Modal voice

The term "modal" refers to the resonant mode of vocal folds; that is, the optimal combination of airflow and glottal tension that yields maximum vibration.

A well trained singer or speaker can phonate two octaves or more within the modal register with consistent production, beauty of tone, dynamic variation, and vocal freedom.

The placement of the modal register within the individual human voice is one of the key determining factors in identifying vocal type.

Because of the thickness, large portions of the opposing surfaces of the vocal folds are brought into contact, and the glottis remains closed for a considerable time in each cycle.

[4] For the lowest tones, only the thyroarytenoid muscles are active, but as the pitch rises, the cricothyroids enter the action, which begins to lengthen the folds.

The basic vibratory or phonatory pattern remains the same, with the whole vocal fold still involved in the action, but the vertical excursions are not as large and the rolling motion is not as apparent as it was on the lower pitches of the modal register.