<P> While the broadest definition of "vocal range" is simply the span from the lowest to the highest note a particular voice can produce, this broad definition is often not what is meant when "vocal range" is discussed in the context of singing . Vocal pedagogists tend to define the vocal range as the total span of "musically useful" pitches that a singer can produce . This is because some of the notes a voice can produce may not be considered usable by the singer within performance for various reasons . For example, within opera all singers must project over an orchestra without the aid of a microphone . An opera singer would therefore only be able to include the notes that they are able to adequately project over an orchestra within his or her vocal range . In contrast, a pop artist could include notes that could be heard with the aid of a microphone . </P> <P> Another factor to consider is the use of different forms of vocal production . The human voice is capable of producing sounds using different physiological processes within the larynx . These different forms of voice production are known as vocal registers . While the exact number and definition of vocal registers is a controversial topic within the field of singing, the sciences identify only four registers: the whistle register, the falsetto register, the modal register, and the vocal fry register . Typically only the usable pitches within the modal register--the register used in normal speech and most singing--are included when determining singers' vocal ranges . There are exceptions, as in opera, where countertenors employ falsetto and coloratura sopranos use the whistle register; notes from these registers would therefore be included in the vocal ranges of these voices . </P> <P> Vocal range plays such an important role in classifying singing voices into voice types that sometimes the two terms are confused with one another . A voice type is a particular kind of human singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics; vocal range being only one of those characteristics . Other factors are vocal weight, vocal tessitura, vocal timbre, vocal transition points, physical characteristics, speech level, scientific testing, and vocal registration . All of these factors combined are used to categorize a singer's voice into a particular kind of singing voice or voice type . </P> <P> The discipline of voice classification developed within European classical music and is not generally applicable to other forms of singing . Voice classification is often used within opera to associate possible roles with potential voices . There are several systems in use including the German Fach system, the Italian opera tradition, and French opera tradition . There are other systems of classification as well, most commonly the choral music system . </P>

The standard ranges of the human voice from highest to lowest are