Chest Voice and Head Voice are… kind of bogus
Stay with me, my friend!
Where These Terms Came From
Voice science has progressed a lot from the time we literally thought sound vibrated in our chest or our head.
Turns out those were just “sympathetic vibrations,” or how we perceived our voices resonating in our body.
Lower notes tend to feel like they vibrate more in the chest.
Higher notes tend to feel like they vibrate more in the face and head.
The Modern Terms (That Aren’t Much Better)
oday, you’ll hear more science-based language used instead.
For what most people call chest voice, you might hear:
- Mode 1
- TA-dominant
- Modal voice
- “Thick” vocal folds
For head voice, people might say:
- Mode 2
- CT-dominant
- Falsetto
- “Thin” vocal folds
But here’s my honest take:
Those terms don’t land for a lot of singers. And frankly… they’re not as precise as we once thought either.
TA vs CT dominance has largely been debunked as an oversimplification.
“Thick” and “thin” folds are relative and highly contextual.
So swapping old terminology for new jargon doesn’t automatically make things clearer—or more useful.
What terms SHOULD we use?
I use the terms “chest voice” and “head voice” because they reflect my perception of my own voice!
That’s how it feels in my body, and for many singers!
If a term helps you coordinate your voice more efficiently, sing with less tension, and understand what’s happening in your body—then it’s doing its job.
If those terms don’t do it for you, find language that does! After all, singing is a deeply personal experience. And you’re at liberty to explain and explore your voice however feels best to you.
What Actually Matters (Hint: It’s Not the Vocabulary)
Using more “science-y” terms does not make you a better singer.
And it doesn’t make you a better teacher either.
What does make a difference?
- Practicing singing, with intention!
- Understanding your unique vocal tendencies
- Working toward balance and connection across your range
Not adhering to terminology meant for someone else’s voice.
Feeling at a loss as to WHAT or HOW to practice singing?
I know you want to make the most of the time you spend working on your voice.
And that can feel really frustrating when after months or years of singing, your voice still feels hit or miss and you can’t sing what you want, when you want.
That’s not a motivation problem, it’s likely a plan problem.
Most singers are following advice that worked for someone else.
My advice?
Stop trying to force yourself into a one-size-fits-all system and get a lesson plan that’s actually built for your voice.
Inside Master Your Mix, you’ll get:
- A personalized framework based on your starting point
- Guided lessons you can actually use again and again
- Live classes with me to help you apply it all to real singing
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building consistency, this is where I’d point you.
👉 Learn more about MASTER YOUR MIX
