The tenor has the second highest tonal range of male voices and it sounds one octave lower than female soprano. Tenor voices are roughly divided into dramatic tenor and lyric tenor, which differ slightly by character (see amplitude chart)

Like all human voices, the character of tenor changes in different registers. The threshold when changing registers differs from singer to singer, but are usually within a whole step from each other. In some cases the changing of register can go unnoticed but between the two highest registers it is usually noticeable.

In the high register the vowels become less recognisable and singing at low volume becomes impossible (does not apply to falsetto). Diaphragm is usually used but in powerful respiration also rib muscles are utilized.

The human voice blends well with any musical texture, though most professionals tend to perform as soloist or in a choir.

The human voice may be orchestrated with same principles as any musical instruments and the most ideal result is achieved when enough space is applied between intervals (esp. between the lowest voices of the choral texture). It should be taken into consideration, when arranging or composing for choir voices, that the ambitus of each voice can be considerably narrower than presented here. This applies especially to the highest register.

Lyyrinen tenori:

Dramaattinen tenori: