What is My Vocal Classification? – Get Your Range Now! Are you a Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone or Bass?
A common question I frequently get from you is “What is my vocal classification? Am I a soprano, mezzo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass?”
Inside this video I’ll sing or play the notes for each vocal classification so you’ll know the range of your voice. Come find your range.
I’ll sing or play the notes for each vocal classification. You sing along to see where your voice is most comfortable. Where you can sing the most notes without breaking or straining, is your current range as of today.
As a guide, I’ll use Seth Riggs’ book, Singing for the Stars, page 77. He gives average performing ranges for each voice. Soprano, mezzo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass.
After I sing or play the notes for your vocal range, at the end of the video I’ll explain what it means for your voice and why it’s important.
What is My Vocal Classification? – Get Your Range Now!
On average:
Basses should be able to sing: E2-G4
Baritones should be able to sing: G2-B4
Tenors should be able to sing: C3-E5
By the way, if this is helpful would you please if you haven’t yet, be sure and subscribe and maybe share this with a friend who’s also wondering what their vocal range is. It might be fun to compare. Or make any comments down below. Give it a thumbs up if you’re liking this or a thumbs down if you don’t. That’s ok!
Altos should be able to sing: C3-C6
Mezzo Sopranos should be able to sing: G3-Eb6
Sopranos should be able to sing: G3-F6
Well, how did you do?
On average, these are the pitch ranges for these vocal classifications. You should be able to sing these notes without straining, cracking, breaking or falsetto.
Vocal Classification
I don’t like to classify voices right away. Here’s what Mr. Riggs says: “It’s wrong to prematurely classify a voice before you really get to know what it can do. Too often, existing range is the sole determining factor in placing a singer into a certain category.”
That’s what happened to me. I had a bass range, but couldn’t sing above the E above middle C.
Once I learned how to sing through the first and second bridge of my voice I was able to not only sing the bass range, but I discovered I had many tenor notes as well.
There are other factors than your range in determining your vocal classification. Mr. Rigg’s goes on to say: “The most important factor to consider is the basic quality of the voice. Assuming that your speaking voice is clear and unforced, your singing voice should be based on the quality of that speaking voice.”
In my case, after learning to sing through the bridges and picking up an extra octave of notes, the quality and depth of my speaking voice, and the heft in my singing voice, especially on my lower notes, means that I am more than likely a basso cantante, or a bass with tenor notes.
Your Vocal Classification Might Change
If you haven’t learned to bridge, how do you know what notes you are able to sing without straining, breaking, cracking or falsetto?
It’s very likely your range will increase like mine did once you learn how to sing through the bridges.
So just because your voice seems to be alto, mezzo, baritone, or bass it might change as you develop your ability to sing through the bridge.
A great starting point to learning to bridge is to determine your vocal type. [For more about bridging, watch the video on the card]
Vocal Type
Do you know your vocal type? Your vocal type is not your classification. It’s a description of what your voice tends to do when you sing through the bridge of your voice.
To discover your vocal type, go to PowertoSing.com and take the vocal test which I call the PowerTest. Take the quiz and get your vocal type. Then go to the Knowledge Center and watch the videos about your vocal type.
Download the free exercises for your vocal type and start practicing them. They will help you learn to sing through your bridge. This is the first step to increase your range.
What do you think your vocal range is today? Soprano, mezzo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass? Write it in the comments section below.
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I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing. You can sing higher, with beauty, confidence and power.
I’ll see you inside the next video.
Responses
Your range is a bass range.
hi chuck, how would you classify me? my range is a1 to b3, i wanna know if im bass or baritone
Tenors have a difficult time singing as low as you can. Even Baritone’s usually can’t sing Eb2. So you are a bit of a mystery. At 15 your voice is still going through changes…but it sounds like you are trending toward a Baritone with some tenor notes, or a 2nd tenor. But give it some time. In a 3-5 years your voice will settle in. Even more so when you are 20 or 21.
hi chuck? how would you classify me? i am 15 and i can sing low (down to Eb2) and i can sing up to B6 (whistle), without falsetto i can sing up to A4 and if i warm up Eb5 (head voice goes up to C#5). i have been classified as a first tenor/tenor 1, but i wanted to know what did u think?
I don’t know your vocal type. Your classification based on your range is soprano. But that’s likely to change when your voice changes.
Im a male I’m 16 my lowest note is C4 my chest is c6 my head voice is D7 total c4-d7 what is my voice type
Awesome, Robin.
Hey Chuck!
