Vocal range?!
Question: How do you figure out your vocal range? All I know is that I am an alto.
Answers: How do you figure out your vocal range? All I know is that I am an alto.
Being an alto is not a determining factor of your vocal range. Vocal fach and range are two different things. Your range is the highest note in your voice from the lowest note in your voice. You could have extremely high notes in your range and still be a Mezzo or a Contralto, or you could have extremely low notes in you range, and still be a soprano. So don't make the mistake of confusing the two.
Start on middle C on the keyboard. Continue to sing up on half steps (meaning C,C#,D,D#, etc) on any vowel that makes you most comfortable. Wherever you can no longer produce a audible decent note pass that specific note you sung before, it is the highest note in your range. If you can get to a high C or above, you have a pretty high range. Now start back on Middle C and sing down the scale on half steps the same way. When you can no longer produce a note in your bottom register, this is your lowest note in your range. Again, if you can sing a low C (C below middle C) or below, you have a pretty low range also.
Vocal Fach on the other hand, is determined by the following. 1. The place where the voice feels at home, 2. the place where your passagio lies (transition) 3. Where your break is from your head voice to chest. 4. The quality of your voice.
My high range models a soprano, but my break from my head voice to chest is lower than a soprano's. This is why one should be careful with determining vocal fach with range. This could be your case, so don't jump the gun and assume your are an alto. You could be an alto, but the way to make sure you are is through those things I mentioned above, not through vocal range. Also, as your voice develops with training, your range could "grow", or you will find notes in your range you didn't know existed. So play around with your voice and test its limits. Have fun exploring your range!!!!
you can try using a piano, and see what your lowest note is and then your highest note.
Determining your vocal range can be done quickly by a good choral music director or another well-trained vocalist. It can be accomplished by yourself if you have basic music skills or access to a qualified pianist.
Basically, this is the range where your voice sounds the best and has the best quality.
Per Wikipedia, altos range is G below middle C to the E a tenth above middle C (i.e. G3-E5).