Chest voice
A low vocal register with resonance felt in the chest.
What it means
The chest voice is the lowest register of the human singing voice. When singing in this register, the vocal folds vibrate along their full length and mass, producing a full, powerful sound and resonance sensations felt in the chest, which give the register its name.
It contrasts with the head voice, in which only the edges of the vocal folds vibrate and the sound is brighter, lighter, and less full-bodied.
Musical use
In male voices, the chest voice forms the main register across the natural speaking and singing range, while in female voices it is usually limited to the lower and middle range before a transition, called the register break or passaggio, leads into the head voice.
The chest voice should be distinguished from falsetto, which in male voices replaces the head voice above the natural chest range and sounds noticeably lighter and thinner.