I am a male, 23 and relatively, though not totally, untrained… However I can sing F5 and sometimes, though rarely, G5 without a falsetto (in light heady mix!) and my lowest note I can use in a song would be somewhere around E3 or D3
My usual range I sing in is roughly E3-E5 without falsetto… With “falsetto” (even though it closes completely for me), I can hit up to A5 or Bb5, sometimes also C6 but that is a huge stretch lol
Timbre is quite androgynous, like a High Tenor and A boy alto singing through the same voice, hence I can sing contralto ranged pieces in my modal voice… Speaking pitch is averagely between f3 and c4 though it can be lower or higher depending on situation…
PS: I do sing mainly classical
Alright cool thank you so much. That really helped.
Hard to know for sure, because your voice is still changing…and will be changing for another year or two. I would guess today that you are a bass for now. Your low notes are notes tenors can not sing. You are breaking into falsetto at the F4…which is exactly where I did at your age. All indications are bass at this time.
Hi chuck my name is Ashton I’m 16 going to be 17 in a week. My range in total is A1 to C6. Most days I can only get from C2 to G5 I am most comfortable from D2 to D4 and I brake into my falsetto around F4 but what’s irritating and I would say I’m a bass but I don’t really have that dark anymore rich tone until the very bottom of my voice and even then it’s nothing compared to a regular bass. I sound more like a tenor or a lyric/high baritone. I asked some freinds who are in choir and the one thinks I’m
Bass it baritone and the other thinks I’m baritone. But I think I’m possibly a something in between like maybe a high bass or mezzo baritone. I’m not sure what do you think?
Hi Chuck My name is Ashton I’m 16 and my vocal range is A1 you to C6 and I’m very confused because I’m most comfortable from D2 to about D4 and I brake into my falsetto around F4 but what’s confusing is I would say I sound more like a tenor or a high baritone I’ve asked a friend and he thinks I’m a bass or baritone but I’m not sure
We are all often surprised by listening to our recorded singing voices!
But yes, to clarify, Bb3-C4 is my low range, my tessitura is D4-F5, belting is G5-Bb5/B5 (C6 or D6 possibly when I warm up). I do not currently know how to use head voice so I could maybe go higher. (Also now that I think about it I might be a light lyric soprano who can use the same techniques as a full one, I took your powertest and when I listened back and my response “Woah, my voice is that high pitched? Huh…”)
Oh I’m not an opera singer, my bad! The thing is fachs can sort of apply to broadway and other genres of music. That does sound like me though, but I have yet to learn how to sing from my head voice so I could possibly go a little higher …? But yeah that does sound right. I’m still figuring out if I’m a light or full one (it sounds right in the middle to me so I have to record it and play it back). But yes thank you for your help!
I don’t have the background in opera to really know. Wiki says A lyric soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice that has a warm quality with a bright, full timbre that can be heard over an orchestra. The lyric soprano voice generally has a higher tessitura than a soubrette and usually plays ingenues and other sympathetic characters in opera. Lyric sopranos have a range from approximately middle C (C4) to “high D” (D6).[1] This is the most common female singing voice.[2] There is a tendency to divide lyric sopranos into two groups: light and full. What do you think? Does this fit you?
Hi um, I’m not sure of my vocal range now ac tally!! I was classified as a Lyric Soprano but let’s see….
My comfortable is from B3-around D5 or E5 (G5-Bb/C6 being my belting range). My pitch is in the middle of medium and bright (best comparisons being Idina Menzel, Lea Salonga and Ariana Grande??? But mostly Lea Salonga), and anything below a Bb3 kinda hurts my throat…
Hi Tiffany. You are welcome. Good luck!
Wow! Thank you, Chuck! I never even would have considered Contralto! Mind blown! Again, Thank you, so much! Time to go do some research on percentages, demand, and whatnot! All my best!
~Tiffany
Hi Tiffany: based on your range, if you can sing the B2, I’d say you were a contralto….with some soprano notes.
Hi!
I’m a 43 yr old female with a warm range of B2-F6.
What does that make me? I always thought I was a soprano 2 or Mezzo Soprano, but recently learned my highest note is typical of S1, while my low note seems out of the female range…
What is your question Jeremy?
hi chuck my name is Jeremy Adams and i do not know what my vocal range is and i want to discover what my voice is as i am not sure what i am based on my level of my tone of voice i love singing to musical theatre songs by playing as many songs from musical theatre that can help me to improve my vocal range, my voice is high and very flowing I am a tenor and i would like to know what key mine is in as i am a dramatic tenor.
Hi Bronson: Your range is like mine….a bass with tenor notes. We are called basso cantante.
My vocal range is C2 to B4.
What vocal range is that?
Hi Lu, you are a contrato. Voices like Toni Braxton. Listen to Un-Break My Heart and sing the low notes with her. It’s a wonderful voice that very few women can do.
