Question: Does having a low TALKING voice make you an automatic baritone?
Answer: You’ve touched on a significant area for singers that will take more discussion than this space will allow. One would think that the answer should be simple.
However, there are circumstances that need clarification in order for the answer to be accurate. So, please be patient with my discussion on this.
All things being equal – 1) the voice is fully developed, 2) you use all parts of your singing range with facility, expressively and without unnecessary tension – one would surmise that if your speaking tones are low, easy and resonant then you are probably a medium low, or low-voiced singer.
But I need to qualify this because, HABITUAL speaking pitch area is not always or necessarily the same as one’s OPTIMAL speaking pitch area. Somewhere in everyone’s range – usually in the lower half of the range is an area of the voice of about an interval of a 5th in which the voice most restfully and most resonantly operates. This is the area where folk OUGHT to speak most of the time, the optimal pitch area and make it their habitual pitch area also. If you find that where you speak is easy and resonant – and “low” then you may indeed be a baritone, bass-baritone or bass.
Having said this, I have to say that there are significant numbers of young tenors who intentionally “speak low” in order to sound more “manly” and, for example, so that they are not mistaken for a woman when answering the phone. For them, this becomes their “habitual” speaking pitch, even though it is not easiest on their voices nor most vocally healthy, that is, it does not coincide with their optimal pitch area. If you are one of these – then I’d have to say, your “low TALKING voice” does not make you an automatic baritone.
I am assuming that by “low” you are referring to notes an octave (plus a little) below middle C. If you find speaking clearly, easily, resonantly, restfully takes place around Bb, A, Ab or lower it would be fair to say that you’re likely a baritone or lower.
There’s more that can be said, but I hope this has been helpful.