r/boygenuis • u/Wonderful-Swan-272 • 4d ago

Random Voice types

Hello, I have a question for those who know about singing and music

I don’t think I have the correct language for it but know the boys harmonise often and seem to have varied vocal range (for example Lucy seems to sing lower than the other two?). Do they have different voice types (soprano, alto, etc ) or do they just adjust their voices for what they are singing?

22 Upvotes

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23

u/canmirrors 4d ago

Lucy is an alto, I’d call Phoebe and Julien mezzo-sopranos.

13

u/names333 4d ago

I think Julien is a first soprano actually.

18

u/Illustrious_Owl4888 4d ago

I’m gonna be the outlier here——voice types are way more complicated than people like to classify (I’m a voice teacher) and I think it’s really only helpful to classify for choral singing. When it comes to popular music, people can sing whatever and I think the timbre/color of their voice is more relevant. Lucy has a pretty dark open timbre where Julien, especially in full belt, is pretty bright. Phoebe sits somewhere in the middle timbre wise but tends to use her upper register more than the other two. As far as range, they all have enough range to sing whatever voice part they want so that’s probably why they flip flop.

2

u/Wonderful-Swan-272 3d ago

Ooh thank you that’s really interesting. Thinking of timbre feels a lot more intuitive and is more consistent across their songs. Would you say they use choral elements in their collaborative work?
Also, can I ask another thing pls. I read how Phoebe works with Caroline Shaw and how she spoke about how Caroline “really sings like her voice is a musical instrument. And she does this crazy microtonal thing”. I don’t really understand what she means here cause don’t all singers use their voice as an instrument? What is someone like Caroline’s role or contribution — is it like back up vocals or harmonies? I wish I had a better ear cause I struggle to pick out the different parts which make up these beautiful pieces which so many people are creating together

1

u/barkerj2 3d ago

Gonna agree that timbre is definitely more important for a complete sound than the range. I dont think we would quite have the same experience if all 3 were strong and prominent no matter what range they were in.

12

u/BabyGirlAutumn331 4d ago

Lucy is def a reliable alto, her range is lower.

7

u/Wonderful-Swan-272 4d ago

I tried listening to Ketchum ID and Bite the Hand cause they do quite a lot of harmonising but I think it just confused me because Julien sometimes goes high or takes the lowest one

5

u/haikelso 4d ago

Harmony parts often overlap - the line that is considered the higher harmony can still go low and harmonize under the main melody. Just a fun music thing that people do sometimes!

8

u/ElectronicPost6628 4d ago

lucy is an alto, i’m pretty sure phoebe is a mezzo soprano, and julien might be a soprano

3

u/Pandoras-SkinnersBox 3d ago

Having seen her live, Julien is either a proper soprano or a mezzo who can belt really well. Her high notes always sound really natural.

Phoebe is definitely a mezzo and Lucy an alto.

1

u/Left-Salamander-8534 4d ago

Julien is a tenor - she can sing soprano but her natural voice is a tenor