IIm Female, 28. I struggle singing above E5 and have to use falsetto. Im much stronger in chest voice as i have a deep heavy voice in my lower ree I can Sing comfortably down to a B2 and sometime if im very relaxed and G2. I have a lot of warmth in my voice, I sing online (without video) and get asked alot if im a man. I do tend to sing more male songs than female because im more comfortable with these. But in the same sense i can make my voice sound lighter and girly. My voice sounds very different from the bottom end to top end of my vocal range. I do have great control and can do runs pretty well, and can i alot of power in my Chest and somewhat in the middle. I was wondering what you might think of my voice type. Literally tho anything above E5 is all falsetto lol
Your voice is still changing…that’s why you can’t get a good read on your classification. For now…if you can sing e2, I’d say you are trending toward bass. But that may change…almost from day to day because of your age. But if you are going to be in 7th, 8th or 9th grade and can sing 2e, your choir director will likely want you either as a first or second bass or both…depending on the song. Be patient. It’s a tough time for us guys during this vocal change period of life.
I’ve watched a lot of these videos but I still can’t seem to figure out what type I should classify myself as. As a person who does choral singing, this is rather frustrating. (I’m 13 years old) My range goes from e2-d6 when warmed up, my chest voice range being e2-g4 and my head voice range being d3-d6. Additionally, when not warmed up, I can sing g2-g5. My prima voce/sweet spot/tessitura is b2-g5. Do you know what this might make my classfication? Thank you!
You are still young and you voice has a lot of maturing so things may change over the next 10 years. Given what you’ve said, my guess is mezzo.
Hi, I am Sarah. I have been really confused on what my voice classification is. I am 12 about to turn 13. A few of my friends have said I’m a Mezzo, while others have said I’m an alto. These assumptions really have me puzzled. My lowest note is an E3 (I’m not sure if it’s supported or not). My belting range is C5-G5. My head/falsetto is about E5-B6. Although, I can hit these notes, I’m not sure if they’re supported.
You are a high tenor!
Hi! I’m a 18 year old male. My lowest note is E3 and my highest note is Eb6. What is my voice type?
I’d be surprised if your range was anything other than a tenor.
Hello my voice is very heavy I don’t have much ease in lows my easiest register is my upper and middle register my voice is extremely loud when singing my head voice is operatic like my highest note is a E7 and my lowest is a C3 my highest in mix voice is C6. Also I am a male and my age is 17 yrs old
Hi Kristin: Your vocal range sounds like a soprano for sure.
Hi! Just wondering what my voice type is? I sing mostly opera or just really high songs but also a lot of belty-pop songs.
Highest note: G6
Lowest note: F3
Mixed-belt range: E4-C6
I am currently 16 and I have a very “musical theatre” sounding voice if that helps at all
Hi Nate: I really don’t know for sure. At your age, your voice is still changing. Also, if you are able to bridge, you should be able to get into head voice which is G4 and above. If you haven’t learned to bridge, watch this video and follow the directions. https://youtu.be/d0Ob8WGmvPc You might be a tenor once you learn to get through E,F and F#4.
Hey Chuck, I was wondering if you could tell me my voice type i am a 16 year old male musical theater singer. My mid range is is a G3 and my high is a F4 with no vocal warm up. It would mean a lot, some people say I am a lyric baritone or a Baritenor
Sounds like a Bass To me!
Hello chuck
I need you to give me your opinion regarding my voice type: i can sing down to a double low C (but it’s very weak) and i can go up to an F#4 and sometimes G4.
Hello Chuck
May i ask you about my vocal type ?
My lowest note is a double low C but it is very weak. My highest is an F#4 and sometimes i might reach the G4
I don’t think classification has any real importance outside of choirs and opera, except for our own curiosity and perhaps to establish where we bridge. I don’t think there is much value in it if your genre is metal. Your range sounds like either a baritone or a tenor. But there is more to deciding classification than range. There is the tessitura and other factors that help make a classification of the voice. In the earlier years of singing, I don’t think there were baritones. They were tenors. I think you could declare yourself a low tenor and be totally safe. On the other hand, being a bass with tenor notes (baritone) sounds more impressive.
Hey Chuck I’ve been told by different maestros that I was a high baritone and “definetely” a tenor on a different occasion. I’m 21 and my range is about G2-B4 most consistently. I’ve sang the High C (C5) and D5 before but i don’t do it often because it’s hard. I could go a little bit lower than G2 but fry starts and I lose quality. If I Scream I can go higher up to G5 (I sing in a metal band). Anyway my question is: Is the classification of low tenor usable outside of opera? It seems to me that vocal coaches often take tenors that pull chest up as being high baritones. I’ve sang tenor in choir for 2 yeara no problem, could I be a baritone afterall?
Hi John: I would say you are a bass. Falsetto is not a good indicator of classification.
Hello chuck.
May I ask what is my vocal type/classification?
My lowest note is D2
My highest chest note is F#4
And my highest Falsetto is D5.
And one more thing, do falsetto include in an overall vocal range?
Hi Njabulo: I don’t know. But whatever I told you will change as you get older.
