How familiar are you with the different types of singing voices? If you don’t know what type of voice you have, it’s a good idea to determine what your range is and find out more about the different categories that singers fall into. The more you know about your own voice, the more you’ll be able to improve.
Soprano
Sopranos are the singing voices with the highest pitch. Generally speaking, a soprano will have a range that falls somewhere between C4 and C6 on a keyboard. With the proper training, sopranos can expand their range so that they are able to hit very high notes.
Some singers are classified as mezzo-sopranos. This means that they have a higher voice, but do not have the range to classify as a soprano. The range for mezzo-sopranos is from A3 and A5. In choirs, mezzo-sopranos often sing with sopranos, but they will take the lower part if the soprano part merges.
Alto
Altos are the lowest singing range for women. While the range for altos is between F3 to F5, there are many altos that are able to sing higher or lower than this range. There are some altos that can comfortably sing parts in the tenor range. These singers are known as contraltos.
While the range of an alto might seem similar to the range of a mezzo-soprano, altos tend to have voices that are deeper and richer in tone. In addition, mezzo-sopranos tend to be most comfortable with notes near the top of their registers, while altos are most comfortable with notes at the lower end.
Tenor
Tenor is the highest range for male singers. Generally, tenors have a range that falls somewhere between C3 to C5. Some singers have a range that is higher than this. These singers are generally classified as “countertenors.” In some cases, these singers may sing parts intended for altos.
Many tenors are able to hit higher notes by utilizing something known as their “head voice.” While this can change the tone of their voice, it can also increase their singing range, allowing them to sing a wide range of notes comfortably.
Baritone
This is the middle range for male singers. Baritones usually have a range that falls between A2 and F2. Because this is such a wide range, the majority of baritone singers can not cover this full range. This is the most common type of male singing voice.
Bass
This is the lowest range for men. A bass typically has a range that falls somewhere between E2 to G4. Singers in this range are often asked to exercise the lower register of their singing voice. This is a fairly rare type of singing voice, and many choirs have a small bass section.
If you’re passionate about singing or you are thinking about joining a choir, you’ll want to learn more about the different types of singing voices. When you know what type of voice you have, you’ll be able to choose songs that you will be able to comfortably sing.