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.
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...
Adduction
Vocal fold abduction refers to the movement of the vocal folds away from the midline of the larynx, resulting in the widening of the glottis, which is the space between the vocal folds. This action is primarily controlled by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, which...
Acoustics
Acoustics is the branch of physics concerned with the study of sound, its generation, transmission, and effects. It encompasses various aspects of sound, including its production, propagation, and interaction with the environment. Acoustics examines how sound waves...
Abduction
Vocal Fold Abduction is the separation of the vocal folds away from the center line. The Posterior Cricoarytenoid muscles are the abductors for the vocal folds. Want to keep exploring? Head back to the Lexicon homepage to browse all terms.
Abdominal Viscera
Abdominal viscera refers to the organs located within the abdominal cavity, including the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gallbladder, and kidneys. These vital organs perform various functions related to digestion, metabolism, and waste elimination. The abdominal viscera are protected by the abdominal muscles and are surrounded by a lining called the peritoneum.
Abdominal Breathing
Abdominal Breathing is frequently seen as the “proper way to breathe”. Focus is placed on the expansion of the abdomen. This breathing method allows for a large volume of air to be inhaled and tends to lower the larynx. It can overly increase subglottal pressure,...
Abdomen
The abdomen is the region of the body located between the chest (thorax) and the pelvis. It contains vital organs such as the stomach, liver, intestines, and more. During abdominal breathing this area is allowed to expand increasing the volume of air able to be...
5 Layer Scheme
The Five Layer Scheme is a breakdown of the different layers of the vocal folds. The innermost part is the thyroarytenoid muscle, then the three layers of the lamina propria (made up of the deep, intermediate, and superficial layers), and finally, the epithelium. Want...