Whistle register
{{short description|Highest register of the human voice}}
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| image1 = Minnie Riperton 1974.jpg
| alt1 = Minnie Riperton
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| footer = Minnie Riperton (left) had one of the earliest hit records using the whistle register on "Lovin' You" while Mariah Carey (right) uses the technique extensively in her music, most notably with "Emotions".
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{{Vocal registration}}
The whistle register (also called the flute register or flageolet register) is the highest register of the human voice, lying above the modal register and falsetto register. This register has a specific physiological production that is different from the other registers and is so called because the timbre of the notes that are produced from this register is similar to that of a whistle.
In some sopranos, the modal register vocal-production (the high head-voice part) may extend into what is usually thought to be the whistle register.{{cite book|author=James C. McKinney|title=The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults: A Manual for Teachers of Singing and for Choir Directors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C4VbW3fDnzsC|access-date=26 July 2013|year=1994|publisher=Genevox Music Group|isbn=978-1-56593-940-0}}
Physiology and definition
The whistle register is the highest phonational register, that in most singers begins above the soprano "high D" (D6 or 1174.6 Hz) and extends to about an octave above (D7 or 2349.3 Hz). It is created by using only the back of the vocal folds. The lower part of the whistle register may overlap the upper parts of the modal and falsetto registers, making it possible for singers to phonate these notes in different ways. However, fundamentally, the whistle register is most commonly used to produce pitches above D6. As with the other vocal registers, the whistle register does not begin at the same point within every voice, and there are rare voices that can extend the whistle register much higher or lower than the range listed above. For example, most operatic coloratura sopranos can sing up to the "high" F above "high" C without entering into the whistle register.
The physiology of the whistle register is the least understood of the vocal registers. Unlike other types of vocal production, it is difficult to film the vocal cords while they are operating in this manner as the epiglottis closes down over the larynx, and the resonating chamber assumes its smallest dimensions. It is known that when producing pitches in this register, vibration occurs only in some anterior portion of the vocal folds. This shorter vibrating length naturally allows for easier production of high pitches.{{cite book|author1=Lesley Mathieson|author2=Margaret C. L. Greene|title=Greene and Mathieson's the voice and its disorders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1KZsAAAAMAAJ|access-date=26 July 2013|date=1 June 2001|publisher=Whurr|isbn=978-1-86156-196-1}}
Although the whole physiological production of whistle tone is not understood, it is known that while the lateral cricoarytenoid muscles are active, the transverse arytenoid muscles remain inactive; a triangular opening is seen between the arytenoids, the vocal processes contact each other, and the posterior parts at the apex do not contact each other. The exception to this would be if the vocal folds are not stretched, as stretching of the vocal ligaments abducts (moves away from) the vocal processes.{{cite journal|last=Van den Berg|first=J.W.|date=December 1963|title=Vocal Ligaments versus Registers|journal=The NATS Bulletin|volume=19|pages=18}}
Use in music
In popular music, the whistle register is used with more variety and to produce much higher pitches than are called for in classical music. It has mostly been used by female singers, with notable examples being Minnie Riperton,{{cite book|last1=Bogdanov|first1=Vladimir|last2=Woodstra|first2=Chris|last3=Erlewine|first3=Stephen Thomas|title=All Music Guide To Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul|edition=3|year=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation| isbn= 0-87930-653-X|page=944}} Betty Wright,{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwhGw_A_2MA |people=Betty Wright |date=Oct 11, 2008 |title=Betty Wright - Queen of Whistle Register? |via=YouTube |type=Video |minutes=5:09 |lang=en}} Mariah Carey,{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11584197/Mariah-Carey-how-she-hits-those-highs.html|title=Mariah Carey: how she hits those highs|last=Vincent|first=Alice|date=May 6, 2015|access-date=December 15, 2018|website=The Daily Telegraph}} Christina Aguilera,{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2006/08/16/essential-christina-aguilera/|title=The Essential Christina Aguilera|last=Slezak|first=Michael|date=August 16, 2006|access-date=December 20, 2023|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Ariana GrandeSources:
- {{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8390286/ariana-grande-every-song-ranked|title=Every Ariana Grande Song, Ranked: Critic's Picks|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.hit.com.au/story/ariana-grande-brings-back-the-whistle-note-for-her-new-song-imagine-118028|title=Ariana Grande Brings Back The Whistle Note For Her New Song Imagine|date=December 14, 2018|website=Hit|access-date=December 14, 2018}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://dontboreus.thebrag.com/ariana-grande-tribute-aretha-franklin/|title=Watch Ariana Grande pay tribute to Aretha Franklin on The Tonight Show|last=Campbell|first=Patrick|date=August 17, 2018|website=Don't Bore Us|language=en|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
- {{Cite magazine|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/news/a17037/ariana-grande-into-you-acappella/|title=Ariana Grande's A Cappella Version of "Into You" Might Be Better Than the Original|last=Gonzales|first=Erica|date=August 3, 2016|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
- {{Cite web|url=http://www.dbknews.com/pb/2018/08/22/ariana-grande-sweetener-album-review/|title=Review: 'Sweetener' proves this is Ariana Grande's world and we're just living in it|last=O'Reilly|first=Allison|date=August 21, 2018|website=Arc Publishing|access-date=December 15, 2018}} and Chante Moore.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
Some male singers can also make use of the whistle register, including Vitas,{{Cite web|url=https://www.becomesingers.com/vocal-range/whistle-register-singing-voice|title=Whistle Register Singing Voice|publisher=Become Singers Vocal Coaching|access-date=6 April 2020}} Adam Lopez,{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-whistle-register-2994233|title=What Is Whistle Register?|publisher=Live About|access-date=6 April 2020}} Axl Rose, Gabriel Henrique and Dimash Qudaibergen.{{Cite web|url=https://zen.yandex.ru/media/dimash_kudaibergen/reakciia-na-vokal-dimasha-kudaibergena-vokalnogo-trenera-endi-devisa-5e38418c308e5914fb49c712?|title=Реакция на вокал Димаша Кудайбергена вокального тренера Энди Дэвиса|publisher=Yandex News Russia|access-date=22 March 2020|language=ru}} Jon Bon Jovi reached the note F7 during a live performance of Bon Jovi's song Tokyo Road in 1987.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMeQRFdIY8Q Bon Jovi Whistle register (no video footage) livehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNKLuTLrCxM Iowa fair footage of Jon Bon Jovi achieving whistle notes live An Iranian man named Amirhossein Molaei holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the highest vocal note produced by a man (F♯8, 5989 Hz).{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/79003-highest-vocal-note-by-a-male| archive-date=2022-12-05| url-status=live|title=Highest vocal note – male – Guinness World Records|publisher=Guinness World Records| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205171203/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/79003-highest-vocal-note-by-a-male|access-date=January 29, 2023}}{{cbignore}}
References
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Further reading
- {{cite book|author1=Brenda Jo Smith|author2=Robert Thayer Sataloff|title=Choral Pedagogy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qHQokgEACAAJ|access-date=26 July 2013|date=1 April 2013|publisher=Plural Publishing, Incorporated|isbn=978-1-59756-535-6}}
- {{cite book|author=James A. Stark|title=Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rVFQdViY7jAC|access-date=26 July 2013|year=2003|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-8614-3}}
External links
- [https://5e16435692df3.site123.me/about-whistle-register Whistle register at SITE123]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZSEKmMpVg]
{{Range (music)}}