Usual vocal ranges for women?!
Question: My vocal range is from G1 to G5 (taking C4 as middle C on the piano). The lower notes are easier to sing than the higher ones for me, comfort wise. (I have never smoked.) I was just wondering if this was normal for women, since all the stuff I read about it said women usually sing in the octaves above and below middle C and apparently below that is for baritone? Are there many women who sing in the lower ones?
Second question, I read somewhere that contraltos who would sing tenor were discouraged to, especially for younger women. Does anyone know why?
Thanks.
Answers: My vocal range is from G1 to G5 (taking C4 as middle C on the piano). The lower notes are easier to sing than the higher ones for me, comfort wise. (I have never smoked.) I was just wondering if this was normal for women, since all the stuff I read about it said women usually sing in the octaves above and below middle C and apparently below that is for baritone? Are there many women who sing in the lower ones?
Second question, I read somewhere that contraltos who would sing tenor were discouraged to, especially for younger women. Does anyone know why?
Thanks.
Well, you are not alone. It sounds like you are naturally a true contralto (of course I can't fully judge that over the computer), and being a contralto has nothing to do with whether one smokes or not. Smoking makes the voice raspy and cuts off the range more than lowers it. As far as ranges, most women do have a couple of notes below middle C, even if they are a soprano. That is usual for many female singers, but the weight might vary from singer to singer. Therefore, any notes below middle C that a person can sing does not mean they can sing in the Baritone range by no means.
Also, don't get caught up in what vocal ranges are for one's vocal fach. Vocal range does not determine whether one is a soprano, mezzo, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass. I have a very high range, and a very low range (just as yours). I would have a schizophrenic voice had my vocal range determined my voice part. WHAT DOES determine one's vocal fach is where your voice feels most comfortable, one's passagio, and where the voice begins to flip from the chest voice to head voice. Remember when you said notes in your lower range come easier to you, consider that to be part of your passagio and comfortability. This probably means you are either a Mezzo or a Contralto (most Mezzos could easily sing Contralto material). For a lower vocal fach regardless of how high they can sing, the flip would be lower, and vice versa for a high vocal fach.
Are there a good number of women who have such a range? Yes. It is not the norm, but it exists more than you think. Oleta Adams, Anita Baker, Marilyn Horne (an Mezzo Soprano with an amazing bottom register), Lisa Stansfield, Cassandra Wilson (she almost sounded like a man in my opinion but it is a nice instrument) these singers are all lower voiced female singers. So you do have some company. Myself and a good friend of mine that I have performed with have huge comfortability in our lower registers. BUT we also developed our top. It is important in order to be a well rounded singer to develop your complete range, even if you are more comfortable singing in your lower range. It livens up your singing ability, and livens up your pockets for jobs too. LOL!
As far as your last question, it was probably some sexist reason. Perhaps they didn't want any females to be the competition. But remember over 100 years ago, women were not allowed to sing in certain places, so they had countertenors (who were snipped to be one OUCH!) singing Mezzo and Contralto material. I am sure it ties into that. BUT many Mezzo roles are pants roles, meaning they are females singing male roles. These roles that are popular are Orlofsky from Die Flaudermaus and Cheribino in The Marriage of Figaro. So pants roles for your voice type isn't unusual. Enjoy your unique voice!
There are two common range categories: Choral and Opera. It depends upon which category you speak of.
Many women sing in alto, contralto, and soprano. Women tend to have a higher voice than men, so they tend to sing in the upper three ranges.
Some women can dip into tenor. Others can even sing baritone or bass.
Do most of your singing in what ever range is most comfortable or enjoyable. However, it is a good idea to try to expand your comfort zone.
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That is quite unusual - its nothing to be worried about. U are prob at an advantage because u can reach notes most females cant.
U get to catagories of female singers - soprano or contralto.
U could call urself a contralto. There range begins about an octave lower than middle C.
Your second question surprised me! I've never heard that! I can sing 1st and 2nd tenor and as high as 1st soprano. My vocal instructors have never discouraged it. In fact, when there was a tenor shortage we the 2nd altos would always fill in for them.
Also, have you ever heard barbershop groups? The Sweet Adelines are really awesome. Anyway, they have bass, barri, lead, tenor. The tenor sings above the melody and lead gets the melody. The barri and bass notes are like below 2nd alto or conventional tenor notes. I mean, LOW. And women can totally do that!
Some women are just more gifted than others in terms of range.
I dunno why women can't be tenors or barris. After all, the tenor notes are written on the trebble cleff, right?
Also, I do know lots of women who can sing like that - you'd be surprised! It's really weird, but you always hear that it's soprano or alto and that's it. But, I gotta be honest - there are simply some women who'd be perfect tenors and could do it wonderfully.
It's better to feel comfortable with what you do than to force yourself with something.
Happy holidays!