VoSci Lexicon
Singing comes with its own language—and we’re here to help you speak it.
The VoSci Lexicon is a growing glossary of terms related to singing and the voice. Whether you’re a singer, teacher, or just someone who loves learning how the voice works, this resource is designed to make complex concepts easier to understand and apply.
Use it to clarify unfamiliar terms, deepen your understanding, or revisit the foundations with fresh insight.
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro refers to a vocal technique that emphasizes the balancing of light and dark. It is a key part of bel canto singing, and is the standard among classical singers. It is characterized by a lowered laryngeal position and forward tongue position. Want to keep...
Chest Voice
Chest voice, a common term for Thyroarytenoid Dominant Production, refers to the lower range of a singer’s vocal register, characterized by a deep and resonant sound. It is produced when the vocal folds shorten and thicken, resulting in a fuller and more robust tone....
Chaos Theory
Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics and physics that studies complex and unpredictable systems. It explores how seemingly random and chaotic behavior can emerge from simple nonlinear equations. Chaos theory suggests that small changes in initial conditions can...
Cervical Spine
The cervical spine, also known as the neck region of the spine, consists of seven vertebral bones labeled as C1 to C7. It is a crucial part of the spine that supports the head and allows for a wide range of movement in various directions, including flexion, extension,...
Cents
Cents, in the context of music and sound, are a unit of measurement used to quantify the difference in pitch between two frequencies. One cent is equal to one hundredth of a semitone. Cents provide a precise way to describe and compare the pitch variations between...
Centimeters of Water
Centimeters of water is a unit of pressure measurement. It is used to quantify pressure in terms of the height of a column of water. One centimeter of water is equal to the pressure exerted by a one-centimeter high column of water under the influence of gravity at...
Catacoustics
Catacoustics is the branch of acoustics dealing with echoes and reflected sounds, also sometimes referred to as cataphonics. Typically, however, it shows up simply under the term acoustics.Want to keep exploring? Head back to the Lexicon homepage to browse all terms.
Bronchi
The bronchus or bronchi are the two main air passages that branch off from the trachea and lead into the lungs. They further divide into smaller airways called bronchioles within the lungs. The bronchi are lined with cilia, hair like structures that help move mucus...
Breathiness
Breathiness in singing refers to a vocal quality characterized by the audible passage of breath during phonation. It can be described as lacking resonance and is often accompanied by an audible emission of breath. This vocal quality is achieved when the vocal folds...
Boyle’s Law
Boyle's Law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a constant temperature. Named after physicist Robert Boyle, who formulated the law in the 17th century, it states that the pressure of a given...
Blade of the Tongue
The Blade of the Tongue is the front of the tongue right behind the tip of the tongue. Along with the Dorsom, the Blade is responsible for the creation of vowels. The higher the placement of the blade of the tongue, the lower the first formant.Want to keep exploring?...
Bernoulli Effect
The Bernoulli Effect, named after the Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli, refers to a principle within fluid dynamics that states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or potential energy of the fluid. In other...
Belting
Belt or Belting is a thicker, heavier, brassier, brighter, twangier vocal style of production for female singers, representing most female vocal styles that are not head voice or thin folds. While belting is most often associated with female vocalists a belt...
Back Vowels
The Back Vowels are [u] [o] [ɔ] [ʊ] [ɑ] and they are produced with the highest point of the tongue towards the back of the mouth. These vowels are also defined by having a low second formant due to the low tongue position in the front of the mouth. These vowels are...
Audible Range
The Audible Range is the range of frequencies that the human ear can perceive. For the average human this range is about 20 to 20,000 hertz, this range is affected by acoustic conditions, age, health, and accumulated hearing damage. Humans are more sensitive to...
Attenuation
Attenuation refers to the gradual reduction in intensity or strength of a signal as it travels through a medium (typically air) or encounters an obstacle. In the context of sound, attenuation results in a decrease in sound energy as it propagates, leading to a quieter...
Aspirate Onset/Offset
Aspirate Onsets/Offsets happen when airflow begins before the closure (adduction) of the vocal folds (onset). The end of phonation occurs when the vocal folds seperate (abduction) before airflow ceases (offset). In both cases, this causes a moment of breathiness....
Aryepiglottic Fold
The Aryepiglottic Folds extend between the arytenoid cartilages and the lateral margins of the epiglottis, aiding in the prevention of aspiration by helping close the larynx during swallowing. A narrowing of this area may increase harmonics in the 2-4 kHz range during...
Anterior
Anterior describes a position or location that is toward the front of the body or an organ. It is the opposite of posterior, which refers to the back or rear. For instance, when discussing the human body, the heart is located anterior to the spine, meaning it is...
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to the maximum extent of a sound wave's vibration, typically measured as the height of the wave from its equilibrium position to its highest point (peak) or its lowest point (trough). Amplitude directly relates to the perceived loudness of a sound;...
Alveoli (Pulmonary)
Pulmonary alveoli are small, grape-like structures located at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs. These tiny air sacs are responsible for facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during respiration. Surrounded by a network of capillaries, pulmonary...
Alveolar Ridge
The Alveolar Ridge is the hard ridge between the upper teeth and the hard palate or behind the bottom teeth. Usually used to refer to the top Alveolar Ridge. It is used to create the English consonants [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l], among others.Want to keep exploring?...
Airflow
Airflow refers to the movement of air through the respiratory system during inhalation, exhalation, or phonation. Airflow is typically measured in liters or milliliters per second. Standard airflow rates vary greatly from tens or hundreds of milliliters per second...
Air
Air is a mixture of gases primarily composed of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, and trace gases. Air is essential for life as it contains the oxygen required for respiration. In acoustics and the...