Singing Range

Many of us enjoy listening to music or even singing, but most of us don't think about what singing really is and what they mean by singing range. The vocal range is the spectrum of pitches in which a human voice can create. When different pitches are put together in different sequences we can create songs or music with our voices.

The actual definition of singing range is the span from the lowest to the highest note a person can create with their voice. A person who studies singing range may define it more as the range of "musical useful" pitches. That means the pitches a particular singer can use when performing their style of music. Which ever definition you go by, singing range is different for everyone and that is why we have so many different types of singing.

Vocal ranges along with other vocal characteristics help to classify singing voices into voice types. The most common voice types are called Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone and Bass. The Soprano is the highest pitch voice type and Bass is the lowest. Singers are classified in only one voice type, however, they may have the ability to sing in more than one pitch. The classification only helps to identify which pitch the singer is most comfortable singing. Women typically sing in the Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano and Contralto voice type, where as men typically sing in the Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone and Bass.

Individuals have all different abilities when it comes to singing. Opera singers are well noted for their ability to sing such high notes. Over the years there have been people noted for their singing range and ability to hit the highest or even lowest notes. One man by the name of Charles Kellogg claimed he had a singing range of 12.5 octaves, which is extraordinary for a man. Most of his highest pitches were of his imitation of bird calls which could be detected in the ultrasonic range. His claims were hard to verify, however, there are others whose abilities were verified and recorded in the Guinness World Book Of Records.

One woman in Brazil had the greatest singing range of eight octaves and the highest note of a G10. The greatest range for a man was a gentleman from the United States with a range of six octaves. He also holds the record for the lowest human note. The human voice is an incredible instrument with many different abilities.

Are you ready to free your singing range?