Drops
I define a drop as dropping the pitch of a note at the end of the note. In theory, a singer could just raise the pitch, but I don't think I have ever heard that. I know of no other names for the drop.
I presume people have noticed that drops occur, but I do not recall ever seeing any mention of their existence. They are not as prominent or common as glides. But they are still common.
Actually, there is a natural drop in pitch when the volume drops. Such as in speaking. When singing without drops, you actively avoid this effect, but keeping the pitch constant or stopping the note suddenly.
Function
The function of a drop is almost certainly the same as for a glide -- to add harmony and add interest. As for a glide, adding a drop requires that the singer know the harmony for the song.
The Semi-Subliminal Drop
Believe it or not, most drops are what I will call semi-subliminal. You can hear them, of course. Or else there would be no harmony. But they are not easy to hear unless you know whay you are looking for. And they are small and soft. There is just a rapid softening of the note accompanied by a drop in pitch.
Drops can be sung. In one style of singing, the drops are sung. For example, Elton John sings his drops. Avril Lavigne is a master of drops; most of her drops are semi-subliminal, but occasionally she sings a drop (at least on her first CD) and the effect is heavenly.
But usually drops are semi-subliminal.
Producing the Semi-Subliminal Drop
If you try to sing a drop, then it comes out sung, not semi-subliminal. The only way I know of to produce a semi-subliminal drop is this. I sing the note, then I let it naturally drop at the end as the volume drops. While this happens, I think the harmonic in my head as I do this. Then the harmonic magically appears in the drop.
Extensions Versus Drops
In one style of singing, there is little to no pause between notes. That means you can't do semi-subliminal drops, and sung drops are probably impossible too. To have a semi-subliminal drop, you have to have a pause at the end of the note.
Therefore, the two styles are not very compatible. Usually, a singer does one or the other but not both.
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