Wait...What Voice Am I?

Photograph of Mindy King

When people first start out to sing, they normally don’t know what type of voice they are. They usually just sing in the range their voices can reach and where they are most comfortable with. A voice type/range is where your voice reaches the highest or lowest capabilities. Many people are able to sing really high or low notes, while other people are only able to reach the middle notes. According to Voice Parts and Ranges by Yori Broze, there are four different types of voices - soprano, alto, tenor, bass - where your voice will fall into.

For ladies, the highest type of voice is called soprano. Their vocal ranges are usually from middle C to a high A. There are two type of soprano’s - Soprano I and Soprano II. Soprano I’s are the ones that are the most comfortable singing in the highest notes possible without having any trouble. Soprano II’s are the ones who are more comfortable singing in the middle notes, but are comfortable singing with a few high notes every here and there.

Vocal Range Chart

The lowest type of voice for females is called altos. There are also two types of alto’s - Alto I and Alto II. Alto I’s have the ability to reach higher notes, while alto II’s have the ability to reach the lowest note. These alto’s usually have a range from typically between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C.

A mezzo-soprano is another type of voice between a soprano and an alto.

For male’s the terms for their voices are different and more striking in the differences.  The highest voice type for males is called the tenor. It is most common to find tenor’s in choirs. Tenors are usually more comfortable singing high notes using their full voices. The tenor's vocal range is between the C one octave below the middle C and, the A above middle C.

Vocal Ranges
Photograph of Karyn O' Connor

Lastly, a bass is the type of voice where you can sing the lowest note possible. Basses are usually hard to find in choirs because there are not many males that can reach low notes. Basses are usually ranged from the second E below middle C to the E above middle C, the outer most lines of the bass clef. 

A baritone is a type of voice between a bass and a tenor. 

Many of our favorite artists today are either sopranos or tenors. They are able to reach the highest notes at their vocal range. An example of a famous artist today who is a soprano are Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. A famous tenor artist are Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Bruno Mars. 

 When I first started to sing, I was first placed as an alto because all I was able to sing was the low notes. As I kept practicing and practicing, my vocal range became bigger, which made me change my voice to soprano. 

Everyone can always change their vocal type by practicing. You can either raise your range, so that you can be a soprano/tenor or you can practice singing the low notes to be either an alto/tenor.