Voice types are a way to classify groups of singing voices based on similar range (lowest to highest note able to sing), tessitura, (part of the range where the voice sounds best and feels most comfortable), timbre (richness of tone), and passaggio (transition between vocal registers).

Although voice types usually refer to classical or choral singers, sometimes they’re applied to non-classical singing styles such as jazz, pop, blues, soul, country, folk, and rock.

Singers should choose repertoire that suits their voice type and falls in the proper range, regardless of style.

It’s not difficult to figure out your voice type, and all you will need is a piano. I’ll take you through the steps in just a moment.

Voice classifications, or types, refer to mature adults as they are commonly used.

Men are typically divided into four groups, from low to high in pitch: bass, baritone, tenor, and countertenor (the rarest of all voice types – a tenor who can sing as high as a mezzo-soprano or soprano).

Women are divided into three groups, also from low to high: contralto, mezzo-soprano, and soprano. Contralto and alto are used interchangeably, although contralto may refer to a voice that is slightly lower than an alto, or at least in the lowest part of the alto range.

When considering a child’s voice, an eighth term, treble, is applied. The range for children is similar to soprano, and is about the same for boys and girls.

(Note that there are a number of further subcategories of each of the voice types, which we do not have the space to cover here.)

Besides range, vocal qualities such as timbre (richness of tone), vocal weight (heaviness or lightness), tessitura (most comfortable part of the total range), and passaggio (voice transition points) all play into determining a singer’s voice type.

It’s important to know your range in order to pick the best songs and keys for your voice. All you will need is a piano for this. Or you can use a piano instrument loaded into your DAW.

You should warm up your voice before you start and avoid doing this in the early morning or within an hour of waking up.

Begin by finding the lowest note you can sing. Starting with middle C, and using a constant syllable like “ah” or “oo,” play each of the white keys descending in turn while matching your pitch to the piano note. Go as low as you can without your voice cracking or getting breathy. Remember or write down the note.

Now, find your highest note the same way. As you play up the keys and match the note, keep going through your “break points” (where your voice seems to transition between registers). When you get to the highest note you can sing without straining hard, remember or write down that note, too.

Note: The scientific note names for piano include the letter name and the octave. Middle C is C4, the octave below is C3, and the octave below that is C2, and so on. Here’s a helpful diagram:

If you compare your highest and lowest notes, you will have determined your range.

Naturally, different singers will have different ranges. Keep in mind that with vocal training and practice, your future voice may be able to stretch and you might be able to sing notes a bit higher and lower than your current range. Voices can also change as you age.

Now it’s time to compare your vocal range to the various voice types. Remember, range isn’t the only factor here.

You’ll also need to consider the “sweet spot” of your range, or tessitura, where your voice sounds its best and you are singing in your comfort zone. Just because you can hit a high or low note doesn’t mean you should be singing it regularly.

Starting from high to low, here are the approximate ranges for voice types for women and men:

• Soprano is the highest female voice type. Typical soprano range is from C4 (middle C) to C6 (high C) while some sopranos can sing down to A3 or up to G6.
• Mezzo-Soprano is the middle of the common female range and is the most usual voice type for women. Typical mezzo-soprano range is from A3 to A5, while some mezzo-sopranos can sing down to D3 or up to C6.
• Alto/Contralto is the lowest of the female voice types. Typical alto range is from F3 to F5, while some can sing down to D3 or up to a B flat 5 (a whole step below the high C). A true contralto range is relatively unusual for women.
• Tenor is the higher of the male voice types. Typical tenor range is from C3 to C5, while some tenors can sing down to B2 or up to F5. A Countertenor (high tenor) may be able to sing much higher, all the way up through the soprano range.
• Baritone is the middle of the common vocal range for males and is the most usual voice type for men. Typical baritone range is from G2 to G4, while some baritones can sing down to F2 or up to C5.
• Bass is the lowest of the male voice types. Typical bass range is from E2-E4, while some can sing down to C2 or up to G4.

Physical characteristics such as your height and weight, your age, your experience level, training, and condition also play into determining your voice type. Most people have differences in their vocal qualities which determine which repertoire or styles of singing best suit them.

If you are starting out as a singer, understand that learning about your voice type involves some discovery. As an instrument, the voice is dynamic and can change over time and even from day to day. You should pay attention to more than just range as you discover your true voice type.

Working with an experienced teacher or a voice coach  or therapist can help you discover your best singing voice. They can guide you as you experiment with different vocal registers, strengthening and balancing each while smoothing the transition points between them. They can also help you to choose the best repertoire to sing for your particular voice.

Misclassification of voice types can be dangerous, leading to damage of the vocal cords and loss of richness and timbre in a voice. So be sure to consult with a well-qualified professional if you are serious about your singing career.

It is possible to expand your current vocal range, but it requires some practice and training, and possibly also a shift in how you think about your voice.

Allowing your vocal cords to “thin out” with the higher notes and thicken with lower notes will give more clarity and lightness of the notes, instead of forcing or using more power in the higher range, which could even cause damage to your voice. This approach also gives you more flexibility to shift between registers without expending extra energy or causing irritation.

Legendary voice teacher Mark Baxter explains how a change in how you think about your voice can help you to expand your useful vocal range:

In expanding your singing range, your goal is to increase flexibility by changing how you approach singing the high notes, to avoid fatiguing your vocal folds by pushing them too hard or worrying about the changes in register too much. In other words, learn to relax when singing higher in your range, while avoiding defensive behaviors that might irritate your vocal folds.

Other ways to discover, strengthen, and learn about your voice are to sing melodies in different keys, and record yourself singing with a recorded accompaniment to listen to later. You will be able to hear if you are singing in tune, if you are straining to hit high notes, or struggling to avoid cracking your voice when shifting between registers.

Here’s a great exercise to increase your flexibility and expand your vocal range:

Knowing your voice type is important for determining the course of study you should undertake with a teacher, especially in classical voice studies and opera. It’s even possible to damage your voice as a result of being misclassified by a teacher.

If you are auditioning for roles in theater, for attending a music college, or to be in a choir or a chorus (both terms refer to groups of singers, but a chorus can also include actors or dancers), you will need to know your voice type.

Make sure to consider not only your range to determine your voice type. Consider your vocal quality, register transition points, and what part of your range sounds the best. You can also take style into account, and the type of repertoire your voice is best suited to singing.

Fortunately, it’s not too hard to figure out your voice type on your own, using the resources available online. You might want to check with a voice teacher or professional voice coach, just to be certain you got it right.

Take this quick female vocal range test to determine your lowest and highest singing notes. Knowing your vocal range is important for voice classification and auditions:

Ken Tamplin gives a lesson on how to expand your vocal range:

Watch and listen to one of the greatest singers of all times and mezzo-soprano Linda Ronstadt put on a masterful live concert with a terrific band: