WHAT ARE SAFE SINGING RANGES?

Every singer is different, however, this is a typical guide to safe singing ranges.

(Helmholtz notation, with middle C as c1): Normally you would see Middle C as C4. In this extract, it is C1.

UNCHANGED CHILDREN’S VOICES
Safe, c1-d2. Possible, bb-f2. This is for head voice. Dn’t start children on a low pickup that will trap them in chest voice.

MIDDLE SCHOOL (children aged 12 – 15 years old)
Sopranos, same as Childrens. Altos maybe bb-c2. Cambiatas, maybe g-f1. Baritones, maybe e-d1.

HIGH SCHOOL (using head voice)
Sopranos c1-e2, 1st sopranos up to g2 or maybe a2. Altos a-c2, but not too low for too long. Tenors d-f1 (actual pitch). Basses G-c1. Well-trained singers can exceed these safe ranges.

TERTIARY
Sopranos bb- g2, 1st sopranos up to bb2, the occasional c3 for a descant. Altos g-eb2, but can be stretched. Tenors c-g2 (actual pitch). (Higher in head voice.) Basses F-eb1. Baritones don’t have solid low F; some basses may have low D.

PROFESSIONAL
Opera singers will stretch ranges; Professional choral singers will be Eb up to d3. Studio singers may not have that wide a range. CONTEMPORARY SINGERS need to use a safe mix of registers to cope with the demands of contemporary style.