Hi chuck I am a 12 year old girl
My lowest note in chest voice is:C3 to E4
My mid belts are from:G4 to C5
My upper belts are :C#5 to A5
My mix is:A#5 to C#6
My headvoice highest is:D#7
My whistle voice highest is:F#7
What is my voice type and which kind
Hi Mae: Here’s where to go to determine your vocal type: Take the PowerTest at https://le3u30uxng.wpdns.site/. It’s too early to tell your vocal classification. Your voice is still developing. However, your range sounds like a soprano or mezzo-soprano.
Hi Chuck. I’m 16 years old, my lowest note is F3 and i can sing it without having a hard time and my highest note is D6 and I’ve never had any kind of vocal training. I can belt up to B4 and I can reach an F6 using my whistle tone. So what’s my vocal type? Thanks alot.
Hi Rowena: Just to clarify, you lowest note is the C below middle C? And you break at the F below middle C which is the F3?.
About C3-Db6, but I have a break on F3. Below or above is comfortable. I’m 33.
HI Dylan: First I think your voice is still changing…so I wouldn’t worry about trying to figure out too much yet. Overall, I would say you are a tenor. The kind of tenor will unfold in the next few years or so.
Hi Chuck. As of currently I am 16
my range:
Low chest- B2-A3
Mid chest- B3-A4
High chest- Bb4-C/C#/D5 (depending on day)
Mixed- D5-Ab5
My over all tone is very bright and full and maybe slightly feminine. I’m thinking I’m either a lyric tenor or counter tenor. What do you think?
Hi Chuck. I’m currently 16 years old. I’m having a hard deciding what my vocal classification really is. My lowest comfortable chest notes are about a B2 to an A3. I struggle to maintain much power down there and I tend to be a little throaty. My mid-high chest is from about B3 to C/C#5. I tend have a highly raised larynx in this area. As for a mixed voice it ranges from about a D5 -Ab5 in if I’m lucky a Bb5. My mix to say at the least is really powerful. And my falsetto really doesn’t exist. I can’t really get much of an airy tone.
Overall my lower to mid- register carries the most weight but my upper voice tends to be slightly feminine. any possibility I might be a counter tenor?
Hi Irene: It sounds like you have a soprano’s range. I’m not sure about being a lyric soprano. Be sure and take the vocal test on the home screen to get your vocal type. Your “light” condition can be caused by several things, including vocal cords not coming together appropriately and or the larynx being high. In almost every student I’ve worked with, it is possible to increase your range.
Hi! I’ve never had classical singing training and I love to Sing, I think my voice is light although I have power and good low notes, but the highest note I can reach is an Eb6, do you think I can expand muy range?, Am I a light-lyric soprano?. Thanks you very much!
Hi Nathan. It sounds like you are a baritone…which is a tenor with some lower notes. It’s likely you will never sing much lower than the f2. Actually that’s pretty low. Baritones sometimes can’t sing that low. It also depends on whether you are a 14 year or an 18 year old high school student. If you are younger, your voice is still changing as could still drop somewhat. If older, it’s probably getting close to the bottom. I would probably put tenor on your audition form if the part you are seeking is a tenor. Put bass or baritone on the form if your character sings bass baritone. If you are auditioning for a character who is clearly a bass, you want to make sure he doesn’t have a note in his songs lower than you can sing.
Hi, I am Nathan. I am both a high school and professional musical theater actor. I have never had to have vocal lessons and just learned how to sing on my own. On the audition form, it is asking your vocal type and I am having a little bit of trouble with this. I originally sing tenor ( and I can sing from a C4 – F5 ). For baritone ( I can sing for G4 – F2 ). Can you tell me what this means? And I have played both on stage. But can’t sing bass for the life of me
Hi Hien: There are many factors that can influence your vocal classification. One of those is how much and what kind of vocal training you’ve had. Also your age can be a factor too. Based on what you are telling me, without hearing you or knowing about these other things, it sounds like you could be a mezzo-soprano who has yet to reach her full upper range, or perhaps an alto who has yet to reach her full ability in her lower range. That’s why this is a hard thing to do.
Hi, this is very useful but I’m kind of confused now. I’m a girl and I thought my voice type was mezzo-soprano. But now I don’t know exactly what it is. My lowest note is E3 and the highest is A#5. Can you tell me what my vocal type is? Thank you very much.
Hi Christine. If you can sing the lower tenor notes you would be considered a contralto, which is a low alto. Also remember that as you increase your range by learning to bridge you will improve the quality of all the notes you sing now and in the future! I’m glad the videos are helping!
This is a very good video. It turns out my current range is exactly tenor. Actually, sometimes I can’t even reach the E, and can only reach the D. I didn’t realize a woman could be a tenor. I’d like to increase my range and be able to sing higher, but more importantly I’m trying to improve the quality of the notes I can sing. As I follow your videos I am learning so much but also finding more and more problems!