The perceptual distinctiveness of four common voice qualities was assessed by asking observers to place the stimuli produced in the four voice qualities, at five different fundamental frequencies by five subjects into one of four unnamed perceptual categories. The qualities tested were that heard (1) in most everday speech, (2) during a low‐level whimper or cry, (3) in country‐western singing, and (4) in most singing on the operatic stage. All voice qualities were correctly categorized above chance level at all frequency levels. Analysis of the perceptual confusions was conducted using an information theory approach. The results of this analysis suggests that some of these vocal qualities share some common perceptual features and that each quality may be thought of as a set of distinctive perceptual features.