces sounds pitched higher than the singer's normal range.

Falsetto can also mean an artificially raised speaking pitch. This often occurs momentarily if repeatedly in males during puberty as their voice changes. The break between voice registers, audible or not, is called the passaggio.

The falsetto register is used by male countertenors to approximate the register in classical voice that previously employed castrati, in pieces written before castratism became socially unacceptable and eventually universally outlawed. It is also used by many male rock and roll singers such as Jon Anderson of Yes, King Diamond of Mercyful Fate, Justin Hawkins of the Darkness and the solo artist David Usher to produce their over-the-top soaring vocals.

Many people consider women, because of physical differences from males, to not have or be capable of falsetto. However, many female singers, such as Mariah Carey, do employ falsetto to extend their range. Female singers also have the capabilities of 'head voice' and 'whistle voice.'

Falsetto is employed through the expansion and separation of vocal cords in which case only the edges of the vocal cord vibrate, not the entire vocal cord.

See also: voice registers, vocal fry.

Category

• Singing
• Voice registers