Belting, mixed voice and chest voice in popular singing

A state of the art between vocal technique and physiology

Abstract

This study conducts an integrative literature review on the vocal techniques of belting, mixed voice, and chest voice within the context of contemporary popular singing. Based on national and international academic sources, the article maps definitions, physiological foundations, pedagogical methodologies, and conceptual debates surrounding these practices. Belting is described as a powerful emission in the middle-high register, with a predominance of the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle, frontal resonance, and elevated laryngeal adjustments, being recognized as a sophisticated technique, although still controversial in more conservative approaches. Mixed voice, in turn, is characterized as a gradual adjustment between the functions of the thyroarytenoid (TA) and cricothyroid (CT) muscles, rather than a literal fusion of registers, and is widely taught as a strategy for vocal transition without overload. Chest voice is understood as an extension of the low modal register, natural to speech, whose adaptation to higher notes requires specific techniques to preserve vocal health. The analysis highlights convergences regarding the importance of anatomical knowledge and refined technique, but also points out terminological and methodological divergences, as well as a lack of long-term empirical studies, especially in Brazil. It concludes that the integration of vocal physiology, specialized pedagogy, and cultural practices is essential for the safe and expressive development of contemporary popular singing.