Falsetto

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

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The 'falsetto register' is used by male countertenors to approximate the register in classical voice that previously employed castrati, in pieces written after castratism became socially unacceptable, and eventually universally outlawed. It is also used by many male rock singers to produce their over-the-top soaring vocals:

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• Jon Anderson of Yes
• Horace Andy, reggae star
• The Beatles, not generally known for falsetto, used the technique in "Tell Me Why"
• Matthew Bellamy of Muse
• Stephen Bishop, singing the closing theme from National Lampoon's Animal House
• The Blues Brothers used the technique at one point in "Stand By Your Man"
• Lou Christie
• Vincent Chong
• Tim Derricourt of Dappled Cities Fly
• King Diamond of Mercyful Fate
• Rik Emmett of Triumph
• Noel Gallagher of Oasis
• Rob Halford of Judas Priest
• Justin Hawkins of The Darkness
• Roger Hodgson of Supertramp
• Jan and Dean
• Geddy Lee of Rush
• Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace
• Chris Martin of Coldplay
• Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band
• Curtis Mayfield, on the Superfly soundtrack album
• Freddie Mercury of Queen
• Aaron Neville, soul artist
• Craig Nicholls of The Vines
• Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses (and many other heavy metal vocalists)
• Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria
• Martin Sexton
• Jeff Sorensen, solo artist
• David Usher, solo artist
• Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons
• Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys
• Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
• Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails (for only one song.)

Falsettos were also prominent lead singers in soul music groups, including:

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• William Hart of The Delfonics
• Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations
• Russell Thompkins Jr. of The Stylistics.

Perhaps the most famous falsetto singers in pop are Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson and Prince.

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Alanis Morissette is an example of a well-known female singer who employs falsetto, in the opening chords of "Ironic" for example, as well as in the songs "One", and "Can't Not." Many people consider women, because of their 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 can also reach the whistle register, but men too have this capability, although it is more rare.

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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.

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Falsetto: Pop culture ►



 

Singing: Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, often constrasted with speech. Air is expelled with the diaphragm as with ordinary breathing, and the pitch is altered with the vocal cords. With the lips closed, this is called humming. A piece of music that is sung is called a song; s...

Pitch: Pitch may refer to:...

Singer: :For other senses of this word, see singer (disambiguation)....