How to Find My Voice Range

Your vocal range is the upper and lower boundaries of your voice's comfort zone.

Your vocal range is the extension of notes that you are able to sing clearly. Vocal ranges are divided into seven broad categories: soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto for women and countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass for men. The pitches of the notes that you are able to vocalize determines the category where your voice falls.

Things You'll Need

• Keyboard or accompanist

Instructions

1. Warm up your voice. Begin with a comfortable scale and sing upwards, note by note, until you reach the top of your comfortable range. Repeat this exercise singing downwards. Continue until your voice is steady and clear.

2. Play, or have your accompanist play, middle C. Play upwards, singing every note until you reach the end of your comfortable range. Mark down the last comfortable note. This is the upper boundary of your vocal range.

3. Play middle C again, then progress downwards, singing every note until you are no longer comfortable. Mark the last note of your comfortable range. This is the lower boundary of your vocal range.

Tips & Warnings

• Regular singing and training can cause your vocal range to extend -- continue to examine your vocal range at regular intervals to measure these changes.

References

• Vocalist: Vocal Range - Finding Your Keys!