Vocal range
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Singers may be classified according to their vocal range — the highest and lowest pitches they can sing.
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Typical ranges
Rather than saying low or high, the following range classifications are typically used (from highest to lowest):
- Soprano (240 - 1170 Hz)
- Mezzo-soprano (220 - 900 Hz)
- Contralto (130 - 700 Hz)
- Tenor (130 - 440 Hz)
- Baritone (110 - 350 Hz)
- Bass ( 80 - 330 Hz)
The first three ranges are usually sung by women, and the last three are usually sung by men. Occasionally men will sing in the three female registers. When sung by men, they are renamed:
Complete ranges
The following ranges for French voices come from a plate in Diderot's Encyclopdie from the 1750s (descending from high to low.)
- Haut-dessus
- Bas-dessus
- Soprano
- Mezzo
- Haute-contre
- Haute-taille
- Taille
- Tenor
- Basse-taille
- Barytone
- Basse-contre
- Bass
Induced vocal range
Where the above are largely achieved through practice, and natural aptitude; vocal ranges can be achieved by means of physiological modification. Only a single significant example of this is notable: castrato.
See also
External links
- A history of vocal definition (http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/misc/voices.html)
- Accurate average vocal ranges (http://www.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/vocalrg.htm)de:Stimmlage