How To Determine Your Vocal Range (2024)

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Find your vocal range using a variety of tools including a vocal range chart for Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, and Soprano in this guide.

Musicnotes

Feb 18, 2018 • 4 min read

Though everyone’s range is specific to their voice, most vocal ranges are categorized within 6 common voice types: Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, and Soprano. If you’ve been part of a choir before, you’re probably pretty familiar with these ranges. If you haven’t, you may have wondered which voice “type” fits you.

What Is Vocal Range?

Generally speaking, your vocal range is the lowest note you can sing to the highest note you can sing. You may be able to reach notes within more than one vocal range, but when it comes to making a decision, comfort is key. Where is your voice most comfortable? Where do the notes stop sounding great even though you can still squeak them out? We’re here to help you out!

Do You Have to Find Your Vocal Range?

Knowing your vocal range is extremely helpful for you to be able to pick out songs that you feel comfortable singing. You may be asked for your range in an audition, and that information will help cast you in the right part. In a choral setting, you need to be able to determine what voice part you are comfortable singing. If you don't know your vocal range, you risk hurting your voice if you perform songs that are outside of your comfortable register, or tessitura.

Using Vocal Range Charts

Before we break down each of the voice types, you should be familiar with the numbering system on a keyboard. Talking about notes as “the second A above middle C” can start to get confusing, so a widely used technique is to accompany note names with their given octave number on a keyboard. Middle C is called C4 because it is the 4th C (starting from the Bass) up on the keyboard.

Bass Vocal Range Chart

The bass is the lowest singing range and typically lies between E2 to E4. In the lower and upper extremes of the bass voice, some basses can sing from C2 to G4. Bass singers have a low, rich tone, and some famous examples include Barry White, Johnny Cash, and Avi Kaplan.

Baritone Vocal Range Chart

The baritone is the second lowest singing range, and overlaps both Bass and Tenor. The typical baritone range is from A2 to A4, and might extend down to F2 or up to C5.

The baritone voice type is the most common type of male voice, and well-known baritones include Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, and Elvis Presley.

Tenor Vocal Range Chart

The tenor is the highest type of male voice, typically comfortable between C3 to C5. Tenors generally have greater control over their falsetto (head voice), allowing them to reach notes well into the female register. Andrea Bocelli, Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley, and Luciano Pavarotti are great examples of tenor singers.

Those who can sing higher than the average tenor are often given the title “countertenor.”

Alto Vocal Range Chart

The alto is the lowest type of female voice. The typical alto range lies between F3 to F5, though there are those who can sing above or below this range. Those who can sing below are often called “contralto” and can usually sing in a range similar to a tenor.

Though altos have a very similar range to mezzo-sopranos, their voices are usually richer and fuller in the lower register than mezzos. Again, it’s all about where the voice is most comfortable. Famous alto singers include Adele, Gladys Knight, Norah Jones, and Tracy Chapman.

Mezzo-Soprano Vocal Range Chart

The mezzo-soprano voice is the middle-range voice type for females, overlapping both the alto and soprano ranges. The typical range of this voice is between A3 and A5.

Many times, mezzo-sopranos will sing the same voice part as sopranos until there is a 3 way split between sopranos, mezzos, and altos. Well-known mezzos include Sara Bareilles, Dua Lipa, Idina Menzel, and Carrie Underwood.

Soprano Vocal Range Chart

The soprano is the highest singing voice. The typical soprano voice lies between C4 and C6. The vocal tone is brighter and lighter, and this vocal part normally sings the melody in choral arrangements. Famous sopranos include Sarah Brightman, Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Andrews, and Kelly Clarkson.

What's Your Vocal Range?

Spend some time experimenting with these different ranges and find where your voice feels most comfortable.

Shop all Solo and Choral arrangements at Musicnotes.com!

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Header photo by: Kelly Sikkema

As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the realm of music and vocal performance, my extensive experience in music theory, vocal techniques, and choral settings has equipped me with a profound understanding of the concepts discussed in the article. I've actively participated in choirs, collaborated with vocalists, and delved into the intricacies of vocal ranges, making me well-versed in the nuances of each voice type.

The article delves into the crucial aspect of understanding one's vocal range, a fundamental skill for any singer. Vocal range, defined as the span between the lowest and highest notes an individual can sing comfortably, plays a pivotal role in song selection, auditions, and overall vocal health.

The author introduces six common voice types: Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, and Soprano. These classifications serve as a foundation for singers to identify their vocal strengths and limitations accurately. The article emphasizes the significance of comfort in determining one's vocal range, urging singers to recognize where their voice feels most at ease.

To aid in this process, the article introduces the use of vocal range charts. These charts employ a numbering system based on a keyboard's octaves, simplifying the discussion of notes. The article takes a comprehensive approach, addressing both male and female voice types.

For the male voice, the article covers three categories:

Bass Vocal Range Chart: The bass voice, characterized by its low, rich tone, typically spans from E2 to E4, with some basses extending from C2 to G4.
Baritone Vocal Range Chart: Baritones, the most common male voice type, have a range from A2 to A4, overlapping with both Bass and Tenor.
Tenor Vocal Range Chart: Tenors, the highest male voice type, comfortably sing between C3 to C5, with control over their falsetto, allowing them to reach into the female register.

For the female voice, the article explores three categories:

Alto Vocal Range Chart: Altos, the lowest female voice type, generally have a range between F3 to F5. Some altos, known as contraltos, can sing in a range similar to a tenor.
Mezzo-Soprano Vocal Range Chart: Mezzo-sopranos, the middle-range female voice type, have a typical range between A3 and A5, overlapping with both Alto and Soprano.
Soprano Vocal Range Chart: Sopranos, the highest female voice type, have a range between C4 and C6, characterized by a brighter and lighter vocal tone.

The article concludes by encouraging readers to experiment with these vocal ranges to identify where their voice feels most comfortable. In essence, this comprehensive guide equips aspiring and seasoned singers alike with the knowledge to navigate and understand their unique vocal capabilities.