Has it ever happened to you that you wanted to sing a song that was too high or too low?
This article is for you. Today we are going to talk about vocal range.
Your vocal range is simply your comfort zone.
It includes the notes you are comfortable with, that you can sing effortlessly, without having to think or strain many muscles.
Another word that often comes to mind when we talk about vocal range is vocal register.
However, the two terms should not be confused. The tessitura is a limited area that forms part of the vocal range.
However, the vocal register contains many more notes than the vocal range.
The aim is to reach all the notes you can sing, from the lowest to the highest.
As a general rule, the vocal range remains constant in adulthood.
Do you believe that having a wide vocal range is synonymous with having a beautiful voice?
This is a completely unfounded myth. You can have a voice that covers many notes, but some, especially at the extremes, are not usable in most repertoires.
What will make your voice a "beautiful" voice (let's not forget that this is a perfectly subjective notion) is the way you master your vocal range.
Do you know Billie Holiday ? Her voice had an undeniable ability to move people, yet she did not have a wide vocal range.
The good news is that unlike vocal range, vocal register can be developed, and it is entirely possible to expand it, allowing you access to a larger repertoire.
Before starting this work, it is important to know your vocal range.
There's nothing like a practical exercise.
Grab a piano or a mobile app with piano notes, and off you go!
You can sing all the notes on an ‘é’.
Women, start with the C3 ("middle C" / C4 in the Anglo-American system) and descend to the lowest note you can sing effortlessly. Don't go too low if it becomes uncomfortable.
Maintain a medium volume, neither too loud nor too soft. Most of you will stop at F3, E3, or D3, but of course, this will vary depending on your voice type.
Then return to C3 and ascend using your "full" or "heavy" voice without switching to a "light" voice. Stop when you feel you need to make an effort to keep the note in a "heavy" voice.
This will likely be around G4-G#4-A4, depending on your voice.
The range between the lowest note and the highest note you can produce effortlessly is your heavy vocal range.
Now start from A4 and ascend with a light voice singing "ooh."
Don't force it and stop when it becomes difficult (probably around Bb5-B5). This range represents your light vocal range.
Men, it's your turn. Let's first explore your high notes. Start with C3 on an "e" sound and go up until you feel you need to put in more effort. This will be around G3/A3 depending on your voice type.
Now let's explore your low notes. Start at C2 and go down as far as you can.
The heavy vocal range for men is generally between C2 and A3 (again, this is an average and not the same for everyone).
There you go, now you know your vocal range. Make a note of it along with today's date, and check back in a few months. You may notice some changes.
Et alors, à quoi ça sert tout cela ?
Knowing your vocal range will allow you to choose the repertoire and the key of each song you study.
Let's take an example. You just discovered that your vocal range, meaning your comfort zone, is more in the lower and medium registers, and you want to sing the songs of Céline Dion.
Since Celine's comfort zone is higher than yours, you will encounter many difficulties when singing her songs.
Instead of giving up on your dream of shining at the next karaoke with the song from Titanic, simply adjust the key so that the notes in the piece match your tessitura.
There is nothing wrong with lowering the key of songs; on the contrary, it is recommended, especially when you are a beginner in vocal technique.
It's better to start in your comfort zone, master it beautifully, add embellishments, and give it your all!
On the contrary, if your voice is much more comfortable in the high notes and the low notes do not come naturally at all, don't hesitate to raise the keys.
For this, you can ask a musician to transpose, or use software.
If you feel that your vocal range is limited, here is a little tip:
To expand it in the lower range, practice descending with very little energy, as if you were waking up in the middle of the night.
First, sing with your mouth closed to feel the resonance, then open your mouth just a little and sing on an "i." This will give more body to your lower notes.
Conversely, to achieve higher notes with a full voice, recharge your batteries and give a lot of energy.
This will help you reach notes you thought were unattainable. Don't forget to open your mouth well, as if you were biting into an apple, and sing on "ya" or "ye."
Practice this regularly and you will see results. There is no magic wand for the voice, just two fundamentals: "work" and "consistency."
If you have read this article but can't determine your vocal range on your own, don't panic!
Contact Paris Music Institute. We will be delighted to assist you in discovering your voice.
