If you are learning to sing, there are countless directions in which you can take your craft. That may feel a little overwhelming if you’re unsure of the styles of singing you want to focus on.
Ultimately, it’s your choice: You may pursue the vocal styles you most enjoy listening to or that you feel will best serve your career as a vocalist. Regardless, it’s handy to know a bit about some of the most popular genres.
In singing, style refers to the “unique and artistic way a singer performs a song beyond simply singing the correct notes and rhythms,” says City Academy singing tutor Geeta Pearson. That can include elements such as tone of voice, diction, vibrato, ornamentation, rhythm and emotional expression.
“Different musical genres have their own characteristic styles,” Pearson says. For example, “opera focuses on projection and resonance, jazz often involves improvisation and personal interpretation, pop uses a more conversational sound with various onsets and offsets, and soul, R&B, funk, and gospel feature expressive runs and powerful dynamics, belting, and raw emotion.”
Here’s a closer look at some key singing genres that are linked to distinctive singing styles (or multiple styles). It’s also worth noting that “two singers can perform the same song but sound completely different because of their individual style” within a genre or their voice type, Pearson says.
It’s also not always clear cut, singing teacher Tanya Holt says. People often think of musical theatre as a single genre associated with the Golden Age of Broadway (circa 1940 to 1960), for example, but “because composers are drawing from more contemporary styles, and because there are a lot of jukebox musicals,” a musical can be in any style, including pop, rock, folk, and rap, with examples such as Mamma Mia!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hadestown, and Hamilton. But more on musical theatre later!
1. Pop
Pop is an incredibly broad umbrella of contemporary music that often blends with other styles, including R&B, folk, rock, hip-hop, and country. Some of the biggest pop artists of our time include Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Chappell Roan, Harry Styles, and Dua Lipa.
Pearson says pop is “a modern and versatile style that focuses on clear lyrics, emotional expression, and a natural vocal sound, making it suitable for all voice types.”
2. Musical theatre
In its broadest sense, musical theatre is “a style of singing used in stage productions that combines singing, acting, and storytelling,” Pearson says.
A musical could be created in any of the other genres on this list, but one style of singing associated with Golden Age musicals – which includes shows such as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! and Carousel – is known as “legit singing.”
Legit singing is characterised by “a pure, clear sound with a focus on legato [smooth] phrasing and vibrato,” according to vocal coach Luana Maso.
“Lots of actors don’t seem to know what legit singing is,” Holt says. “Just abbreviate it to Golden Age musical singing that draws from classical styling.”
In legit singing – and some other styles, including classical and choral singing – it is necessary to classify your voice type, but Holt says singers often get too hung up on it in musical theatre, and there can be too much of “an obsession with voice type.”
“Musical theatre casting happens on a wider scale [than just traditional voice type],” Holt says. “It’s going to be about body type, character type – what your voice is actually like, not which notes you can hit.”
3. Opera
Part of the broader umbrella of classical singing, opera is a traditional style that “focuses on a rich, resonant sound and strong vocal technique,” Pearson says. According to English National Opera, it is an art form that “tells a story through music and singing,” but, unlike in musical theatre, opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices.
Opera singing is very demanding on its singers, who often need years of classical training to build the endurance to sing over an orchestra.
If you can master the technique, you can become an opera singer with any voice type, because opera often has parts written for specific voices – from sopranos (higher-pitched singers) to bass (the lowest voice type).
4. Jazz
Jazz emerged in the 20th century, “shaped by the rich musical heritage of African American communities and deeply influenced by blues, gospel, and ragtime,” Stefan Joubert writes for the London Singing Institute. Pioneering singers in the genre include Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.
Pearson says it’s a style that “encourages creativity and personal interpretation, often allowing singers to put their own spin on a song. It’s suitable for all voice types.”
5. Folk
Folk music is any traditional music passed orally from generation to generation within a specific region or culture. It can therefore vary widely, depending on its origin.
Pearson says it is a “simple and authentic style that focuses on telling stories and connecting with the listener, and can be sung successfully by all voice types.”
6. Rock
“Rock music is a broad style that originated directly from rock ’n’ roll, but which evolved into many subgenres since the early 1950s,” Rowena Atkins writes for Song Academy. It is often characterised by electric guitars and a powerful drum beat.
Pearson describes it as an “energetic style that often uses powerful vocals and strong emotion.” She adds that it’s a style well suited to medium and lower voices, although all voice types can perform it.
7. R&B
According to the Blues Project, R&B (or rhythm and blues) was invented by Black American musicians nearly a century ago, and it has become “one of the most commercially and culturally important genres of the past century.”
Rooted in jazz and blues, R&B music is characterised by its “use of rhythm and melody, backed by keys, looped drums, synths, and strong bass lines,” according to the Blues Project.
R&B singing is “a smooth and expressive style known for vocal runs, riffs, and emotional delivery, often suiting singers with flexible and agile voices,” Pearson says.
There are so many styles of singing, and we are just scratching the surface. If you’re feeling inspired by reading about these seven popular genres, why not browse our latest singing jobs?