1. Pitch: This is the perceived highness or lowness of a sound. It's determined by the frequency of sound waves, which is influenced by the length and tension of your vocal cords.
2. Loudness: The intensity or volume of a sound, determined by the amplitude of sound waves. How forcefully you exhale air influences loudness.
3. Timbre (or tone): This is what makes voices unique and distinguishable. Timbre is determined by the complex mix of overtones and harmonics present in a sound, influenced by the shape of your vocal tract, sinuses, and the way your vocal cords vibrate.
4. Articulation: How clearly and precisely a person speaks, including their pronunciation, enunciation, and rhythm. This is influenced by their mouth and tongue movements.
These four categories are broad, and within each, there are many nuances and individual variations.
For example, even within "pitch," you have:
* Fundamental frequency: The average pitch of your voice
* Pitch range: The highest and lowest notes you can produce
* Pitch contour: The way pitch changes over time, like rising at the end of a question
Similarly, "timbre" has elements like:
* Brightness: How "forward" and "present" a voice sounds
* Warmth: How "rich" and "full" a voice sounds
* Resonance: How much a voice "vibrates" in the listener's ear
Ultimately, the human voice is a complex and fascinating instrument, with many characteristics contributing to its unique sound and how it's perceived.