Key Difference – Falsetto vs Head Voice
Falsetto and head voice are often confused because they are both sung softly. However, they are distinct from each other, mainly in terms of the quality of the sound produced. Falsetto has a thinner, airy sound, while head voice is clear, clean, and stronger. This difference is due to the production of sound within the vocal tract.
What is Falsetto?
Falsetto is a voice production technique typically utilized by male singers, particularly tenors, to hit notes higher than their normal range. Derived from Italian, falsetto translates to “false voice.” This register is created by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal cords. When someone sings in falsetto, the vocal folds come close enough together to cause the edges to vibrate as air flows between them, but they do not touch each other.
Falsetto allows singers to hit notes beyond the vocal range of the modal voice (normal voice). It often has a breathy and airy tone since the vocal cords are closed, and air can easily escape. Falsetto is considered weaker than other voices because the vibrating length of the vocal cord is shorter than in other voices.
Although it was once thought that only men could sing in the falsetto register, it is now known that women can also do so. However, there is a more noticeable change in timbre and dynamic level between the falsetto and modal registers for male singers. Although falsetto is frequently mistaken for head voice, head voice is much stronger than falsetto.
What is Head Voice?
Head voice refers to either a type of vocal register or a vocal resonance area. In vocal music, vocal resonance is the area in the singer’s body that experiences the majority of resonance. When someone sings with head voice, the vibrations are felt around the upper half of the face, with the sinuses being the primary resonator.
Head voice can produce light, bright, and high-pitched tones. It is often confused with falsetto because of this high-pitched tone. However, head voice is not the same as falsetto. Head voice is stronger than falsetto and sounds clean and clear without too much airy sound because the vocal cords remain in contact with one another.
What is the difference between Falsetto and Head Voice?
Falsetto vs Head Voice
Head voice is one of the highest registers of the voice in speaking or singing.
Falsetto is a method of voice production to sing notes higher than their normal range.
Strength
Falsetto is weaker and thinner than head voice.
Head Voice is stronger than falsetto.
Quality of Sound
Falsetto has an airy tone.
Head voice has a clean and bright tone.
Vocal Folds
Vocal folds do not make contact with one another.
Vocal folds come into contact with one another.
Singers
Falsetto is typically sung by men.
Head voice can be produced by both men and women.
Summary – Falsetto vs Head Voice
The difference between falsetto and head voice lies in the behavior of the vocal cords during sound production. When producing head voice, the vocal cords remain in contact with each other, resulting in clear and bright tones. When producing falsetto, the vocal cords don’t touch each other, leading to an airy tone. This also causes falsetto to be weaker and thinner than head voice.