About the Author: Sonya
Has it ever happened to you that you wanted to sing a song that was too high or too low?
This article is for you. Today we are going to talk about vocal range.
Your vocal range is simply your comfort zone.
It includes the notes you are comfortable with, that you can sing effortlessly, without having to think or strain many muscles.
Another word that often comes to mind when we talk about vocal range is vocal register.
However, the two terms should not be confused. The tessitura is a limited area that forms part of the vocal range.
However, the vocal register contains many more notes than the vocal range.
The aim is to reach all the notes you can sing, from the lowest to the highest.
As a general rule, the vocal range remains constant in adulthood.
Do you believe that having a wide vocal range is synonymous with having a beautiful voice?
This is a completely unfounded myth. You can have a voice that covers many notes, but some, especially at the extremes, are not usable in most repertoires.
What will make your voice a "beautiful" voice (let's not forget that this is a perfectly subjective notion) is the way you master your vocal range.
Do you know Billie Holiday ? Her voice had an undeniable ability to move people, yet she did not have a wide vocal range.
The good news is that unlike vocal range, vocal register can be developed, and it is entirely possible to expand it, allowing you access to a larger repertoire.
Before starting this work, it is important to know your vocal range.
There's nothing like a practical exercise.
Grab a piano or a mobile app with piano notes, and off you go!
You can sing all the notes on an ‘é’.
Women, start with the C3 ("middle C" / C4 in the Anglo-American system) and descend to the lowest note you can sing effortlessly. Don't go too low if it becomes uncomfortable.
Maintain a medium volume, neither too loud nor too soft. Most of you will stop at F3, E3, or D3, but of course, this will vary depending on your voice type.
Then return to C3 and ascend using your "full" or "heavy" voice without switching to a "light" voice. Stop when you feel you need to make an effort to keep the note in a "heavy" voice.
This will likely be around G4-G#4-A4, depending on your voice.
The range between the lowest note and the highest note you can produce effortlessly is your heavy vocal range.
Now start from A4 and ascend with a light voice singing "ooh."
Don't force it and stop when it becomes difficult (probably around Bb5-B5). This range represents your light vocal range.
Men, it's your turn. Let's first explore your high notes. Start with C3 on an "e" sound and go up until you feel you need to put in more effort. This will be around G3/A3 depending on your voice type.
Now let's explore your low notes. Start at C2 and go down as far as you can.
The heavy vocal range for men is generally between C2 and A3 (again, this is an average and not the same for everyone).
There you go, now you know your vocal range. Make a note of it along with today's date, and check back in a few months. You may notice some changes.
Et alors, à quoi ça sert tout cela ?
Knowing your vocal range will allow you to choose the repertoire and the key of each song you study.
Let's take an example. You just discovered that your vocal range, meaning your comfort zone, is more in the lower and medium registers, and you want to sing the songs of Céline Dion.
Since Celine's comfort zone is higher than yours, you will encounter many difficulties when singing her songs.
Instead of giving up on your dream of shining at the next karaoke with the song from Titanic, simply adjust the key so that the notes in the piece match your tessitura.
There is nothing wrong with lowering the key of songs; on the contrary, it is recommended, especially when you are a beginner in vocal technique.
It's better to start in your comfort zone, master it beautifully, add embellishments, and give it your all!
On the contrary, if your voice is much more comfortable in the high notes and the low notes do not come naturally at all, don't hesitate to raise the keys.
For this, you can ask a musician to transpose, or use software.
If you feel that your vocal range is limited, here is a little tip:
To expand it in the lower range, practice descending with very little energy, as if you were waking up in the middle of the night.
First, sing with your mouth closed to feel the resonance, then open your mouth just a little and sing on an "i." This will give more body to your lower notes.
Conversely, to achieve higher notes with a full voice, recharge your batteries and give a lot of energy.
This will help you reach notes you thought were unattainable. Don't forget to open your mouth well, as if you were biting into an apple, and sing on "ya" or "ye."
Practice this regularly and you will see results. There is no magic wand for the voice, just two fundamentals: "work" and "consistency."
If you have read this article but can't determine your vocal range on your own, don't panic!
Contact Paris Music Institute. We will be delighted to assist you in discovering your voice.
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